Binance founder CZ stated during an interview with CNBC in Davos, "Three months after being pardoned by Trump, I feel much freer in the past three months. I think it’s more of a psychological change. It feels like a heavy burden has finally been lifted. I used to be free too, but I carried the identity of a serious criminal. But now I am a truly free person."

CZ pointed out that his prison experience was very terrible, "highly consistent" with movie depictions, including the strict physical examination on the day of his incarceration. His first cellmate was a double murderer who had already served about 12 years and still had 18 years left to serve. He stated that he never expected to go to prison because, in U.S. history, no one has ever been sentenced to prison for a single violation of the Bank Secrecy Act; past similar cases were mostly deferred prosecution agreements (DPA) or house arrest. He originally expected at most to be under house arrest for 6–12 months and was surprised by the actual imprisonment.

CZ said that the pardon application was submitted through a lawyer, and the entire process was a "black box" for him, as he still does not understand the specific decision-making mechanism. He never met Trump privately, only having "seen him from a distance" at the Davos Forum. Regarding the pardon outcome, CZ expressed his gratitude. At the same time, CZ stated that there is no connection between Binance and the Trump family.