NYT Leak Reveals Explosive Details From CZ’s Unpublished Memoir

[chainsniff]

A nearly 300-page draft of Changpeng Zhao’s upcoming memoir, Freedom of Money, has been obtained by The New York Times — exposing behind-the-scenes details of Binance’s DOJ negotiations, prison experience, and rivalry with Sam Bankman-Fried. According to the report, U.S. prosecutors initially sought $6.8 billion from Binance before settling on a $4.3 billion penalty. Zhao ultimately pleaded guilty to a single anti-money-laundering violation and served a four-month sentence.

The manuscript reportedly details his final weeks in custody, an Immigration and Customs Enforcement detainer over visa issues, and his release in September 2024 — boarding a private jet just 26 minutes after leaving detention. The book also recounts Zhao’s past interactions with former SEC Chair Gary Gensler and includes pointed commentary on both SBF and U.S. political figures. Notably absent, however, are details surrounding Zhao’s reported pardon campaign and Binance’s broader political connections.

[tradelikepro]

300 page draft leaked and somehow it’s still bullish