Changpeng Zhao (CZ) launched his autobiography, and one factor stood out to some within the crypto neighborhood. It wasn’t very “cipher”. There was nothing $NFT No partnerships, no Tokengate entry, no on-chain experiments, simply Amazon.
This resolution caught the eye of Colin Wu, who questioned why one of many largest names within the crypto business would select such a conventional route. He claimed that the ebook might have supported cryptocurrency funds or contained soul-binding content material. $NFT Not less than for patrons. Wu feels there could also be one thing that extra carefully aligns with Web3 rules.
CZ defends Amazon launch
Wu pointed to Vitalik Buterin’s 2022 ebook “Proof of Stake” within the X-Put up. Its launch adopted a totally totally different path. With this launch, readers can donate Ether and obtain a digital copy; $NFT. Nevertheless, the proceeds from the sale (together with royalties) had been donated to Gitcoin Grants. This turned an early instance of how publishing may adapt to cryptocurrency-linked distribution.
In that context, CZ’s method felt unusually conservative. Mr. Zhao, however, rejected the concept there was any deep motive behind this alternative.
“It isn’t that difficult,” he wrote. “You do not have to boost cows simply to drink milk,” he mentioned, including that he at all times buys books on Amazon. He hinted that it would not make a lot sense to construct a customized crypto-based distribution system only for a single launch. CZ mentioned he hopes folks outdoors the cryptocurrency business can simply buy and browse it. It looks as if the aim was accessibility.
It isn’t that difficult. You needn’t increase cows to drink milk. I at all times purchase books on Amazon. E-commerce will not be our specialty. It appears a bit troublesome to create a ebook buy operate. We additionally hope that folks outdoors the crypto business will be at liberty to buy it.
— CZ 🔶 BNB (@cz_binance) April 8, 2026
In one other put up, Wu mentioned that loop releases of cryptocurrencies could cause a whole lot of issues, so he went with the concept of a conventional launch. He mentioned CZ might need to undertake a extra prudent and safe methodology of issuance that avoids any sort of tax points.
CZ’s ebook exposes his authorized battles
Wu mentioned CZ’s ebook affords a extra private and typically candid view of his journey. He described it as stuffed with robust opinions. I really feel like Binance’s founder hates Zhou Wei (former CFO), Lao Xu, SBF, media, and attorneys. Nevertheless, he praised He Yi and Heina and barely talked about Solar Ge.
The authorized chapter is the principle focus of this ebook. CZ mentioned that whereas he was being investigated by the U.S. authorities, he employed numerous attorneys and spent some huge cash. These attorneys began combating amongst themselves.
At one level, one lawyer even mentioned the extra fines he paid, the higher. They ended up paying billions of {dollars} in fines. In the long run, the decide identified that they paid a big advantageous, which proves that the crime was extraordinarily severe. This fully floored CZ.
CZ detailed his time in detention. Mr. Wu identified that Mr. Zhao defined that the jail was so noisy from morning to nighttime that he couldn’t sleep in any respect. He added that within the final 14 days, CZ thought he can be out of the blue transferred to a detention middle and held indefinitely.
In response to Mr. Wu’s retelling, the detention middle had solely white incandescent lights that had been lit 24 hours a day. To take care of his sanity, Zhao relied on silently calculating Bitcoin’s hashing algorithm in his head.
Mr. Zhao pleaded responsible to US cash laundering expenses and resigned as CEO of Binance. The corporate agreed to a $4.3 billion settlement. Nevertheless, he was later pardoned by President Donald Trump. The transfer stays controversial in political opinion.
Since then, the worldwide cryptocurrency business has skilled many ups and downs. The cumulative market capitalization of digital belongings has reached roughly $2.41 trillion. Bitcoin value has elevated over 6% previously seven days. On the time of writing, BTC is buying and selling at round $71,000.
