Changpeng Zhao directed $2 million towards prisoner education: an analysis of the initiative
Binance founder Changpeng Zhao (CZ) anonymously transferred funds to the charitable organization Prison Professors over two years. During this time, the businessman made four large transactions totaling $2 million. Each transfer of $500,000 remained out of the public eye until now.
The funds were directed toward developing educational programs in U.S. federal prisons. Zhao himself explained that he sent donations every six months. Representatives of Prison Professors confirmed receipt of the full amount and expressed gratitude to the philanthropist, emphasizing the critical importance of such initiatives for the prison system.
Where Zhao's millions went
Prison Professors was founded by former inmate Michael Santos. The foundation focuses on publishing books, educational courses, and self-study programs for convicts. Volunteers help inmates plan their lives after release. The new funding will allow for a significant expansion of the project's technical infrastructure. The leadership plans to provide access to online lessons for every federal inmate. Key areas of expenditure include:
- Creating and distributing free educational content.
- Integrating partner materials, including useful courses from Binance Academy.
- Developing a user-friendly digital system for tracking student progress.
- Collecting detailed statistics on learning outcomes in prisons.
From someone who served time to those serving time
Prison-related issues are familiar to Changpeng Zhao from personal experience. Recall that in the spring of 2024, he spent four months behind bars after violating U.S. money laundering laws. The exchange itself paid a colossal fine of $4.3 billion.
Later, in the fall of 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump pardoned the well-known businessman. The crypto community met this move with skepticism. Many experts linked the pardon to Binance's investments in Trump's family stablecoin USD1. Some analysts directly called this decision a simple payment for forgiveness.
Comment from Cryptalist analyst: This story is a vivid example of how personal experience can transform into systematic charity. For Zhao, who has been through imprisonment, supporting Prison Professors is not just a goodwill gesture but a strategic step to reshape his reputation. However, the community's skepticism about the motives is understandable: in the crypto world, where every move by public figures is evaluated through the lens of market interests, such gestures are often perceived as an attempt to "wash away" past sins.