- Renowned crypto entrepreneur and former Binance CEO Changpeng “CZ” Zhao has recounted a chain of big shifts that have happened in the US crypto economy within just a year of his release.
- CZ highlighted the election of a pro-crypto US government and the record-breaking prices of BTC, BNB, and ETH among the industry’s most laudable events.
- He also pointed out the collapse of the regulation-by-enforcement regime in the SEC as a win for the US crypto landscape.
Binance Founder and Former CEO Changpeng Zhao, also known as CZ, has reviewed some of the US crypto industry’s biggest turning points since his release from prison about a year ago. CZ highlighted the election of a pro-crypto president and the overhaul of the Securities and Exchange Commission’s regulatory direction as some of the industry’s biggest breakthroughs.
US Crypto Ecosystem Scores Biggest Wins Within Past Year
In November 2023, Binance and CZ agreed to federal charges related to violations of anti-money laundering rules, ultimately leading to a four-month prison sentence, which he began serving on June 1, 2024. The crypto visionary was finally released on Sept. 27, 2024, attracting one of the largest industry-wide celebrations.
“A year (and 2 days) ago, I got out of prison and finally left the US. What a year since then!” wrote CZ on X. “We saw the people of the U.S. choosing a pro-crypto President and government, influencing policies all around the world.”
Furthermore, CZ applauded the meteoric rise of BNB, Binance’s native coin, which crossed $1,000 for the first time in history and struck an all-time high of $1,079. He recognized the exceptional performances of Bitcoin and Ethereum, both reaching new all-time highs of $124,128 and $4,946 in August 2025.
“We saw many more developers on BNB Chain and in the larger crypto ecosystem,” added CZ. This influx of developers in the BNB Chain could be attributed to the relaxation of regulatory restrictions on developers and impractical requirements, which previously led to the mass exodus of US talent to friendlier jurisdictions.
In addition, leading up to the former Binance Chief’s post-prison anniversary, the SEC had become pro-crypto, “reversing its course of regulation-by-enforcement under new leadership.” The agency’s new administration has deployed several pro-crypto initiatives and enhanced clarity in securities rules, all in consonance with the Trump administration’s agenda.
CZ’s Giggle Academy Reaches 50,000 Children
After he stepped out as Binance CEO, CZ founded Giggle Academy, a play-and-learn initiative to provide basic education for kids all over the world. According to him, Giggle Academy has reached over 50,000 kids with free education within the past year.
The academy recently raised over $4 million within a week from donations, with over $2.6 million realized within the first 24 hours of rolling out its donation feature.
CZ noted the return of utility tokens and the increase in decentralization and on-chain trading volumes, while thanking the industry for its support and urging crypto enthusiasts to keep working together as the industry gears up for more historical developments. The ex-Binance CEO remains one of the top 5 crypto influencers and maintains considerable impact on the industry, especially on the BNB Chain.
