Changpeng Zhao

Changpeng Zhao, commonly known as CZ, was born on September 10, 1977. He is a prominent Canadian businessman recognized for his significant contributions to the cryptocurrency industry. As the co-founder of influential companies such as Binance and Blockchain.com, Zhao has played a pivotal role in shaping the digital currency landscape.

Before establishing Binance, Zhao served as the Chief Technology Officer of OKCoin, where he honed his expertise in blockchain technology. Under his leadership as CEO of Binance, the platform grew to become one of the largest cryptocurrency exchanges in the world, solidifying his status as a key figure in the financial technology sector.

Despite his success, Zhao's career faced challenges. In November 2023, he resigned as CEO of Binance following allegations from the U.S. Department of Justice regarding violations of the Bank Secrecy Act and the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. In April 2024, he pleaded guilty and was sentenced to four months in prison, completing his sentence by September of the same year.

In a surprising turn of events, Zhao received a presidential pardon from President Donald Trump in October 2025, allowing him to re-enter the business world. As of March 2026, his net worth is estimated at one hundred eleven billion eight hundred million dollars, making him the richest Canadian and the seventeenth richest person globally.