cz

Back in 2017, Binance launched quietly. Few people really noticed, and even fewer imagined that a small token sold in an ICO for around $0.11 to $0.15 would one day become the backbone of a huge blockchain ecosystem. That token was BNB, or Binance Coin, and its story is more than just numbers. It's about vision, risks, hype, mistakes, corrections, and persistence.

BNB started simply. It was just a coin to pay for lower trading fees on Binance. But over the years, it evolved into something much bigger. Today, BNB isn’t just for fees. It’s used for staking, DeFi, GameFi, NFT projects, Launchpools, cross-chain transactions, and more. Its journey shows how a simple idea, backed by the right execution, can grow into a global phenomenon.

1. CZ – From a Young Programmer to Crypto Visionary

Changpeng Zhao, better known as CZ, is the face behind Binance. Born in 1977 in China, his family moved to Canada when he was twelve. He worked at McDonald’s as a teen, studied Computer Science at McGill University, and eventually worked in tech roles at Bloomberg and the Tokyo Stock Exchange. CZ built high-frequency trading software, gaining deep insight into how markets work.

In 2013, he took a big leap—he sold his apartment and bought Bitcoin when it was around $600 each. He later became CTO at Blockchain.info and OKCoin. CZ saw the growing potential in crypto, and when China started regulating exchanges in 2017, he decided to launch his own global platform: Binance. That decision would change the trajectory of BNB forever.

2. The BNB ICO – Eight Days That Started It All

From June 26 to July 3, 2017, Binance ran an ICO for BNB. The goal was modest—raise $15 million. The result? Exactly that. 200 million BNB tokens were minted: 50% for the public, 40% for the team (locked), and 10% for angel investors. Each token cost between $0.11 and $0.15. It was simple: use it on Binance for trading fee discounts. At that moment, nobody could have imagined that BNB would one day run an entire blockchain ecosystem.

3. Launch and Early Success

Binance went live on July 14, 2017, just 11 days after the ICO ended. Right away, it offered something unique: low fees, fast trading, and a wide variety of altcoins. Traders noticed. By the end of the first month, Binance was already one of the top exchanges in the world by trading volume. BNB demand increased rapidly because everyone wanted to save on fees. The coin's utility created immediate value, and people started taking notice.

4. BNB Chain – Turning a Token into a Network

2019 marked a turning point. Binance launched its own blockchain, Binance Chain. BNB transitioned from an ERC-20 token to a native coin on this new chain. Then came Binance Smart Chain (BSC) in 2020, designed for fast and cheap transactions. BSC became home to numerous DeFi projects like PancakeSwap, sparking a boom. By 2021, BNB reached an all-time high around $690. Binance Smart Chain was later rebranded as BNB Chain, with the motto “Build and Build.” Suddenly, BNB was no longer just a discount token—it was the heart of an entire ecosystem.

5. Burn Mechanism – Controlling Supply, Creating Value

One of the smartest moves in BNB’s evolution was the quarterly burn. Binance committed to buying back and destroying a portion of BNB every quarter. This gradual reduction of supply—aiming to cut circulating supply to 100 million—created scarcity. Investors responded. This wasn’t hype; it was a calculated strategy to maintain value over the long term. Every burn, every announcement reinforced confidence in the coin’s future.

6. Challenges and CZ’s Legal Issues

Growth didn’t come without challenges. In 2023, Binance faced scrutiny from US authorities. CZ had to step back temporarily due to legal investigations related to regulatory compliance. The market reacted with fear, but the BNB ecosystem didn’t collapse. It proved that BNB was resilient, and the network wasn’t dependent solely on one individual. The community, projects, and Binance infrastructure continued to grow.

7. Current Status – 2026

As of early 2026, BNB remains one of the top crypto assets by market cap. Its real-world use cases are extensive: paying gas fees on BNB Chain, staking, participating in Launchpool events, DeFi, NFTs, and cross-chain transactions. BNB is no longer just the coin behind an exchange—it’s a full ecosystem token. Quarterly burns continue, circulating supply slowly decreases, and demand keeps rising as the chain grows.

8. The Future – What Could Happen Next

Looking forward, the future of BNB depends on several factors: global regulations, developer activity on BNB Chain, Layer-2 adoption, and competition from other exchanges. Scarcity combined with increasing utility could drive price appreciation over the long term. But it’s crypto, and volatility is a constant. Smart investors watch both opportunity and risk.

