Finance Share Share this article Copy linkX (Twitter)LinkedInFacebookEmail Most Influential: Changpeng “CZ” Zhao Zhao Finance Share Share this article Copy linkX (Twitter)LinkedInFacebookEmail Most Influential: Changpeng “CZ” Zhao Zhao

Most Influential: Changpeng “CZ” Zhao

2025/12/12 23:00
4 min read
For feedback or concerns regarding this content, please contact us at [email protected]
Share
Share this article
Copy linkX (Twitter)LinkedInFacebookEmail

Most Influential: Changpeng “CZ” Zhao

Zhao’s exit from Binance did little to dim his prominence.

By Oliver Knight|Edited by Cheyenne Ligon
Updated Dec 12, 2025, 3:12 p.m. Published Dec 12, 2025, 3:00 p.m.

After stepping down as CEO of Binance in 2023 and serving a brief prison sentence for violating the federal Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) in the U.S., Changpeng “CZ” Zhao remains one of the most closely watched figures in crypto.

This feature is a part of CoinDesk's Most Influential 2025 list.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW
Don't miss another story.Subscribe to the Crypto Daybook Americas Newsletter today. See all newsletters
Sign me up

His formal exit from the exchange he built did little to dim his prominence. If anything, CZ’s influence only became stronger in 2025 after he was awarded a pardon from U.S. President Donald Trump.

CZ wrote that he was “deeply grateful” for the pardon and “to President Trump for upholding America’s commitment to fairness, innovation and justice.”

In a comical turn of events, Trump later claimed that he “didn’t know” who Zhao was before adding that he was a “victim of weaponization by government.”

This subtle dig didn’t dampen Zhao’s prolific use of social media, where he continues to comment on industry trends and the future of global crypto adoption. He even did something slightly out of character, publicly revealing that he had a $1.8 million position in ASTER, the native token of a derivatives exchange hosted on BNB Chain. His word carried weight, with ASTER rallying from $0.90 to $1.08 shortly after the tweet.

2025 also saw CZ take on a “more active role” in investment activities within YZi Labs, the venture capital arm of Binance that was previously called Binance Labs. Earlier this year it was reported YZi Labs managed around $10 billion in capital, including investment in more than 250 companies.

BinanceCZDonald TrumpCoinDesk Most Influential 2025

More For You

Protocol Research: GoPlus Security

Commissioned byGoPlus

What to know:

  • As of October 2025, GoPlus has generated $4.7M in total revenue across its product lines. The GoPlus App is the primary revenue driver, contributing $2.5M (approx. 53%), followed by the SafeToken Protocol at $1.7M.
  • GoPlus Intelligence's Token Security API averaged 717 million monthly calls year-to-date in 2025 , with a peak of nearly 1 billion calls in February 2025. Total blockchain-level requests, including transaction simulations, averaged an additional 350 million per month.
  • Since its January 2025 launch , the $GPS token has registered over $5B in total spot volume and $10B in derivatives volume in 2025. Monthly spot volume peaked in March 2025 at over $1.1B , while derivatives volume peaked the same month at over $4B.
View Full Report

More For You

Prediction Markets Are Coming to Phantom's 20M User Via Kalshi

Phantom users will be able to chat and trade Kalshi's prediction markets with any Solana-based tokens, CEO said.

What to know:

  • Crypto wallet Phantom is embedding Kalshi to offer prediction markets to its 20 million users.
  • Users can trade on real-world outcomes using any Solana-based tokens directly without leaving the wallet.
  • The integration of prediction markets is part of a trend among crypto wallets to expand their features and services, such as MetaMask's partnership with Polymarket.
Read full story
Latest Crypto News

Prediction Markets Are Coming to Phantom's 20M User Via Kalshi

Most Influential: Tom Lee

Most Influential: Jesse Pollak

Most Influential: David Bailey

Most Influential: Michael Saylor

Top Stories

Most Influential: Tom Lee

U.S. SEC Gives Implicit Nod for Tokenized Stocks

Crypto Markets Today: Bitcoin Stuck in Post-Fed Range as Altcoins Slump Deepens

YouTube Now Allows U.S. Content Creators to Get Paid in PayPal’s Stablecoin: Fortune

XRP Lands on Solana, Ethereum and Others, in Boost for Ripple Ecosystem

Bitcoin's Volatility Meltdown: Crypto Daybook Americas

Disclaimer: The articles reposted on this site are sourced from public platforms and are provided for informational purposes only. They do not necessarily reflect the views of MEXC. All rights remain with the original authors. If you believe any content infringes on third-party rights, please contact [email protected] for removal. MEXC makes no guarantees regarding the accuracy, completeness, or timeliness of the content and is not responsible for any actions taken based on the information provided. The content does not constitute financial, legal, or other professional advice, nor should it be considered a recommendation or endorsement by MEXC.

You May Also Like

Tron Got Rejected at the Trendline and Is Now Rolling Toward Support – Key Level to Watch

Tron Got Rejected at the Trendline and Is Now Rolling Toward Support – Key Level to Watch

TRX/USDT is trading at $0.2810 on March 3, 2026, after failing to hold above its rising channel and facing rejection beneath descending resistance, with analysts
Share
Ethnews2026/03/03 22:06
XRPL Proposal Eyes Hyperliquid-Like Sidechain To Tap $40B Options Market Now

XRPL Proposal Eyes Hyperliquid-Like Sidechain To Tap $40B Options Market Now

TLDR XRPL proposal targets the $40B BTC and ETH options market dominated by Deribit. The plan supports American-style options and margin, with leverage up to 200x
Share
Coincentral2026/03/03 22:18
UK crypto holders brace for FCA’s expanded regulatory reach

UK crypto holders brace for FCA’s expanded regulatory reach

The post UK crypto holders brace for FCA’s expanded regulatory reach appeared on BitcoinEthereumNews.com. British crypto holders may soon face a very different landscape as the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) moves to expand its regulatory reach in the industry. A new consultation paper outlines how the watchdog intends to apply its rulebook to crypto firms, shaping everything from asset safeguarding to trading platform operation. According to the financial regulator, these proposals would translate into clearer protections for retail investors and stricter oversight of crypto firms. UK FCA plans Until now, UK crypto users mostly encountered the FCA through rules on promotions and anti-money laundering checks. The consultation paper goes much further. It proposes direct oversight of stablecoin issuers, custodians, and crypto-asset trading platforms (CATPs). For investors, that means the wallets, exchanges, and coins they rely on could soon be subject to the same governance and resilience standards as traditional financial institutions. The regulator has also clarified that firms need official authorization before serving customers. This condition should, in theory, reduce the risk of sudden platform failures or unclear accountability. David Geale, the FCA’s executive director of payments and digital finance, said the proposals are designed to strike a balance between innovation and protection. He explained: “We want to develop a sustainable and competitive crypto sector – balancing innovation, market integrity and trust.” Geale noted that while the rules will not eliminate investment risks, they will create consistent standards, helping consumers understand what to expect from registered firms. Why does this matter for crypto holders? The UK regulatory framework shift would provide safer custody of assets, better disclosure of risks, and clearer recourse if something goes wrong. However, the regulator was also frank in its submission, arguing that no rulebook can eliminate the volatility or inherent risks of holding digital assets. Instead, the focus is on ensuring that when consumers choose to invest, they do…
Share
BitcoinEthereumNews2025/09/17 23:52