Binance founder Zhao Changpeng (CZ)'s first complete autobiography (Freedom of Money) (Chinese version (Binance Life)) was officially launched on April 8, 2026. The book has 364 pages and reviews the costs behind his imprisonment, guilty plea, and the rapid growth of Binance from a first-person perspective. CZ promised to donate 100% of the book's proceeds to charity. (Background: Bitcoin surged to $72,700, ETH broke $2,260! The entire network liquidated $600 million, 120,000 people were wiped out) (Background Supplement: How to instantly identify North Korean hackers? The interviewer asked to 'curse Kim Jong-un,' and the fake Japanese engineer was scared and broke down immediately) Binance founder Zhao Changpeng (CZ)'s first complete autobiography (Freedom of Money) (Chinese book title (Binance Life)) was officially launched today (April 8). The book has a total of 364 pages and follows his complete journey from grassroots rise, establishing the world's largest cryptocurrency exchange, to ultimately pleading guilty and going to prison from a first-person perspective. CZ also announced that 100% of the book's sales proceeds will be donated to charity. Motivation for writing: The story has been defined by the media CZ directly pointed out the reason for writing this book in the preface — he believes that the narrative about himself has long been dominated by media reports, court documents, and public commentary, and he hopes to provide a more complete context to the outside world through this book. The preface is written by Binance co-founder He Yi (Yi He). She has worked alongside CZ since 2014 and is one of the witnesses closest to this history within Binance. CZ emphasizes in the book that the human aspects behind Binance's rapid rise are often overlooked in the fragmented media reports. He attempts to fill in those simplified gaps through this book. Four months in prison, a $4.3 billion fine: Binance's historic settlement with the DOJ In 2024, CZ completed four months of federal imprisonment in the United States due to his guilty plea to charges of violating U.S. anti-money laundering laws (AML) and as part of a broader settlement agreement with the authorities, while also resigning as CEO of Binance. Binance agreed to pay up to $4.3 billion in fines in this settlement, while CZ was fined an additional $150 million and committed to fully implementing compliance reforms. The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) initially sought a longer sentence, but ultimately both parties reached an agreement. This prosecution of the world's largest cryptocurrency exchange also became one of the largest law enforcement actions in cryptocurrency history. U.S. regulators have been investigating Binance for years, focusing on issues including inadequate anti-money laundering controls, compliance gaps with sanctions, and operating without proper licenses. The completion of this settlement agreement also officially brought an end to this highly watched investigation in the cryptocurrency industry. Life in prison, FTX collapse, and interactions with SBF An important chapter in the book records CZ's personal experiences in federal prison — from leading a global company to adapting to the drastic difference in a closed confinement environment, he writes about it all without reservation. According to supplementary information, (Freedom of Money) also covers relevant chapters about the FTX collapse and Sam Bankman-Fried (SBF), as well as first-hand perspectives during the prosecution process by the DOJ and SEC. These contents make this book not just CZ's personal memoir but also a historical account of the cryptocurrency industry written from the perspective of a participant. CZ admits in the book that there were indeed decision-making errors during Binance's rapid growth, and he also reflects on the trade-offs made during settlement negotiations, guilty plea discussions, and resignation processes. He does not shy away from the responsibilities that led to the regulatory crisis but chooses to confront them directly. "Freedom of Money": The original intention of cryptocurrency and the opposition of compliance costs The book title (Freedom of Money) directly echoes the core theme of this book. CZ describes in the book that the idea of "financial freedom" refers to the ability of cryptocurrency to break through financial barriers — especially in countries where banking infrastructures are inadequate or capital controls are strict, its value is even more evident. He attributes part of Binance's rapid growth to users in emerging markets — these users transfer funds across borders through Binance, hedge against local currency depreciation risks, and thus access global financial markets. CZ does not shy away from the other side of this idea: he acknowledges that the process of scaling to promote financial inclusion itself brings challenges. Binance's rapid growth often exceeded the pace of regulatory frameworks, leading to compliance and regulatory gaps. It is worth mentioning that this is not CZ's first time organizing his story in writing. Previously, he had released a prequel (Beyond Borders) on the French e-book platform Vivlio, but (Freedom of Money) is his most complete and systematic autobiographical work. Related reports Bitcoin surged to $72,700, ETH broke $2,260! The entire network liquidated $600 million, 120,000 people were wiped out How to instantly identify North Korean hackers? The interviewer asked to 'curse Kim Jong-un,' and the fake Japanese engineer was scared and broke down immediately Bitcoin ETF attracted $471 million, creating a near two-month high! Binance: BTC has become the leading price setter in the macroeconomy "CZ's autobiography (Binance Life) launched today: 364 pages reviewing imprisonment and guilty plea, all book proceeds donated to charity" This article was first published on BlockTempo (the most influential blockchain news media).