New York CNN —Changpeng Zhao, the founder of the world’s leading cryptocurrency exchange, was sentenced on Tuesday to four months in prison after pleading guilty to money-laundering charges last year.
The sentence, handed down in a US federal court in Seattle, is far lighter than the three years prosecutors had argued for.
Prior to the sentencing hearing Tuesday, Zhao, who goes by CZ, apologized for mistakes he made as CEO of Binance, the crypto exchange he founded in 2017.
“Words cannot explain how deeply I regret my choices that result in me being before the Court,” he said in a letter to the judge.
Zhao, who is 47 and has a personal fortune of nearly $40 billion, according to Bloomberg, agreed to step down as CEO and pay $200 million in fines.
Persons:
Changpeng Zhao, Zhao, ”, “, ” Binance
Organizations:
New, New York CNN, CZ, Binance, Bloomberg
Locations:
New York, Seattle