Binance founder CZ was interviewed at the DC Blockchain Summit 2026, discussing how two US federal courts dismissed charges related to terrorist financing within two weeks, emphasizing that the judicial system relies on evidence rather than media narratives; he also pointed out that if the US truly wants to become the “Crypto Capital of the World,” the biggest gaps are still high trading fees compared to international markets and the main liquidity pools remaining outside the US. This article is sourced from CZ’s interview at the DC Blockchain Summit 2026, edited and translated by wublockchain.
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In a remote interview at the DC Blockchain Summit, Binance founder CZ and Perianne Boring, founder and chair of The Digital Chamber, reviewed the past decade of crypto industry development: from early neglect, through heavy regulation and media suppression, to now gaining clearer US regulation, institutional adoption, and mainstream recognition. He combined insights from his upcoming memoir, reflecting on how his personal experiences mirror the growth trajectory of the crypto industry, and emphasized that technological innovation will ultimately drive the industry into the mainstream.
The interview also focused on media narratives and legal disputes. CZ believes some traditional media outlets (like the Wall Street Journal) have long provided one-sided or even false reports about him, Binance, and the crypto industry, but recent US federal court dismissals show that the judiciary relies more on evidence than on public opinion. When discussing the US market outlook, he affirmed the current government’s support for crypto and pointed out that if the US wants to truly become the “Crypto Capital of the World,” it’s not just about friendly policies but also about more market competition, lower trading costs, and stronger liquidity foundations.
Perianne: In a sense, I feel some of the challenges we aimed to solve back then still exist today. But even so, especially in Washington, we’ve made a lot of progress. Looking back at the past 10, 12, or 15 years of digital asset industry development, what are your thoughts? How do you measure the industry’s success and how far we’ve come?
CZ: Of course. I’ve recently done a lot of reflection because I’ve been writing that “torturous” book, which is about to be published in a few weeks. I think I met you roughly 12 or 13 years ago.
I also vividly remember your speech at the 2014 Chicago Bitcoin Conference, right before my session, where you talked about BitLicense. That topic was very hot at the time, and by the time I went on stage, almost everyone in the audience was drawn to your talk. I remember that moment very clearly.
Back then, industry conferences had about 200 people; now, depending on the location, they can easily reach 5,000 or even 10,000 attendees.
At that time, Vitalik was only 19, just discussing Ethereum. Today, Ethereum has grown into a multi-hundred-billion-dollar asset. So in my memory, from around 2013 to now, the industry has traveled a very long way.
The first five years, we were basically ignored; the next five, we faced many obstacles, with quite a few forces opposing us. Now, we are finally being accepted.
Today, we see the US leading the world in crypto regulation, with increasing clarity. Just a couple of days ago, we saw the SEC release more concrete signals. That’s a huge step forward.
So now, we are finally heading toward the mainstream, with institutional adoption steadily increasing. The process has had ups and downs, but the industry has indeed come a long way to get here.
Perianne: That’s undeniable. Especially yesterday on this very stage, we heard about progress in the regulatory environment, which was very encouraging. Only with a clear legal framework can companies truly build and operate in the US market, and investors can participate with more confidence.
You mentioned your book earlier. It’s not some “stupid book.” I know it’s about to be published soon, and you generously gave me an advance copy, which I’ve finished reading. It’s a memoir, and I have to say, it’s an incredible, captivating story.
Even though I’ve known you for many years, I’ve gained a deeper understanding of you through this book. You shared many personal experiences and showed that you’ve faced many difficulties both personally and professionally. What touched me most is that no matter what you’ve gone through, you’ve always stayed true to your principles and never lost yourself. You’ve left me with the impression of a very genuine person who doesn’t pretend to be someone else for anyone. Whether before Binance, before Bitcoin and crypto, or today, you’ve always been the same CZ. So why did you decide to write this book? And tell us more about the motivation behind it—what kind of person do you want people to understand through this story?
CZ: Sure. I started writing this book while I was in prison. At that time, I had little to do, and I thought writing a book at least gave me something to focus on.
At the same time, I began seriously reviewing my life. I’m actually a very ordinary person, but my life has been quite a rollercoaster—somewhat unique in its way.
I came from a rural area in China and later built one of the world’s leading crypto technology companies. Of course, luck played a role, and so did a lot of effort, but fundamentally, I’m still an ordinary person. When I was 14, I worked at McDonald’s flipping burgers for $4.50 an hour. I’ve always believed that anyone can walk the path I’ve walked and do what I’ve done.
Through this book, I want to, first, let people get to know me better; second, I hope to inspire more entrepreneurs, especially young entrepreneurs, with some courage and experience. What I want to express is that I am an ordinary person, but my story might not be so ordinary.
Perianne: That’s an incredible example. Coming from a humble rural background in China and eventually founding and running one of the industry’s largest companies is very inspiring. I believe this kind of story will continue to move many people for years to come, and motivate children worldwide to understand that with effort, determination, and valuing education, they can achieve great things and change their destiny. You embody that spirit.
