Former U.S. President Donald Trump has granted a presidential pardon to Changpeng Zhao (CZ), the former CEO of Binance, effectively wiping away his criminal charges related to the Bank Secrecy Act. The announcement has sent shockwaves through the crypto market, particularly benefiting Binance-linked tokens, which witnessed a surge in both trading activity and investor sentiment.
The decision is being interpreted by many as a political nod to the broader crypto industry, reinforcing Trump’s pro-crypto stance and potentially signalling a friendlier regulatory environment under his influence. Within hours of the announcement, market data revealed significant inflows into several altcoins connected to the Binance ecosystem. Among them, WLFI, Aster (ASTER) and 4 (FOUR) emerged as the biggest beneficiaries, each recording double-digit gains and renewed investor accumulation.
WLFI Sees Holder Rebound and $300M Trading Surge
One of the strongest reactions came from WLFI, a token tied to the USD1 stablecoin project involved in a $2 billion Abu Dhabi–Binance partnership. The token’s value jumped nearly 14% within 24 hours, while trading volume surged past $300 million, more than double its recent average.
The price rally coincided with a reversal in WLFI’s declining holder trend. Over the past week, WLFI’s wallet count had slipped from 124,520 to 124,380, signalling waning investor confidence. However, following the pardon, that number rebounded to 124,450, marking a small but notable shift toward renewed accumulation.
Market analysts say the move represents early signs of returning investor confidence, especially after WLFI’s market cap fell nearly 30% last month. While critics caution that political involvement in finance could raise governance concerns, traders appear undeterred, interpreting the event as a de facto endorsement of Binance’s role in the global crypto economy.
Aster Withdrawals Signal Long-Term Confidence
The Aster (ASTER) token, a perpetual DEX built on the BNB Chain, saw a substantial upswing following the pardon. Backed by YZi Labs (formerly Binance Labs) and personally endorsed by CZ, Aster has long been a favourite within the Binance ecosystem.
According to Nansen, ASTER’s price spiked more than 12%, accompanied by exchange outflows of nearly 10 million tokens in just 24 hours, a clear indicator of long-term accumulation. Investors are increasingly moving their holdings to self-custody wallets, suggesting a shift from short-term speculation to strategic positioning.
Adding to the momentum, Aster recently unveiled its Rocket Launch campaign, a liquidity initiative combined with a buyback program. The timing of this launch, coinciding with the pardon announcement, created a perfect storm of optimism, propelling ASTER’s trading activity to its highest level in months.
Meme Token “4” Rides the Binance Alpha Wave
The 4 (FOUR) token, a meme-based cryptocurrency native to the four.meme platform, has also emerged as a surprise winner. With a market capitalization hovering around $120 million, the token surged over 30% in the past 24 hours, making it one of the best-performing meme coins of the week.
Data from Nansen shows that the top 100 FOUR wallets increased their holdings by 6.86%, while exchange reserves dropped by nearly 8%, pointing to active accumulation by large holders, or “whales.” The pardon appears to have strengthened investor belief that Binance-related projects could see renewed attention and liquidity inflows.
Adding fuel to the speculation, FOUR recently appeared on the Binance Alpha listing, leading to rumours of a potential Binance Spot listing. Should that materialise, analysts expect another wave of upward momentum for the meme token.
Binance Ecosystem Shines Amid a Subdued Market
As broader crypto markets remain largely range-bound through October, the Binance ecosystem stands out as a rare pocket of strength. The CZ pardon has not only revived optimism among retail investors but also underscored how political events can directly influence crypto market behaviour.
While the long-term implications of Trump’s intervention remain to be seen, the immediate aftermath is clear:
- WLFI is regaining holders and trading momentum.
- Aster is witnessing strong accumulation and rising on-chain activity.
- FOUR is benefitting from whale interest and Binance listing speculation.
The pardon, once viewed as a remote political possibility, has instead turned into a powerful catalyst for the Binance-linked token ecosystem, sparking one of the sharpest mini-rallies in recent months and positioning these three tokens as leaders of the CZ comeback narrative.
Leave a Reply