Conclusion

BNB’s journey is inspiring. What started as a simple token for fee discounts has become the backbone of a global blockchain ecosystem. CZ’s vision, risk-taking, and execution turned BNB into a powerhouse. From an ICO worth $0.11 per coin to a multi-billion-dollar network asset, the story of BNB proves that in crypto, small beginnings can lead to extraordinary outcomes.
Build and Build. The story isn’t over yet.
$BNB
#BNB #BNBChain #cz

Binance founder Changpeng Zhao (CZ) stated in an AMA (Ask Me Anything) session that centralized exchanges (CEX) and decentralized exchanges (DEX) will continue to coexist for many years to come.
CZ also stated that global cryptocurrency adoption is much lower than commonly believed, adding, “The true depth is probably below 1%.”
According to CZ, CEX and DEX platforms are not direct competitors but serve different user profiles. CZ stated that using DEX platforms requires technical knowledge and a high level of security discipline, adding that protecting one’s own wallet is still a specialized field.
CZ stated that those wishing to actively trade on DEXs should use a “clean” and secure computer, adding that assets in wallets could be at serious risk if infected with malware.However, CZ noted that CEXs offer a simpler user experience with features like email, passwords, and customer support, and that non-technical users initially prefer centralized exchanges. He added that users who gain experience may eventually switch to DEXs.
CZ stated that the global crypto ownership rate is estimated to be around 8–10%, but these individuals hold less than 10% of their total assets in cryptocurrencies. In light of this data, he indicated that the true share of crypto in global wealth remains below 1%.
Therefore, CZ stated that there is still significant growth potential in the sector, adding that it is not accurate to speak of meaningful competition between CEX and DEX at this stage, as the market is large enough to accommodate thousands of players.CZ urged projects and ecosystem teams to “focus on their own work instead of looking at others.” Stating that a good product wins in the long run, CZ said that short-term fluctuations in token price shouldn’t be given too much importance. He argued that the security of user funds, low cost, fast transactions, and a good user experience are the real success criteria.He also stated that projects issuing tokens should regularly update their products, share their roadmap transparently, and maintain frequent communication with the community.
CZ, who openly stated that he is not an expert in memecoin trading, indicated that investors who buy memecoins based on his own posts will most likely lose money. He noted that long-lasting memecoins have a strong cultural base and loyal community, and that new projects in this area are riskier. He advised, “If you don’t know what you’re doing, don’t get in.”
CZ stated that the current bear market has different dynamics than past cycles. He considered the US’s more supportive stance towards crypto as a positive development in the long term.
However, CZ stated that it is impossible to make a clear prediction about the market direction in the short term, and that investors should carefully evaluate their own risks. “I believe the sector will do well in the long term,” CZ said, adding that the focus should be on creating lasting value rather than focusing on daily price movements.$BNB
$BTC
$ETH
#cz #bnb #Binance #CPIWatch #USNFPBlowout

Binance founder Changpeng Zhao, widely known as CZ, has argued that the lack of privacy in current blockchain systems may be the missing link preventing broader adoption of crypto payments.

Key Takeaways:
CZ says insufficient privacy is limiting crypto payment adoption.Public blockchains make salary and transaction data easily traceable.Corporate use cases may require stronger privacy protections.The debate reopens tension between transparency and confidentiality.Privacy-focused solutions could become central to next-stage adoption.
In a recent post, CZ highlighted how transparent on-chain transactions can create practical limitations for businesses. He noted that if a company pays employees in crypto directly on-chain, anyone can trace the originating wallet and effectively see how much individuals are being paid - an issue that may discourage corporate adoption.

Transparency as a Double-Edged Sword
Public blockchains such as Bitcoin and Ethereum were designed for transparency, allowing anyone to verify transactions. While this feature enhances trust and auditability, it also creates visibility that may be impractical for commercial operations.
For companies, salary data, supplier payments, and treasury movements are typically confidential. On fully transparent ledgers, wallet addresses tied to known entities can expose sensitive financial information.
CZ’s example - employees’ pay being viewable via wallet tracing - underscores the operational friction businesses may face when considering crypto payroll systems.
Enterprise Adoption Hurdles
Despite steady growth in crypto infrastructure, real-world payment adoption remains limited relative to speculative trading and investment use cases.
Corporations require:
Confidential payroll processingCompetitive secrecy in supplier paymentsProtection against financial profiling
Without privacy layers, on-chain payments can inadvertently reveal strategic or personal information.
This challenge has fueled development in privacy-enhancing technologies such as zero-knowledge proofs, confidential transactions, and shielded wallet systems.
The Balance Between Regulation and Privacy
Privacy in crypto remains a sensitive topic, particularly amid regulatory scrutiny over illicit finance concerns. Policymakers have increasingly emphasized transparency and compliance, sometimes placing restrictions on privacy-focused tools.
CZ’s comments highlight the tension between regulatory visibility and commercial confidentiality. While full anonymity is unlikely to gain regulatory approval in major jurisdictions, controlled privacy - where transaction data is shielded from the public but accessible to regulators under legal frameworks - may emerge as a compromise.
What Comes Next
As crypto matures beyond speculation toward real-world payment infrastructure, usability and privacy will likely become core battlegrounds for innovation.
If companies are expected to move payroll, settlements, and treasury functions on-chain, systems may need to evolve to offer enterprise-grade confidentiality without sacrificing compliance.
CZ’s remarks suggest that solving the privacy gap could be a decisive step in transitioning crypto payments from niche adoption to mainstream utility.
#Binance #CZ