Former Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao, commonly known as CZ, has found himself at the epicenter of a new controversy following a recent report by the Financial Times regarding his Web3 and artificial intelligence (AI) venture, YZi Labs. CZ Denies Financial Times Report The report suggested that Zhao was planning to open a substantial $10 billion portfolio to outside investors, a claim that has sparked a vigorous denial from the former executive of the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange. Related Reading: Bitcoin, Ethereum, And XRP In Freefall: What’s Driving The Current Crypto Slump? According to the Financial Times, Ella Zhang, head of YZi Labs, acknowledged strong interest from potential investors, even mentioning that US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Chair Paul Atkins had requested a private demonstration of the fund’s capabilities. The Financial Times report indicated that approximately 70% of YZi Labs’ portfolio consists of digital assets, with more than 50 token proposals reviewed over the summer. However, the former Binance executive took to social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to vehemently dispute the Financial Times’ claims, labeling the report as “complete false news” filled with what he described as “fake, wrong, and made-up information.” Zhao made several specific assertions in his posts. He stated that YZi Labs is not currently raising an external fund, nor is there any planned demonstration for investors. CZ expressed confusion over the concept of a “demo” for a fund and clarified that there has never been a pitch deck for YZi Labs, nor has the organization pursued any external investment discussions since its rebranding. YZi Labs Not Linked To Binance In his response, CZ further stated that YZi Labs operates independently from cryptocurrency exchange Binance and refuted claims that it was “spun out” of the exchange after his legal troubles with US authorities in November 2023. Addressing regulatory concerns, Zhao pointed out that he has only been cited for a single violation related to the Bank Secrecy Act, which he clarified involved a failure to maintain an adequate anti-money laundering program. He sated: I plead to a single violation of BSA, failure to maintain an adequate ANTI-money laundering program. Contrary to what FT characterized as “money laundering” violations. Related Reading: Why Aren’t Institutions Adopting XRP ‘Massively’? Pundit Answers The former Binance CEO stressed that his legal situation should not be conflated with accusations of money laundering, a distinction he feels is often misrepresented in traditional media. Zhao also noted that the Financial Times had previously attempted to arrange a lunch interview with him, promising positive coverage. After canceling the meeting, he expressed his regret about the situation, suggesting that the resulting article was not the narrative he had hoped for. At the time of writing, Binance’s native token, Binance Coin (BNB), trades above the $1,000 milestone, recording gains of 15% during this month’s uptrend. Featured image from BBC, chart from TradingView.com
Changpeng Zhao (CZ), the co-founder of Binance and former CEO of the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange, is reportedly aligning himself with President Donald Trump’s policy initiatives following his recent release from a four-month jail sentence. This shift comes as Zhao seeks to navigate the complexities of his situation in the US in light of his legal challenges, including a formal application for a presidential pardon after serving time for violations related to anti-money laundering laws (AML). Will CZ’s Strategy Result? As reported by Crypto in America, Zhao’s foundation, Giggle Academy, has partnered with American Legion Charities to donate $2 million to create a permanent scholarship for the children of fallen and disabled US service members. Per the report, this initiative is particularly timely, coinciding with Trump’s renewed focus on artificial intelligence (AI) and blockchain technology. Related Reading: Is $1 Dogecoin ‚Inevitable‘? Analyst Cites Perfect Storm Of Factors Zhaos’ scholarship program aims to empower students by providing grants of up to $20,000 and features an annual competition that encourages participants to address pressing societal issues with innovative solutions. This aligns with the Trump administration’s broader objectives, which include bolstering America’s position as a global leader in technology and cryptocurrency while supporting veterans and their families. Recently, the president’s administration approved an $832 billion defense funding bill that includes pay raises and enhanced benefits for service members, further underscoring this commitment. Former Binance CEO’s Pardon Application Gains Traction Industry insiders view Zhao’s “philanthropic initiative” as potentially strategic, suggesting that it could be an attempt to gain favor with the president. “CZ knows what he’s doing,” remarked a crypto executive familiar with the landscape. The executive, who chose to remain anonymous when responding to Crypto in America’s inquiries, further stated: For the US to maintain its status as the crypto capital of the world, it needs strong leadership from its top exchanges and entrepreneurs. Moreover, we need a skilled workforce to drive the future economy. Related Reading: