The sentencing of Changpeng Zhao, the founder and former CEO of Binance—the world’s biggest crypto exchange—has hit a snag. Originally set for February 23, his day in court’s been pushed back to April 30, according to CNBC. No one’s spilling why yet—Zhao’s lawyer, William Burke, just clammed up when asked about the delay.
Zhao’s staring down an 18-month prison stretch for money laundering charges, but word is U.S. prosecutors are gunning for something much stiffer. He’s been stuck in the States since pleading guilty in November 2023, out on a hefty $175 million bail, despite begging to jet back to the UAE. The courts aren’t having it—last December, they shot down his travel request, with the Justice Department arguing he’s a flight risk thanks to his fat bank account, tight UAE ties, and the lack of an extradition deal with Uncle Sam.
