Binance founder CZ publicly fleshed out a broad agenda in a year-end Q&A hosted by BNB Chain, saying that although he has stepped away from the CEO role, he remains deeply engaged in multiple initiatives and maintains a disciplined routine. He described freedom as the most valuable luxury and said he divides his energy across four key ventures: Giggle Academy, a fully free education platform; YZi Labs, a mentorship-focused effort; strategic guidance for BNB Chain; and a government advisory role shaping regulatory frameworks across roughly a dozen countries. He also noted that he continues to live a regular, active life, exercising 30–40 minutes daily and pursuing more outdoor activities.
BNB Chain’s growth featured prominently, with trading volume up about 600% year over year, daily active users surpassing 2 million, and Binance’s user base remaining above 300 million despite CZ’s retirement from the CEO post. The ecosystem’s overall value was described as exceeding the total market value of Nasdaq-listed companies, underscoring BNB Chain’s expansive footprint. While the crypto market has grown markedly, global wealth penetration remains under 1% of assets, signaling substantial room for multi-fold growth. CZ summarized his stance on the long arc with a marathon-versus-sprint metaphor, suggesting that long-term stamina and high-frequency effort are both required.
On prediction markets, CZ emphasized that the boom is about expanding the market rather than a single race. He argued that internal competition would not be pursued, and Labs would avoid backing a single company to foster natural competition and ecosystem growth. It is too soon to declare a winner, and the principle is to grow the cake rather than snag a piece of it. Regarding Stablecoins, he described 1.0-era coins that do not yield interest as relics and pitched Stablecoin 2.0—earning interest while remaining convenient for trading—citing Ethena (USDe) as indicative of the future.
The integration of AI with crypto was highlighted as a potential source of alpha. CZ believes AI agents will become the largest user group for crypto payments because robots cannot open bank accounts, pass KYC, or use credit cards. He sees on-chain payment networks engineered for AI as carrying enormous opportunity. On Real-World Assets (RWA), CZ noted discussions with state leaders about tokenizing national resources—oil, rare earths, and other critical commodities—presenting a path to liquidity for sovereign assets rather than mere funding. For founders, his blunt rule is to stay mission-driven: master the technical domain first and then shore up emotional intelligence, since business ultimately hinges on people and networks. In summary, after the AMA CZ appeared more composed and macro-focused, signaling a shift toward broader, cycle-resistant thinking. Whether AI or SocialFi, enduring success comes from Keep Building, and Nvidia’s decades of patience paying off underscores that lasting progress takes time, with 2026 expected to favor long-distance runners.
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