Binance founder Zhao Changpeng (CZ) was sentenced to four months imprisonment in early May. The latest news confirms that he has reported to a federal prison in California, USA.
In the hearing held at the US District Court in Seattle on May 1st (April 30th in US time), Zhao Changpeng, the founder of Binance, was sentenced to four months imprisonment by Judge Richard Jones after several hours of trial, which is much lower than the previous request from the Department of Justice (prosecutors requested a 36-month sentence).
According to CNBC this morning, Zhao Changpeng has already reported to a federal prison with a lower security level in California. This news has also been confirmed by his defense law firm, Latham & Watkins. This means that CZ is expected to be released from prison in October this year and start a new chapter in his life.
Why did the judge give a lighter sentence of only four months when the prosecutor requested 36 months? According to a detailed analysis of the court documents on social media, three key factors played a decisive role in this judgment.
Firstly, CZ’s voluntary surrender was one of the main reasons for his lighter sentence. It is worth mentioning that CZ voluntarily went to the US for trial from the United Arab Emirates, a country without an extradition treaty. This behavior was emphasized multiple times by his defense lawyers during the trial and was mentioned repeatedly in 161 support letters, demonstrating his responsible attitude and respect for US law, showing the attitude of “cooperation, cooperation, cooperation”.
Secondly, CZ’s relatively low-profile personal life played a role in his image as a “family man” in the sentencing hearing. He actually has a son who is currently attending university, and at the sentencing hearing, his son sat next to his mother and nephew, creating a family scene that portrayed him as a responsible family man.
Furthermore, the agreement reached by Binance, represented by CZ, to pay a one-time compensation of up to $4.3 billion was also a key factor in quickly reaching a settlement and receiving a lighter sentence. This compensation not only acknowledges his wrongdoing but also demonstrates his willingness to “fully cooperate” with the US government.
In addition, the influence of support letters should not be underestimated. Among the 161 letters, many come from important groups and individuals in the United States who wish to cooperate with him, including representatives of the United Arab Emirates family and elites from various fields in the United States. These letters not only support CZ but also emphasize his good attitude towards family, career, and reputation, which had a significant impact on the judge’s decision.
During the trial, Judge Jones expressed a deep impression of the support letters for CZ. He mentioned that he spent a weekend carefully reading these letters from friends and family until the folder containing these letters broke due to repeated reading. The judge said:
In addition, CZ’s body language during the trial also sparked discussions. Whenever the judge mentioned CZ’s misconduct, he would lean forward and nod, showing his recognition of his own behavior. This is in stark contrast to the SBF case, as revealed by the judge, where SBF’s various behaviors indicated his “lack of remorse” for his actions.
CZ’s clean record in the past and his history of cooperation with the government also greatly favored him. Defense lawyer William Burke pointed out that CZ has “no criminal history, no fraud, no other crimes,” which had a significant impact on the judge’s decision.
Taking into account the above factors, the judge chose to give CZ a lighter sentence. This also reflects that the court, when evaluating the defendant’s behavior and background, not only considers their negligence but also takes into account their efforts to actively correct and the support of society’s positive evaluation.
Related reports:
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CZ’s sentence betting pool? Polymarket: 44% believe that Zhao Changpeng will “only be imprisoned for less than 6 months”.
What you don’t know about CZ: Husband, student, father, entrepreneur, 350 pages of support letters flooding into the court.