Binance CEO Richard Teng isn’t mincing words: the Trump administration’s pro-crypto stance, launched in January 2025, is a “fantastic reset” for the industry. Speaking to CNBC on Tuesday, March 18, Teng described “an extremely different environment” from the Biden years, where Binance—once a regulatory pariah slapped with a $4.3 billion U.S. settlement in 2023—has morphed into a potential Washington player in just 16 months. With user growth soaring from 170 million to 265 million in a year and a $2 billion stablecoin infusion from UAE’s MGX, Binance is capitalizing on a friendlier U.S. landscape. But as rumors increase of Trump family ties and SEC talks linger, what’s next for the world’s largest crypto exchange?
A Trump-Led Crypto Thaw
Teng, who took the helm in November 2023 after founder Changpeng “CZ” Zhao’s exit amid criminal charges, credits Trump’s pivot—from crypto skeptic to self-proclaimed “bitcoin superpower” advocate—for Binance’s resurgence. “We went from four years of Operation Choke Point 2.0 to a very pro-crypto, pro-AI president,” he said, referencing an alleged Biden-era bank crackdown on digital assets. Trump’s March 7 White House Crypto Summit and executive order on digital assets—backed by “crypto czar” David Sacks—have fueled optimism. The SEC’s Friday roundtable under Hester Peirce and January’s SAB 121 repeal signal a shift from Gensler’s enforcement hammer to collaboration.
Reports of Trump family talks for a Binance stake (Wall Street Journal, March 13) and a World Liberty Financial stablecoin deal (Bloomberg) underscore this thaw. Teng sidestepped specifics—“CZ and World Liberty have denied the reports”—but emphasized Binance.US and Binance.com’s separation: “Different animals, different boards.” Still, he admits, “We’ve benefited from these pro-crypto policies,” even without U.S. operations.
From Pariah to Powerhouse
Binance’s past is checkered: a $4.3 billion DOJ-CFTC settlement, Zhao’s four-month prison stint, and Nigeria’s detention of execs Tigran Gambaryan and Nadeem Anjarwalla (released and escaped, respectively) over tax evasion charges. “We under-invested in compliance early on,” Teng admitted but now boasts 1,300 compliance staff—25% of its 6,000-strong workforce. A February SEC suit pause hints at the resolution, aligning with the agency’s broader crypto retreat.
Growth tells the story: 40% global market share, licenses in 21 jurisdictions (Japan to UAE), and sovereign wealth fund interest. “We’ve had approaches from governments worldwide,” Teng said. A $2 billion MGX deal—fully in stablecoins—ties crypto to AI, with BlackRock and Microsoft as partners. “We’re utilizing AI extensively,” Teng noted, from security to customer service, echoing Adeniyi Abiodun’s tech-forward vision (prior post).
Challenges and Ambitions
Nigeria’s “unwarranted” treatment of execs stings, Teng said, pledging cooperation with regulators. He dismissed Coinbase’s D.C. clout and ETF hype—“crypto trades nonstop, ETFs don’t”—positioning Binance as the endgame for traders. A seven-member board, including three independents, marks a shift from founder-led chaos to governance, though a global HQ decision looms.
What keeps Teng up? “Security, compliance, innovation, M&A opportunities.” Rumors aside, Binance’s not rushing back to the U.S.—it’s betting on global dominance first. X’s @Cointelegraph (Feb 19) noted Teng’s “fresh reset” optimism; @CryptoGodJohn (March 13) sees a U.S. return looming. With Trump’s tariffs clouding sentiment (57.9, U. Michigan), Q3 2025 will test this reset’s staying power. For now, Teng’s steering Binance into a crypto-AI future, one blockchain at a time.
