CZ Refutes Connection to Trump Amidst Political Rumors Following Pardon

Binance Alpha has recently revealed a TIMI token airdrop, drawing attention to the platform’s growing ecosystem. Eligible participants can receive 960 TIMI tokens, which are currently worth about $30 based on the token’s present value of $0.03 each, as reported by a

. This initiative comes after the debut of MetaArena (TIMI), a project that has sparked considerable interest within the cryptocurrency sector. The airdrop demonstrates Binance’s ongoing efforts to boost user engagement, while the broader market continues to respond to news related to the exchange’s founder and evolving regulatory conditions.

Changpeng "CZ" Zhao, who previously served as Binance’s CEO, has recently dismissed any allegations of business connections with former U.S. President Donald Trump and his family, denying that such ties played a role in his presidential pardon, according to a . In a FOX News interview on November 7, CZ clarified that he has "never met President Trump" and explained that his 2023 guilty plea for anti-money laundering violations was a deliberate move to directly address regulatory matters, as detailed by . The pardon, issued in October 2025, has led to speculation about possible political motivations, but CZ maintains that he has no association with the Trump family or their crypto venture, , as highlighted in the Bitcoinist article.

At the same time, Binance’s recent leverage adjustment initiative is being presented as a measure to foster a more stable cryptocurrency market, according to a

. This policy is intended to curb excessive risk by modifying margin requirements for traders, a move that analysts believe could help reduce market volatility. This approach is consistent with other positive trends, such as a rise in stablecoin deposits on the exchange, which some interpret as a bullish indicator for and other cryptocurrencies, as mentioned in the same CoinMarketCap report.

In traditional finance, Bitwise Asset Management’s

ETF (CLNK) has made notable progress toward its launch after being listed on the Depository Trust and Clearing Corporation (DTCC) registry, according to a . This ETF, which aims to mirror the price of Chainlink (LINK), is seen as a potential pioneer among altcoin ETFs, benefiting from regulatory clarity under the U.S. SEC’s updated generic listing rules, as reported by . Meanwhile, Grayscale’s rival staking-based Chainlink ETF is facing increased regulatory examination, potentially giving Bitwise an advantage in the competition, as noted in a .