Categories: Crypto

CZ Denies ‘Fixer’ Role in World Liberty Financial Deals



Former Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao (CZ) has denied claims that he acted as a “fixer” in dealings involving World Liberty Financial (WLF).

CZ is accusing the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) of publishing another “hit piece” based on false information and negative intent.

Negative Intentions and Inaccuracies

In a May 23 X post, he claimed the media outlet’s reporting had changed into a textbook case of “Cunningham’s Law.” Zhao explained that a few days before the article was published, the company’s PR team had sent him several questions based on false assumptions.

“We told them there were numerous inaccuracies and unfounded inferences,” he wrote. The publication asked his team to identify the errors, but he explained that a story can’t be corrected when built on negative intentions from the start.

Among the claims made in WSJ’s inquiry was that CZ had helped WLF arrange meetings with government officials in Pakistan, Malaysia, and Kyrgyzstan. The article suggested that he introduced a Pakistani official, Mr. Saqib, to the WLF team.

A week after his visit to the region, the crypto project named the man an adviser. Further, the Journal emphasized that on April 26, the WLF team traveled to Pakistan to sign an MOU with the government.

However, the former exchange executive has denied these claims. “I am not a fixer for anyone,” he stated. He also clarified that he did not connect Mr. Saqib with the WLF team, pointing out that they already knew each other. Zhao added that he had met the Pakistani official for the first time during his stay in the country.

The Binance co-founder also suggested that the WSJ article was part of a broader agenda to stop progress in the crypto industry.

“There are forces in the U.S. that want to hinder efforts in making the U.S. the capital of crypto. They want to attack crypto, global crypto leaders, and the pro-crypto administration,” he claimed.

A History of False Claims

This isn’t the first time Zhao has accused WSJ of publishing false stories. In March, the newspaper shared that Trump’s family was in talks to invest in Binance.US and that the 48-year-old was seeking a presidential pardon.

At the time, he described the article as politically motivated, suggesting it was an attempt to undermine the president and the crypto industry. However, he later acknowledged that he had formally applied for clemency from Trump.

More recently, the former CEO dismissed allegations from a separate news piece that said he had agreed to provide evidence against Tron founder Justin Sun as part of a plea deal with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ).

CZ suggested the report might be tied to lobbying efforts aimed at damaging his and Binance’s reputation. Sun also rejected the claims, saying he was unaware of such rumors and referred to Zhao as his “mentor and close friend.”

SPECIAL OFFER (Sponsored)

Binance Free $600 (CryptoPotato Exclusive): Use this link to register a new account and receive $600 exclusive welcome offer on Binance (full details).

LIMITED OFFER for CryptoPotato readers at Bybit: Use this link to register and open a $500 FREE position on any coin!



Source link

Adam Forsyth

Share
Published by
Adam Forsyth

Recent Posts

SEC pushes back decision on in-kind creations and redemptions for BlackRock Ethereum ETF

Key Takeaways The SEC has delayed its verdict on in-kind creations and redemptions for BlackRock's…

30 minutes ago

The 15 best Prime Day 2025 tech deals, chosen by a tech editor

As Mashable's tech editor, I've been covering Prime Day and Black Friday events since 2019.…

45 minutes ago

New Zealand Says Crypto ATM Ban Aims to Close Money Laundering Loophole

The New Zealand government has announced it is banning crypto ATMs as part of its…

46 minutes ago

Is Metaplanet Acquiring A Digital Bank? Japanese Firm Reports Nearly Doubled Trading Volume

Japan’s Investment firm Metaplanet, touted to be akin to Michael Saylor’s Strategy, holds 15,555 Bitcoin…

2 hours ago

Sony’s Brand New Flagship Headphones Are on Sale for Prime Day

Prime Day Deals are popping, and even a modest sale on Sony's WH-1000XM6 headphones (9/10,…

2 hours ago

‘Crypto Bros’ Targeted in Britain’s Latest Tax Crackdown

New reporting regulations set to come into force in January 2026 will target crypto investors…

3 hours ago