Crypto Founder Reveals What Will Drive Ethereum Price To $10,000 Adding to Binance’s former CEO complex situation in the country, recent speculation has emerged regarding his chances of receiving a presidential pardon. CZ has topped crypto-betting platform Polymarket’s leaderboard as the individual most likely to be pardoned by President Donald Trump in 2025, according to recent polls. This narrative gained momentum after Zhao confirmed on a podcast that he had formally applied for a pardon. This came after a tumultuous year in which he faced significant legal hurdles, leading him to leave Binance and relinquish any role in its operations. When writing, the exchange’s native token Binance Coin (BNB) trades at $782, a gap of over 3% from its current record high of $809 reached two days ago. Featured image from CNBC, chart from TradingView.com
According to a recent report by Bloomberg, Binance, the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume, is facing significant challenges as its market share continues to decline. In September, Binance’s share of trading volume in the roughly $2 trillion digital asset market fell to 36.6%, down sharply from 42.7% at the start of the year and the lowest level in four years, according to data from CCData. Binance Spot And Derivatives Trading Hits Four-Year Lows The drop in market share is particularly pronounced in both the spot and derivatives trading arenas. Binance’s 27% share of the spot market represents its lowest level since January 2021, while its derivatives trading share stands at 40.7%, also the lowest in four years. Related Reading: Crypto Analyst Maintains $7.50 XRP Target Despite SEC Appeal Against Ripple Per the report, this decline can be attributed to the legal saga that the exchange has been experiencing globally since last year, but particularly in the US, which has not only had a notable impact on the exchange’s financial metrics, but has also led to changes in its leadership. The company has been under increased scrutiny globally, following a settlement with the US Department of Justice (DOJ) last year over serious charges, including sanctions violations, which resulted in a hefty $4 billion fine. The fallout from these regulatory actions included the resignation of co-founder and former CEO Changpeng Zhao (CZ), who served four months in prison as part of the proceedings. However, the former CEO was released by US authorities last Friday after serving his sentence. In an effort to rebuild trust and navigate the regulatory landscape, Binance appointed Richard Teng, a former regulator, as its new CEO. Teng has been actively engaged with regulators investigating Binance in various jurisdictions, while also appointing a new board of directors and the intentions of establishing a new headquarter. Centralized Crypto Exchanges Face 17% Volume Drop The report further highlights that the broader market for centralized crypto exchanges is also facing challenges, with combined spot and derivatives trading volumes dropping 17% in September. However, this decline is typical for the month, which is often seasonally weak, but it has resulted in the lowest monthly trading activity since June. Notably, Binance has seen the most severe market-share decline among top exchanges, as competitors such as Bybit, Bitget, and Crypto.com have begun to capture a larger share of the market. Related Reading: Crypto Analyst Says Solana-Based BONK Is In Prime Position For Legendary Rally Jacob Joseph, a senior research analyst at CCData, noted that this trend may indicate a growing confidence among crypto participants in alternative platforms that “offer similar user experiences,” including low trading fees, minimal slippage, and high market liquidity. Despite the challenges, Binance recently achieved a significant milestone, becoming the first centralized crypto exchange to surpass $100 trillion in lifetime trading volume, according to CCData. At the time of writing, the exchange’s native token, BNB, currently the fourth largest cryptocurrency on the market, is trading at $545, up just 1% in the last 24 hours amid the broader market decline. Featured image from DALL-E, chart from TradingView.com
Gambaryan’s next hearing is set for Sept. 4, where the judge will consider the executive’s latest motion for bail.
As the trial of Binance executive Tigran Gambaryan restarts in Nigeria, Cointelegraph recaps the story so far.
As the crypto market ended March positively, the industry gears up for an eventful April, marked by crucial developments and milestones that could significantly impact the digital asset landscape. Crypto Halvings And Regulatory Deadlines The month starts with the Bitcoin Cash (BCH) halving event scheduled for April 2nd. Similar to Bitcoin (BTC), BCH undergoes a […]
Over the past five days, Bitcoin (BTC), the leading cryptocurrency, has experienced a period of heightened volatility, triggering significant liquidations of leveraged positions as its price fluctuated wildly in hours. After reaching an all-time high of $73,750 on Thursday, BTC experienced a sharp decline to $64,600 on Sunday. On Monday, at the start of the […]
Former Binance CEO Changpeng "CZ" Zhao has been ordered to remain in the U.S. while awaiting his sentencing in February.
This court “hereby accepts the guilty plea of the defendant to the charge [...] and the defendant is adjudged guilty of such offense,” wrote Judge Richard Jones.