Most Influential: Changpeng “CZ” Zhao

Picture this: Former CEO of Binance, CZ-an unassuming acronym that now stands for “Couldzelly Zorb,” or so it seems-shuffles out of the CEO chair in 2023, probably muttering something about the “Bank Secrecy Act” and briefly sampling the American penal system. Who knew the crypto world was a soap opera with a plot twist involving federal statutes and cell bars? Since then, CZ’s star hasn’t just refused to dim; it’s blazed more brightly in 2025, especially after snagging a presidential pardon (Trump, of course, playing his usual game of political peekaboo).

In gratitude, CZ penned a love note of sorts, praising “America’s commitment to fairness, innovation, and justice”-though, with the charm of a cat observing a thunderstorm. Trump, in a rare moment of clarity or perhaps just misdirection, later claimed he “didn’t know” who Zhao was-classic Trump-adding that CZ was a “victim of weaponization.” Makes you wonder if CZ’s influence is a superpower or just good PR in a digital era of chaos.

Never one to miss the social media parade, CZ kept tweeting, commenting, and sharing opinions-sometimes about the future of crypto, sometimes about his holdings. Out of character, he revealed a $1.8-million stake in ASTER, a BNB Chain-based derivative token, sparking a rally that moved its price from $0.90 to $1.08-because of him, the market really does listen.

2025 also saw CZ donning a new hat: that of venture capitalist, taking a more “active role” at YZi Labs (formerly Binance Labs), which reportedly manages a tidy $10 billion across more than 250 startups. Who says crypto’s only about coins? CZ, apparently, is busy building empires on unpredictable foundations, just for fun.

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2025-12-12 19:14