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|4 min ReadTrump doubles down on crypto dominance and pardons CZ in '60 Minutes' interview
Jax Morales
Senior Analyst
Published
Jan 16, 2026
In a highly anticipated "60 Minutes" interview, President Donald Trump reaffirmed his commitment to making the U.S. the undisputed leader in cryptocurrency. Speaking to CBS's Norah O'Donnell, Trump emphasized that America is "number one in crypto in the whole world," adding that other nations are desperately trying to catch up, but "we're number one because I'm the president."
Trump was clear about his vision for the crypto industry, saying it's one where there’s only room for a top dog. "It's a kind of an industry where basically you're going to have number one and you're not gonna have a number two," Trump said, stressing his desire to keep the industry within U.S. borders. "I don't want China or anybody else to take it away," he added.
Trump also took a swipe at President Biden, accusing him of jumping on the crypto bandwagon too late in his reelection campaign. "He thought he could get some votes, but it didn’t work," Trump said, reflecting on the Biden administration’s efforts to court the crypto community, which Trump believes fell short.
Trump’s Crypto Family Ties and His Influence on Policy
The Trump family’s growing involvement in the crypto world is no secret. With Trump’s sons—Donald Jr., Eric, and Baron—all heavily invested in digital assets, the family has made a significant fortune from ventures ranging from Bitcoin mining to meme coins. The Financial Times recently estimated that the Trump family has profited over $1 billion from their crypto interests.
This aligns with Trump’s broader policy moves on crypto. Early in his administration, Trump signed several key executive orders, including one to create a working group for digital asset policy and another to establish a U.S. Strategic Bitcoin Reserve. Under his leadership, the SEC also took a more crypto-friendly stance, dropping investigations into major players like Coinbase and Uniswap.
Trump’s son, Donald Jr., has been outspoken about the family’s investment strategy, and with the president’s own stake in the sector, it’s clear that crypto is a family affair.
Pardoning CZ: Controversy and Corruption Questions
The interview took a more controversial turn when Trump addressed his pardon of Binance founder Changpeng "CZ" Zhao. After Zhao pleaded guilty in 2023 for failing to maintain an effective anti-money laundering program, he was sentenced to four months in prison but was pardoned by Trump. The pardon came just months after Trump signed an executive order clearing the way for greater crypto innovation in the U.S.
Trump defended the decision, claiming that Zhao had been “persecuted” by the Biden administration. “I don’t know who he is. I know he got a four-month sentence or something like that. And I heard it was a Biden witch hunt,” Trump stated during the interview.
This pardon follows Trump’s earlier executive clemency for Ross Ulbricht, the creator of the Silk Road, and raises questions about potential conflicts of interest. Trump was asked by CBS’s O'Donnell whether he was concerned about the appearance of corruption. Trump’s response was measured, stating, “I can’t say I’m not concerned,” yet reinforcing that his focus remains on securing America's position at the top of the global crypto industry.
Zhao’s legal team has responded, demanding an immediate retraction from Senator Elizabeth Warren regarding her remarks post-pardon, with reports suggesting that Zhao is considering a libel lawsuit against her.
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