July 2017.
The crypto market was the Wild West.
Exchanges crashed when Bitcoin moved 5%. Support tickets took weeks to answer. Interfaces looked like spreadsheets from the 90s.
Trust was non-existent.
Then, a team with a yellow logo and a 16-page whitepaper stepped into the arena.
They didn’t promise to be just another exchange.
They promised to build the infrastructure for the freedom of money.
Today, we look back not just to reminisce, but to understand how an idea transformed into a global financial giant.
Chapter 1: The Architect and The Vision (The CZ Era)
History focuses on the result: Binance became #1 in 180 days.
But real builders focus on the how.
CZ (Changpeng Zhao) taught the industry a lesson in "Hardcore" execution.
While competitors were sleeping, Binance engineers were deploying updates.
While CEOs were in ivory towers, the team was on Twitter, answering users directly.
They didn’t just build a matching engine; they built a culture of obsession.
Chapter 2: The Guardian of the Soul (Yi He)
But technology alone doesn’t build a community. People do.
If CZ was the architect of the system, Yi He was—and remains—the guardian of its soul.
As Co-founder, she established the Golden Rule of Binance: The User is Boss.
She famously appointed herself the "Chief Customer Service Officer," proving that no title is above serving the user.
It was her vision that birthed Binance Labs, fueling the industry’s unicorns.
It was her belief in community that created the Binance Angels—the most passionate volunteer force in crypto history.
While leaders changed and markets fluctuated, Yi He remained the constant force, ensuring the culture never drifted from its "Day 1" mentality.
Chapter 3: Crisis as a Catalyst (The Birth of SAFU)
A smooth sea never made a skilled sailor.
Binance faced technical hurdles, market crashes, and skepticism.
In the face of adversity, most companies hide. Binance did the opposite.
It invented SAFU (Secure Asset Fund for Users).
This wasn’t a marketing gimmick. It was a declaration: "If the system fails, we pay. You don't."
That moment shifted the psychology of the entire industry. Safety stopped being a luxury and became the standard.
Chapter 4: Builders in the Winter
The true test of conviction isn’t the Bull Market. It’s the Bear Market.
When prices crashed in 2018 and 2022, tourists left.
Binance stayed.
And they didn’t just stay; they built a city:
Binance Academy: Because adoption starts with education.
BNB Chain: Because developers need a home.
Web3 Wallet: Bridging the gap between CeFi and DeFi.
They proved that while prices fluctuate, value only accumulates.
Chapter 5: The Great Evolution (Maturity & Compliance) 
Every great empire faces a moment of transformation.
The "Move Fast" era built the foundation. But to survive for 100 years, the strategy had to evolve.
We witnessed the end of one chapter and the beginning of another.
CZ shouldered the responsibility, paying the "tuition fee" for the entire industry to move forward.
Enter Richard Teng and the era of Compliance.
Some thought this would slow Binance down.
They were wrong.
Compliance didn’t become a shackle; it became a competitive advantage.
It opened doors to institutional capital, global licenses, and a level of trust that no unregulated entity could ever achieve.
Binance transitioned from a "Crypto Startup" to a "Global Financial Institution."
Chapter 6: Why We Are Still Here
Why does this story matter today?
Because the core mission hasn't changed.
The leadership has evolved, but the DNA remains.
From the first line of code in 2017 to the latest regulatory license in 2024, one thing holds true:
We are here to build.
To the Angels (our community warriors)
You are the heartbeat.
To the Team: You are the engine.
To the Community: You are the reason.
The skyscrapers are now built. The licenses are secured. The trust is earned.
But make no mistake...
We are not done.
The chart is still being drawn.
Proud of the past. Focused on the future.
We keep building💛
