The founder of Binance has become the world’s richest prisoner after he was sentenced to four months in jail, marking a stunning downfall for the former boss of the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange. Changpeng “CZ” Zhao was sentenced by a Seattle court on Tuesday after pleading guilty to money laundering and sanctions violations last year. A US judge handed down the four-month sentence despite prosecutors pushing for a three-year term, as the court took into account the “positive nature of Mr Zhao’s past behaviour. His prison sentence will make him one of the wealthiest inmates ever, boasting a net worth of around $33bn through his ownership of Binance. He stepped down as chief executive last year. In US legal filings, government lawyers said Mr Zhao had “bragged” about breaking the law during his time at Binance, as he allowed criminals to launder money on the platform. The Treasury Department previously alleged Binance had failed to stop terror groups, including Hamas, ISIS, al-Qaeda and other criminals, from conducting cryptocurrency transactions on its exchange, turning a “blind eye” to its legal duties. Prosecutors said Mr Zhao allowed it to happen because it was the “best way to attract users, build his company,...