In 2013, during a casual poker game with friends, Changpeng Zhao, widely known as CZ, stumbled upon a concept that would change his life forever: #Bitcoin 💡. Introduced as a revolutionary digital currency that operated without banks or intermediaries, Bitcoin initially seemed unusual and abstract to CZ. However, it ignited his curiosity and lingered in his thoughts.
With a solid tech background—developing trading systems for the Tokyo Stock Exchange and building financial software at Bloomberg—CZ dove deeper into Bitcoin 🧑💻. The more he learned, the more he recognized its groundbreaking potential. Trusting his instincts, he made a bold move: he sold his Shanghai apartment and invested everything into Bitcoin.
This leap of faith marked the start of CZ’s incredible crypto journey 🚀. He soon became the Head of Development at Blockchain.info, collaborating with early innovators in the space. Later, as CTO at OKCoin, he gained invaluable experience in crypto exchange operations 🔑.
By 2017, CZ saw an opportunity to revolutionize the industry. He envisioned a platform that was faster, more user-friendly, and accessible to a global audience 🌍. Backed by his vision, he launched Binance, raising $20M through an ICO. Within months, Binance skyrocketed to become the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange, setting new benchmarks in the industry 🏆.
What began as a casual poker conversation evolved into a defining moment for CZ—a moment that inspired him to reshape the future of digital finance. His story is a testament to the power of curiosity, risk-taking, and belief in innovation to transform history.
