Can CZ return to the helm after being released from prison?

Binance has imposed a lifetime ban on its former CEO Changpeng Zhao (CZ) from managing or operating the company. However, as the major shareholder of the company, Zhao Changpeng still holds considerable influence.

Binance founder Zhao Changpeng (CZ) will be released from prison at the end of the month, and the community is hoping that CZ's release from prison will bring some favorable changes to Binance, becoming a big boon for Binance and BNB tokens. However, according to foreign media Axios, Richard Teng, the CEO of Binance, confirmed that in the plea agreement reached between Binance and the US Department of Justice (DOJ) in November, it was explicitly stated that Zhao Changpeng would be "permanently banned" from managing or operating the company.

According to Richard Teng, although Zhao Changpeng is permanently banned from participating in the daily management of the company, as the largest shareholder, he still retains all shareholder rights. He can make decisions based on the company's performance and has the right to nominate or replace board members and CEO. Previously, Zhao Changpeng was the only board member of Binance, but according to the plea agreement, Binance has now increased to seven board members.

However, although Zhao Changpeng is prohibited from participating in daily management activities, his rights as a shareholder still raise questions about whether he can provide advice to senior management as an advisor.

Has the settlement agreement not completely blocked the possibility of return?

However, although the CEO of Binance has denied the possibility of CZ returning to take charge of Binance, Daniel Richman, a professor at Columbia Law School and former federal prosecutor, pointed out that the settlement terms reached between the Department of Justice and Binance did not explicitly prohibit the company from allowing Zhao Changpeng to return to the CEO position in the future. The ban is listed as a "consideration factor" in the agreement in the document, rather than a mandatory requirement, indicating that the agreement has not completely blocked the legal path for Zhao Changpeng to return to the position of CEO. Daniel Richman stated:

The key is to include a clause that prohibits Binance from allowing him to come back and allows the government to accuse the company of breach of contract if it does so. However, such a clause did not appear in the agreement

However, in the coming years, under close supervision by US regulatory agencies, the relationship between Binance and Zhao Changpeng will still be further tested. Yadav, a law professor at Vanderbilt University, believes that if Zhao Changpeng attempts to re intervene in company affairs, he will face great risks, which may trigger further investigations by regulatory agencies.