And I think your personal journey also reflects the development of the crypto industry, Bitcoin, and digital assets. We both started from very early, very modest stages. You and I experienced the earliest days of this industry. When the asset class was just beginning, it faced a lot of scrutiny and skepticism. That’s why we founded the Digital Chamber back then—to address concerns, criticisms, and regulatory actions, as many forces wanted to kill Bitcoin.
I mention Bitcoin specifically because, at that time, it was almost the only one. The subsequent boom of other crypto and digital assets hadn’t happened yet. Everything started from there. But today, we’ve become a larger community.
One core issue we aimed to solve back then was the media’s repeated claim that “Bitcoin is dead” after the Silk Road and Mt. Gox incidents. But it didn’t die. Even today, they still say that, which is chaotic, wrong, and untrue. Meanwhile, the media continues to craft narratives suggesting this technology is only for illegal activities, that it’s the currency of choice for criminals. These claims still recur today.
So let’s talk about the media and today’s headlines. Many headlines now are almost identical to those from 10 or 12 years ago—same patterns, same narratives.
Personally, I believe someone is deliberately pushing a certain narrative, spreading misinformation to slow down the industry’s development and suppress innovation in digital assets. Even today, despite seeing a Congress that supports crypto, with bipartisan focus on the issue, and even the first US president openly supporting the industry, there are still powerful forces trying to suppress it. Much of this happens through the media.
And many attacks are focused on you. Of course, not just you—others too. But as someone who has known you for a long time, I see a strong dissonance when I hear the outside world’s comments about you, because I know many of those are simply inaccurate. What do you think is the biggest misunderstanding the media has about you? For those who haven’t had the chance to interact with you or truly understand you, what do they misunderstand most?
CZ: Of course. First, I think the media itself is divided. Crypto media actually understands me well because I spend a lot of time on Twitter engaging with them. But I haven’t interacted enough with traditional media, which might be part of why misunderstandings happen.
We also know there are one or two mainstream journalists whose careers seem to be built on writing about the crypto industry, about me, about Binance—often negative reports, or even about current governments, especially if they support crypto. I don’t get involved much in US politics, but we’ve seen many times that some openly declare “war on crypto.” To me, this clearly has partisan elements. The US political system is inherently a tug-of-war between opposing forces, so one side instinctively attacks what the other supports.
At this stage, the negative narratives around crypto have become more complex. I’ve heard some say that certain US domestic players might oppose Binance entering the US because of competition, and thus push anti-crypto sentiments behind the scenes. They’re also influenced by traditional banking lobbies, for example around stablecoin interest rates. Many different interests intertwine, creating various media narratives.
I’m not a media expert, but I’ve always focused more on the technology itself. I believe we see very clearly that this technology is revolutionary and will become a fundamental part of the future. So regardless of what the media says, I think they’ve often misjudged many things, for different reasons.
For me, I haven’t spent enough time communicating with traditional media—maybe I should do more of that in the future. But that’s not my expertise. My strength has always been building platforms that real people use. Now, even though I no longer manage Binance directly, I help more entrepreneurs through investments and mentorship—this is what I mainly focus on.
As for media narratives, I believe they will eventually change over time. Especially as crypto becomes more mainstream, one day it will be the dominant paradigm. When that happens, other narratives will become marginal, and the story will naturally shift.
Perianne: I think maybe you should spend a bit more time communicating with those journalists who constantly write about you, even if they often produce inaccurate or untrue content. Anyone who has spent time with you can clearly feel that you’re not only generous but also a very kind person.
I remember a small detail over the years. Once at an event, I saw you standing next to someone. Suddenly, a gust of wind blew the plastic cover off his coffee cup, knocking it onto you, and then it fell to the ground. There was some trash on the ground, and you still bent down to pick it up, helping to clean it up, all with a smile—natural, gentle.
I think that really reflects your character. How someone handles ordinary daily moments and treats people around them often reveals how they approach work and life. I believe that’s one of the most easily misunderstood aspects of your personal image.
CZ: Thank you for remembering such a small detail. I have a vague impression of it myself, but I can’t recall exactly which event it was. Still, I appreciate you bringing it up.
Going back to your earlier question, I actually almost forgot the main point. Now, many of the media’s portrayals of me are completely false.
For example, Forbes tried to portray me as someone who has become richer over the past six months—that’s impossible. I don’t even know how they calculated that.
And reports like the WSJ describe me as trying to facilitate Iran-related terrorist financing. I have zero interest in that. I live in a country under attack from Iran, and such claims are absurd. Not to mention, I’ve never been interested in such things before.
And I can say very clearly that no legitimate exchange or company would want to get involved in that, because there’s no benefit. Maybe a little trading fee, but it’s not worth it.
So the logic of these narratives is basically the same: they latch onto any negative point to attack. There are many misunderstandings out there. As for the motives behind these attacks, I can somewhat understand—people have different positions and goals.
