CZ Reflects on Prison Experience, Future Plans In Interview at Dubai Blockchain

As a researcher, I find Changpeng Zhao’s resilience and focus on education, particularly Giggle Academy, truly commendable. His experiences, including his incarceration, have undoubtedly shaped his perspective, as evidenced by his emphasis on human connections and the importance of education for those less fortunate.


In a recent talk at the Dubai Blockchain Conference, Changpeng Zhao (CZ), the former CEO of Binance who’s well-known as CZ, made his first public appearance since his detention and subsequent release. The discussion touched upon several aspects such as his prison experience, responsibilities at Binance, and his views on the cryptocurrency market.

During a chat with Austin from All Coin Daily, CZ openly discussed his time in prison, focusing on the deep emotional impact of losing contact with loved ones. He expressed, “When everything is stripped away, what is it that you yearn for most? … It’s my children, family, and friends I long for.

CZ also spoke about his sentencing, he said – His charge was for the violation of the Banking Secrecy Act due to not registering a financial company in the U.S. and failing to implement an adequate anti-money laundering program.

He mentioned that no one had previously gone to jail for the specific violation in US history. But he pointed out that in court the judge was good and praised him for the extensive support he received. He said, that once in prison he realized his that his four-month sentence was relatively short compared to others serving five to fifteen years.

Regarding his position with Binance, CZ expressed that he’s no longer serving as CEO and is not actively participating in the company’s daily affairs. However, he remains a significant stockholder of Binance. This means he can ask for information but lacks the authority to make decisions or issue commands. To sum it up, he mentioned that their relationship continues to be strong.

Additionally, CZ emphasizes that while a banking security breach is indeed a severe issue, it serves as proof that no one’s funds were stolen in the process. He remains confident that his reputation remains robust and he wishes to channel his efforts towards new endeavors.

Currently, CZ is devoting its efforts towards Giggle Academy, a forward-thinking educational resource designed to deliver digital learning experiences to individuals who currently lack access. In fact, there are approximately 700 to 800 million adults worldwide who struggle with illiteracy, and an alarming two-thirds of them are women. Additionally, it’s estimated that between 300 to 500 million children don’t have the opportunity to attend school. This was clarified by CZ.

CZ remained optimistic about the crypto market carefully avoiding specific predictions. “Long term, I’m still very bullish,” he stated, highlighting that as more people engage with crypto, its utility and value will increase.

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2024-11-01 17:57