As a seasoned crypto investor with a knack for keeping tabs on industry leaders, I find myself intrigued by Changpeng Zhao’s (CZ) recent release from custody. Despite his temporary absence, Binance’s native token has managed to hold its ground and even see a 6% growth in the past week. This resilience speaks volumes about the confidence investors have in CZ’s leadership and the potential of the crypto market as a whole.


Changpeng Zhao, who established and previously ran the leading global cryptocurrency trading platform, has completed a four-month jail term and is now a free man, having been discharged from detention as of last Friday.

Despite relinquishing his role as CEO at Binance, he remains its biggest shareholder.

Remember the incident that happened about a year back, when the United States Department of Justice disclosed a colossal $4.3 billion settlement with the cryptocurrency exchange that was headed by CZ at the time.

After prolonged examinations by various parties, Binance, along with its founder, admitted to deliberately violating the Bank Secrecy Act.

In simpler terms, Zhao’s appeal related to not establishing an effective Anti-Money Laundering (AML) system. Consequently, he was forced to resign from his position as CEO at Binance and had to pay a fine of $50 million.

Towards the end of April, CZ was given a four-month jail term instead of the three years that were initially sought. He stated at the time:

I’ll serve out my current situation, move on to a new stage in life (focusing on education), and maintain a passive role in cryptocurrency investments. The industry we’re in is evolving now, and compliance is crucial. A positive aspect of this situation is that Binance has been scrutinized closely. Your funds are secure.

His sentence was originally scheduled to conclude on September 29, however, since that day is a Sunday, he was instead freed on the previous workday before the weekend – which is Friday.

This week has seen Binance’s native token perform favorably, with a 6% increase over the past seven days and currently trading above $600. Reports suggest that Changpeng Zhao (CZ) still holds approximately 64% of the total BNB supply.

Previously, CZ mentioned plans for action upon his prison release. Known as the “Giggle Academy,” this project is designed to offer complimentary education in an engaging, interactive format that adapts to each student’s learning pace.

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2024-09-28 09:40