Former Head of Binance is Back in the Game. But Did He Ever Leave? 

You might have missed it, but Changpeng "CZ" Zhao is back in the industry despite his pledge to step away from Binance. Yet, as always, there are ways to work around a ban without technically breaking it. 

First, let’s talk about the regulators who put him behind bars. Where are they now? Many of them are scrambling to dodge their own investigations over the infamous Chokepoint 2.0 operation. That was the government program that tried to strangle crypto. They debanked crypto companies, went after their leaders, threw them in prison, but the industry survived and it’s thriving in this new, more structured regulatory environment.  

Second, CZ played it smart. He didn't just return, but he reinvented his presence. Binance Labs, the venture capital arm of Binance, has been rebranded as YZi Labs. The platform has shifted its focus beyond crypto to include AI and biotech. But here’s the key detail: YZi Labs is now officially fully independent from Binance. On paper, it’s a separate entity, free from any direct control by Binance’s former CEO.

But let’s be real. CZ never left. Despite his depature from the Binance leadership, his wife and close team members are still at the helm of Binance. It’s clear that CZ remains a mastermind behind everything that’s happening at the exchange. Besides, CZ continues to be a major figure in the crypto world. 

Since CZ was unfairly targeted by regulators and became a "victim of lawfare," some experts have suggested that Donald Trump should grant him a pardon.

CZ himself addressed the idea in an X post:

"No wish to be CEO again. But definitely wouldn’t mind a pardon" 

Will it happen? With many cases now being reconsidered, CZ’s case deserves to be among them—for the sake of justice.

#Binance #CZ #CryptoRegulation #AI #Biotech #YZiLabs #ChokePoint