After experiencing four months of imprisonment in the United States, Binance founder Zhao Changpeng (CZ) made his first public appearance at the recent Binance Dubai Blockchain Week. Due to having more time in prison, he returned to the public eye with a more muscular physique. He discussed his prison experience and various future plans in an interview with ChainNews Dubai.
Heroic Welcome! CZ Still Highly Influential
At the speaking area of the Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai, Binance founder Zhao Changpeng was set to speak publicly in half an hour, and the hall was already packed with people. As CZ approached the hall from outside, the crowd inside occasionally heard enthusiastic cheers from outside, causing even the speakers on stage to pause and discuss the return of this superstar.
CZ: My Life in Prison Wasn’t Great, Harsh Sentence
Zhao Changpeng said his life in prison wasn’t great, but having free time helped him understand the importance of connections with people. He mentioned that he wouldn’t dwell on whether the sentence was fair, but it was indeed a harsh one; no one had been imprisoned for the same charges in the past.
I Was the Poorest in Prison, Asked about Alpha
Zhao Changpeng jokingly said he made friends in prison but didn’t keep in touch after coming out; indeed, a few people asked about buying certain coins, but because he had no contact with the outside world, he really didn’t know what to say. “You only have 15 minutes on the computer, but there’s no copy-paste function.”
Still a Major Shareholder of Binance, Will Focus on Investments and Education in the Future
Zhao Changpeng mentioned that he is still a major shareholder of Binance but cannot give advice or orders. “I also believe a CEO shouldn’t serve for more than 10 years. I now have more time to study AI and delve into DeFi, which I didn’t have time to look into before.” He expressed his focus on education, investments in cryptocurrency, AI, and biotechnology.
“Wish I Had Held on for Two More Months”
During the U.S. presidential election, both candidates began to express their support for cryptocurrencies. Zhao Changpeng noted that overall global regulations are progressing, but large countries are moving slower. “When I was in prison, I saw Trump starting to support cryptocurrencies and both parties starting to support them. I thought, should I have held on for two more months?”
Education Project Giggle Academy, But No Token Issuance
Zhao Changpeng stated that he currently spends half of his time on Giggle Academy, a digital way to promote education. When asked if this project would involve cryptocurrencies, he said that for Giggle Academy, there is no need to issue new tokens as there are already too many cryptocurrencies in the world. In the short term, Giggle Academy will not be integrated with token economics, but in the long run, he does hope to integrate with Web3. Zhao Changpeng emphasized the potential of achieving inclusive education through AI, games, and various technologies.
The Strongest Twitter KOL Returns
In fact, Zhao Changpeng had already emphasized that he rarely intervened in operations before the U.S. lawsuit, so the impact of the settlement restrictions on his involvement in Binance was minimal. During his time in prison, Binance operated normally under the leadership of co-founder He Yi and CEO Richard Teng. Zhao Changpeng CZ had a significant influence on Twitter in the past and frequently interacted with current affairs and celebrities. His return to online commentary and the potential trend of making waves are the future highlights.