Binance Founder Denies Involvement in WLFI Project

Binance co-founder and former CEO Changpeng Zhao (CZ) has criticized a Wall Street Journal report that claimed he played the role of “middleman” between the World Liberty Financial (WLFI) project and governments of several countries, including Pakistan, Malaysia, and Kyrgyzstan.

In a blog post on the social network X, the entrepreneur said the article was inaccurate, distorted facts, and intentionally created a false impression about his involvement in the events. According to the WSJ, Zhao facilitated contacts between WLFI, a platform linked to the family of US President Donald Trump, and officials abroad, including the head of the Pakistan Cryptocurrency Board, Bilal Bin Saqib, which allegedly led to his appointment as a consultant to the company and the signing of a memorandum between WLFI and the country's government.

However, CZ himself denies this: he stressed that he did not act as a liaison or organize meetings between the parties. According to him, Bilal and the WLFI team had known each other for a long time, and their meeting took place long before his own visit to Pakistan, where he first met Saqib in person. Zhao also denied the publication's claims that he helped WLFI establish foreign connections. He noted that if there are random errors in publications, they can be corrected, but when the material is based on speculation and is initially aimed at creating a negative image, this is no longer journalism, but manipulation of facts.

The Binance founder compared the WSJ's approach to the famous Cunningham's Law - when, in order to get the right answer, they deliberately publish incorrect information on the Internet. At the same time, he emphasized that real journalism should not work in such ways. In addition, Zhao suggested that the publication could be the work of forces in the US that are skeptical about the crypto industry and use the media as a tool of pressure.

Earlier, Zhao confirmed in an interview with Farohk Radio that he had submitted a petition for clemency to US President Donald Trump.