Six months after his sentencing, Changpeng Zhao (CZ), the former CEO of Binance, has officially been released from prison today (September 27).
Changpeng Zhao (CZ) – the “father” of the Binance empire, may be “released” today (September 27), two days earlier than the official announcement from U.S. authorities. Although the inmate record states the release date as September 29, since that falls on a Sunday, CZ is expected to be “pardoned” early.
When questioned by Megaphone, CZ’s lawyers only hinted that their client does not wish to appear in the media for now, while keeping his future plans confidential. However, insiders speculate that Dubai will be his first destination after his release, to reunite with his family.
Before being imprisoned, CZ had shared about Giggle Academy – an educational project for children that he was working on. And with an estimated “treasure” of $61 billion (according to Forbes) – representing 90% of Binance shares that he retained after his agreement with U.S. authorities – CZ certainly has the “ammunition” to pursue any future plans.
Binance expressed joy in their statement: “We are very happy that CZ will soon reunite with his family. Though he no longer leads Binance, we are excited to see what his next steps will be.” They also proudly highlighted Binance’s impressive growth under its new leadership, with the global user base surpassing 229 million.
However, CZ’s and Binance’s future relationship remains uncertain. In a recent interview, the new CEO Richard Teng confirmed that CZ will never be able to return to Binance. Whether this is a “ban” imposed by U.S. authorities or simply a “new rule” set by Binance remains a mystery.
Still, the news of CZ’s imminent freedom has stirred the crypto community. Some even liken this to a “bullish unlock,” suggesting that CZ’s release might “ignite” the crypto market.
