Newsom Targets Trump Allies With California Website Highlighting Crypto Pardons

California Gov. Gavin Newsom has intensified his high-profile public feud with President Donald Trump by launching a new page on the state’s official website that claims to “track Trump’s top 10 criminal cronies,” a list that prominently features figures from the cryptocurrency industry. The move underscores Newsom’s increasingly national posture as he criticizes Trump’s conduct, rhetoric and political allies, while also drawing attention to controversial presidential pardons.

The newly published page is framed as part of California’s broader effort to argue that crime rates in the state have declined, but it pivots sharply into a pointed political attack. According to the site, Trump “surrounds himself with scammers and drug traffickers,” a quote attributed directly to Newsom. The governor says the goal is to provide voters with a centralized resource that lays out what he calls “the facts” about the individuals Trump has elevated or protected, not just for Californians but for Americans nationwide.

Among those highlighted are several well-known names in the crypto world. The site references former Binance CEO Changpeng “CZ” Zhao, whom Trump pardoned in October, along with Ross Ulbricht, the founder of the Silk Road marketplace, who received a pardon during Trump’s first month back in office. Also included are the co-founders of BitMEX, pardoned in May. Each profile is accompanied by a stylized mug shot, including one of Trump himself, all stamped with the word “FELON” for dramatic emphasis.

The White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment regarding the website or Newsom’s remarks. Meanwhile, Newsom has continued to grow his national profile through sharp, often tongue-in-cheek social media commentary aimed at Trump, fueling speculation that he may be positioning himself for a 2028 presidential run. The latest move reinforces Newsom’s strategy of blending policy messaging, political theater and high-visibility criticism to keep himself at the center of the national conversation.