Binance founder Changpeng Zhao (CZ) appears to be eyeing an investment in artificial intelligence-focused data centers as part of his exploration of new investment opportunities.
Despite facing the potential risk of three years in prison for allowing various money laundering schemes on his exchange, former Binance boss Changpeng Zhao (CZ) has reportedly held multiple discussions with OpenAI CEO Sam Altman to explore new ventures, The New York Times reported, citing people familiar with the matter.
Details of Zhao’s discussions with Altman are unclear, with sources saying only that the former Binance head is particularly interested in artificial intelligence. According to reports, Zhao first met with Altman in 2023, before he resigned as Binance CEO. People familiar with the matter said that Zhao and Altman had another round of discussions after OpenAI’s leadership changes in late November.
In a meeting in December 2023, Zhao Changpeng confirmed to Ronghui Gu, a professor of computer science at Columbia University, that he had communicated with Sam Altman. In an interview with The New York Times, Gu said that Zhao Changpeng and Altman both believe that artificial intelligence will provide great help in achieving the development of technology and human knowledge. This shows that the two industry leaders share a positive view of the potential of AI technology and may be exploring cooperation opportunities to promote the application and development of AI in different fields.
Ronghui Gu also added that Binance founder Zhao Changpeng mentioned in a meeting that he is "looking for opportunities" to invest in large data centers that power artificial intelligence applications. Although the specific target Zhao Changpeng prefers to invest in (whether OpenAI or its competitors) is not clear at this time, it shows that Zhao Changpeng is open to investments in the field of artificial intelligence and is optimistic about the future development potential of AI technology. Such investments may be intended to promote the development of AI technology and may include building infrastructure that provides the necessary computing power for AI algorithms to run.
In a November 2023 X post, Zhao Changpeng publicly discussed his plans after his legal issues and mentioned his interest in investing in Web3, decentralized finance, and artificial intelligence. This shows that despite the legal challenges, Zhao Changpeng still has a forward-looking investment perspective on emerging technologies and innovations, and is considering shifting his focus to these industries that have the potential to change the future financial and technological landscape. By mentioning Web3 and decentralized finance, Zhao Changpeng may be considering how to apply the decentralized nature of blockchain technology to a wider range of financial scenarios. At the same time, his interest in artificial intelligence may point to investment opportunities in areas such as efficient data processing, algorithmic trading, or smart contracts.
Zhao Changpeng said: "After that, my current consideration is that I may make some passive investments and become a minority equity/token holder in start-ups in the fields of blockchain/Web3/DeFi, artificial intelligence and biotechnology." This reflects that even while dealing with legal affairs, Zhao Changpeng is still planning his future investment direction, focusing on technological innovation and cutting-edge fields. By becoming a minority shareholder or token holder of these companies, he may seek to support and promote growth and innovation in these fields through equity investment, while bringing potential financial returns to himself.
Meanwhile, U.S. prosecutors are seeking a 36-month prison sentence for Zhao, citing the severity of the crimes he is accused of. Prosecutors argue that such a punishment will serve as a deterrent and prevent Zhao and others from ignoring U.S. laws for financial gain. Zhao pleaded guilty in November 2023 to charges of violating the Bank Secrecy Act, and he is awaiting sentencing, which is scheduled for April 30. Although he is currently free on $175 million bail, his request to travel to Dubai was rejected by a U.S. judge due to concerns about his vast wealth and potential flight risk. The incident shows that despite Zhao Changpeng's huge funds, his personal freedom is still restricted and he must face the uncertainty of legal consequences. #赵长鹏 SamAltman #AI投资
