One evening in 2018, Binance founder Zhao Changpeng (CZ) sat in his office, as usual, staring at the data on the screen. He had just finished a video conference and looked a bit tired. Although Binance had become one of the largest cryptocurrency exchanges in the world, he knew well that this was just the beginning; the future was full of challenges and uncertainties.
Just then, an unexpected email popped up in CZ's inbox. The sender was Elon Musk. The email was short and straightforward: 'I heard you are very interested in blockchain technology. I have an idea; perhaps we can chat. - Elon.'
CZ was taken aback, not expecting Musk to contact him directly. He quickly replied, 'Glad to receive your email, when can we meet?'
Thus, the two tech giants arranged to meet at a secret café in Los Angeles. The entire process had no assistants and no media. Musk wore a simple black T-shirt, looking excited, as if he couldn't wait to share his dreams. CZ remained low-key, dressed in Binance's black hoodie.
Musk got straight to the point: 'Blockchain technology can change the financial system, but it lacks a key element—a global payment system. We need to create a technology that can enable true global payments.'
CZ paused for a moment, nodded, 'I agree with your thoughts, but currently, the efficiency and speed of blockchain cannot support a global payment system.'
Musk smiled and said, 'That's exactly why we are collaborating.'
At that moment, CZ felt he saw a bright future, but also sensed a hint of unease—Musk was not only a dreamer but seemed to have some unpredictable ambitions.
In the following months, the two secretly collaborated, and the teams from Binance and Tesla worked together to develop a new technology called 'Lightning Payment Chain,' aimed at making cryptocurrency circulate like cash. This project was kept low-profile, known only to a few.
Musk excitedly stated in an internal meeting: 'We are building a borderless financial system!'
CZ was inspired by this grand vision and threw himself into it wholeheartedly, gradually building trust, even believing that Musk was one of the few partners he could fight alongside. However, the good times didn't last long.
At the end of 2020, the crypto market experienced severe volatility. Bitcoin's price soared, and Tesla announced a $1.5 billion investment in Bitcoin, quickly igniting the market. But shortly after, Musk made a shocking statement on Twitter: 'Bitcoin is too centralized and may not be the future.'
This statement directly triggered a market crash, and Bitcoin's price plummeted instantly. CZ realized the seriousness of the problem and immediately called Musk: 'What on earth are you doing? We are pushing the 'Lightning Payment Chain' project; don't you think this will affect our cooperation?'
On the other end of the line, Musk was unconcerned: 'The market needs some volatility to move forward, CZ, you are too nervous.'
CZ was taken aback and calmly replied, 'If you are just trying to manipulate the market, then there is no need for us to continue our cooperation.'
This was the first serious argument between the two. After hanging up the phone, CZ realized that Musk was not just a dreamer; he was also a businessman, one willing to go to any lengths for profit and market fluctuations.
Over time, Musk's attitude became increasingly erratic—sometimes he supported Bitcoin, sometimes he backed Dogecoin, causing turmoil in the market. CZ chose to remain silent and focused on the development of Binance. But in 2021, Musk publicly mocked Binance's withdrawal system delays, and CZ immediately retaliated: 'Shouldn't Tesla's autopilot system be updated too? Don't forget, human life is more important than money.'
This tweet plunged Musk into a storm of public opinion, with the public once again focusing on the risks of Tesla's autopilot accidents, supporting CZ. Musk did not respond further, and their relationship completely broke down.
By the end of 2022, the cryptocurrency market had entered another winter, and both Binance's and Tesla's crypto projects faced significant impacts. At that time, the two ran into each other backstage at a blockchain summit. Musk proactively walked up to CZ, extended his hand, and smiled: 'Perhaps we should talk again.'
CZ looked at Musk, expressionless, and after a moment of silence, finally shook his hand: 'I hope this time you can be serious.'
Stop looking, the bull market is here, hurry up and increase your positions!
