Changpeng Zhao (CZ), founder and former CEO of cryptocurrency exchange Binance, gave an exclusive interview. Here is the summary of the detailed interview and the most important points to know.
Binance founder and former CEO Changpeng Zhao (CZ) explained that the company chose Abu Dhabi as its home base due to its regulatory environment and strategic location rather than its financing needs. According to CZ, the UAE’s compliance framework provides Binance with a stable foundation for global expansion.
CZ acknowledged that the memecoin ecosystem is growing, attributing the rise to community-driven imagination. However, he warned that memecoins carry high risks, indicating a need for user education and clear risk warnings. Referring to US President Donald Trump’s memecoin launch, CZ explained that most celebrity coins are launched by third parties for publicity purposes, and urged public figures to focus on long-term, value-driven projects instead.
Binance aims to maintain a balanced market where institutional investors do not disproportionately benefit individual users. CZ stated that the exchange should not act as a gatekeeper, but instead promote transparency. He encouraged projects to disclose their token locking mechanisms and leverage third-party smart contracts to increase trust. Looking forward, CZ expressed optimism about the rise of decentralized exchanges (DEXs) as the future of the industry.
CZ assessed the industry’s transition from requiring a private blockchain for token issuance to the widespread adoption of the ERC-20 standard. He believes that despite the lowering of technical barriers, community consensus remains the primary driver of value. He urged the crypto space to move beyond financial speculation and explore real-world applications such as government authentication and decentralized science (DeSci).
While CZ admitted to missing out on an early Ethereum investment, he acknowledged ETH’s fundamental role in DeFi. However, he noted that Ethereum’s real problem lies not in its technology, but in its lack of innovation at the application layer.
CZ, who recently evaluated the legal troubles he has experienced, shared that his four-month prison sentence has reshaped his perspective on life. Underlining the importance of family and health, CZ stated that he lost six kilos during his time in prison but is physically healthier. He noted that the biggest challenge is coping with the uncertainty of the situation.
CZ introduced Giggle Academy, an educational initiative that aims to address global learning inequalities through gamified experiences. The project aims to equip users with job-related skills, such as AI data annotation, to improve employment opportunities around the world.
*This is not investment advice.
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