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Business & Money • Cryptocurrency

Changpeng Zhao

Changpeng Zhao, commonly known as CZ, is a Chinese-born Canadian businessman best known as the co-founder and former chief executive officer of Binance, the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 27, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Changpeng Zhao, commonly known as CZ, is a Chinese-born Canadian businessman best known as the co-founder and former chief executive officer of Binance, the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume. He has also worked in roles at OKCoin and Blockchain.info. Zhao pleaded guilty in the United States in 2023, served a four-month prison sentence in 2024, and later received a presidential pardon in 2025.

Early life and background

Changpeng Zhao was born in 1977 in Lianyungang, Jiangsu, China, and later became a Canadian citizen. Sources describe him as a Chinese-Canadian businessman.

Career before Binance

Before founding Binance, Zhao worked in cryptocurrency and trading-technology roles, including at Blockchain.info and as CTO of OKCoin. He also had experience building trading systems.

Binance

Zhao co-founded Binance in 2017 and served as its CEO until November 2023. The company grew into the largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume.

In 2023, Zhao stepped down as CEO after U.S. authorities alleged violations related to anti-money-laundering and sanctions compliance. He later pleaded guilty, was sentenced to four months in prison in 2024, and was pardoned in 2025.

Key facts

  • Changpeng Zhao co-founded Binance, the largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume.
  • He is a Canadian citizen born in China in 1977.
  • Before Binance, he worked at Blockchain.info and as CTO at OKCoin.
  • He pleaded guilty in the U.S. in 2023, served four months in prison in 2024, and received a presidential pardon in 2025.
  • He is commonly known by his nickname CZ.
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Canadian context

Zhao is a Canadian citizen and has been described in major rankings as the richest Canadian, making him a notable figure for Canadian business and cryptocurrency readers.

Frequently asked questions

Who is Changpeng Zhao?
He is a Chinese-born Canadian businessman best known as the co-founder and former CEO of Binance.
What is Changpeng Zhao known for?
He is known for founding Binance and helping it grow into the largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume.
What is his nickname?
He is commonly known as "CZ".
What companies did he work for before Binance?
Sources mention Blockchain.info and OKCoin, where he served as chief technology officer.
What happened to him in 2024?
He pleaded guilty in the United States and was sentenced to four months in prison.
Did he receive a pardon?
Yes. He received a presidential pardon in October 2025.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Changpeng_Zhao
    Supports: Birth year, Canadian nationality, Binance co-founding, former CEO role, sentencing, and pardon.
  2. Bloomberg — https://www.bloomberg.com/billionaires/profiles/changpeng-zhao/
    Supports: Binance founder status, company scale, and 2024 sentencing.
  3. Investopedia — https://www.investopedia.com/who-is-changpeng-zhao-6828869
    Supports: Binance founder and former CEO, company growth, and wealth context.
  4. TechCrunch — https://techcrunch.com/author/changpeng-zhao/
    Supports: Career background before Binance, including blockchain and trading systems work.