By Anderson Sima, Executive Editor of Foresight News
In 2013, a 36-year-old entrepreneur named Changpeng Zhao (CZ) arrived in Las Vegas, where he met a 19-year-old prodigy. Despite their age gap, CZ recognized a pure geek spirit in the young man’s eyes—this encounter would alter the trajectory of both their lives.
A year later, CZ sold his Shanghai apartment to invest entirely in Bitcoin, a decision met with skepticism as Bitcoin prices plummeted while Shanghai real estate boomed. Yet this move solidified his bond with the unassuming youth—Vitalik Buterin—who later founded Ethereum. The two shared living spaces, exchanged ideas, and even taught CZ’s son about “smart contracts.”
Today, Buterin’s Ethereum is valued at over $200 billion, whileBinance dominates as the world’s largest crypto exchange. Despite his wealth and influence, CZ’s journey took a dramatic turn in 2024 when he spent four months in a U.S. prison—a period he describes as his darkest hour.
Foresight News recently sat down with CZ to discuss his vision for crypto’s future, his relationship with Vitalik, and his controversial views on memecoins.
Changpeng Zhao, the founder of Binance
Here’s an edited transcript:
Foresight News:Abu Dhabi’s MGX invested $2 billion in Binance—crypto’s largest single funding round. Why partner with Abu Dhabi?
CZ:This is strategic alignment, not capital need. Abu Dhabi’s regulatory clarity and government support for digital assets position it as a global hub. We prioritized partners who share our vision for regulatory and innovation.
Foresight News: Your recent X (Twitter) activity engaging meme communities contrasts with past cycles. How do you view meme culture?
CZ:I’m learning. After 2024’s legal battles, I’m reconnecting with grassroots trends. Meme coins reflect community creativity—they’re fun but speculative. I avoid endorsing specific projects to stay impartial.
Foresight News:How has blockchain usability changed since Bitcoin’s early days?
CZ:Early crypto required building entire chains for new tokens. Ethereum’s ERC-20 standard democratized innovation, enabling ICOs and now memecoins. While core principles remain—”value rooted in community”—infrastructure like BNBChain now supports faster, cheaper transactions.
Foresight News:Trump’s “Trump Coin” became a viral sensation. Should public figures enter crypto?
CZ:Most celebrity tokens are likely third-party initiatives. Influential figures should focus on projects with real utility, not short-term hype. Meme coins thrive on humor, but responsibility matters.
Foresight News:Binance faces criticism for listing both VC-backed projects and meme coins. How do you balance these?
CZ:We’re moving toward user empowerment. Decentralized exchanges (DEXs) allow direct token access, eliminating gatekeepers. For centralized platforms, we push transparency: audits, liquidity requirements, and community voting. Both VC and meme projects have roles–risk transparency is key.
Foresight News:You’ve predicted DEX will surpass CEX. Still believe this?
CZ:Absolutely. DEXs embody crypto’s ethos of sovereignty. While CEXs offer convenience today, DEX will dominate as user experience improves a
Foresight News:Your portfolio holds 98.5% BNB and no ETH. Why?
CZ:Missing Ethereum was a personal oversight—I underestimated Vitalik’s vision despite our friendship. ETH’s impact on DeFi is immense, but my focus remains on BNB
Foresight News:Ethereum’s stagnant price disappoints investors. Is it facing a bottleneck?
CZ:Ethereum’s challenges—high fees, scalability—are temporary. Vitalik’s team is addressing them through upgrades like sharding. The real bottleneck is mainstream adoption of Web3 beyond speculation.
Foresight News：You’ve invested heavily in DeSci (Decentralized Science). How do these projects differ from memecoins?
CZ：DeSci represents crypto’s future—collaborative, transparent research funding. Meme coins are short-term speculation; DeSci addresses real-world problems like drug discovery. Through smart contracts, we can fund research milestones while ensuring accountability. These projects could disrupt traditional pharma’s profit-driven model.
Foresight News：Your education platform, Giggle Academic, seems unrelated to crypto. Why this focus?
CZ：Education is the greatest equalizer. Current systems fail billions. Giggle Academic uses gamification to teach skills like coding and AI for free, targeting underserved regions. A child in Africa could earn $300/month via remote work—no college degree needed. This aligns with crypto’s mission to empower individuals globally.
Foresight News：Geopolitical tensions and economic instability dominate headlines. Are you optimistic?
CZ：Yes. New U.S. leadership signals crypto-friendly policies, and global challenges will accelerate collaboration in tech sectors. Supply chains are interdependent—China’s manufacturing and Western innovation are inseparable.
Foresight News：Your four-month prison experience—how did it change you?
CZ：It was mentally exhausting but clarified priorities. Isolation taught me family and health are irreplaceable. I lost 6kg but emerged physically stronger. The experience reinforced my resolve to advocate for crypto’s legitimacy.
Foresight News： What’s next for you?
CZ：I’m focused on empowering entrepreneurs through Yzi Labs, our family office. We invest in Web3, AI, and DeSci startups. My goal is to mentor the next generation of founders—building sustainable projects that redefine industries.