But the way they launch these attacks is often based on completely false, unfounded information. I hope this situation will gradually improve in the future.
But I believe that ultimately, the truth will come out. We’ve already seen that the truth will be presented in court through evidence, and what they rely on is not evidence. This process is already happening.
Perianne: Then let’s talk about that, and thank you for bringing it up. The core narrative about this technology and the industry has always been: Bitcoin and crypto are only tools for illegal financial activities. Now, this narrative is often projected onto you and your company, Binance, with many recent media allegations.
But as you mentioned earlier, these cases are now in court. Could you share the current status? You recently achieved a very important victory. I find it strange that media and reporters who have been highly focused on you, Binance, and “illegal finance” always report extensively when negative news appears; but once you or Binance make progress in court, they suddenly go silent and don’t update.
And these developments are very significant but almost unreported. So why don’t you tell everyone directly what’s happening now? Because from a legal perspective, judgments based on facts and evidence clearly don’t always match the image the media tries to portray of you and Binance.
CZ: Of course. To clarify, I’m not a lawyer, so what I say next may not be perfectly precise legally; it’s just based on my personal understanding.
Myself, Binance, sometimes including Binance US, have been sued over charges related to terrorist financing. The other side usually lists us three as defendants. I remember these cases fall under ATA, related to anti-terrorism laws. They try to connect these cases with my guilty plea agreement with the US government in 2023, and splice in some media content to build the narrative they want.
But courts rely on evidence. In the past two weeks, two US federal courts dismissed these cases. The judges’ general view was that the 900-page submissions from the other side contained no real evidence. I recall the courts used phrases like “redundant and unnecessary.” Basically, they just piled on 900 pages and over 3,000 paragraphs, trying to strengthen their argument through volume, but without presenting substantive proof.
Honestly, I’m very grateful for the US judicial system. I think the US judiciary is well-designed, independent, and evidence-focused. Of course, media can write all kinds of negative stories, but courts look at the evidence, and both times, they dismissed these cases. This has happened twice in the past two weeks in two different US courts, which says a lot.
But as you said, mainstream media reported almost nothing about it. You can see how biased their coverage is.
For me, this is very clear now. I just hope more people can see it clearly. Unfortunately, many still rely on what I call “traditional media,” which influences their perceptions and judgments. That’s a shame. We can only keep working to correct these biases.
Perianne: Yes, I think your words are quite restrained and generous. I agree with your assessment. We’re in the US now, attending the DC Blockchain Summit, and the core theme of this event is policy and regulation changes. I know you’re not very keen on commenting on US politics, but the US now clearly aims to become the “Crypto Capital of the World,” which is the current government’s direction. You’ve also publicly supported this goal.
So, what does the US need to do to stay competitive in this field? Over the past few years, many forces have tried to push this industry out of the US and overseas, and they’ve succeeded to some extent. How should we maintain a competitive environment that encourages digital asset investors and companies to continue operating and developing in the US?
CZ: Of course. First, I think the current US government has done very well. As you said, the previous administration pushed many entrepreneurs, startups, and innovators out of the US. I’ve seen many move to places like Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Singapore, and even Hong Kong and other parts of the world.
But recently, we’re seeing a reversal: these entrepreneurs are returning to the US.
The US is now actively attracting talent back. The country has a very strong foundation for innovation—whether it’s venture capital, Silicon Valley, New York’s financial ecosystem, Wall Street’s financial and tech talent, or industry capital and financing capacity. The US has these natural advantages.
Moreover, I think the policy environment today is very proactive, even more so than I expected. Honestly, two or three years ago, I wouldn’t have thought the US could support crypto so strongly in such a short time.
But if I have to be direct, I believe the US still needs more competition.
The US economy is built on capitalism, which fundamentally relies on free markets and competition. I’ve recently spoken with some very influential, smart people in the US, and I agree with a saying: competition is the best consumer protection. That’s also beneficial for the US.
From the perspective of operating a trading platform, trading fees in the US are still too high. This means US consumers don’t get prices as good as those in international markets. Because of that, I believe the main liquidity pools are still outside the US.
But if you look at traditional markets—stocks, futures, forex—the largest liquidity is usually in the US. So it’s strange that in crypto, the biggest liquidity pools aren’t in the US. That’s a significant gap. I think that’s one of the things the US currently lacks.
The same applies to other industries. For example, internet and e-commerce—Amazon in the US often offers the best prices globally, and prices elsewhere are usually not better than in the US. But in crypto, US consumers don’t have access to the best global prices. I see this as a very fixable problem.
The US has a large number of institutional investors, ample capital, and a strong capital foundation, fully capable of becoming the world’s largest liquidity hub. Especially as policies gradually take shape, I believe this will happen sooner or later. But currently, the US market still lacks some genuine competition.
Perianne: Exactly. If the US wants to be the global crypto capital, it must have the best infrastructure worldwide. That also means collaborating with the top and largest companies globally to ensure these infrastructures truly serve US retail investors, institutional investors, and domestic crypto businesses.
