Which billionaire is the founder of the cryptocurrency exchange Binance?

Which billionaire is the founder of the cryptocurrency exchange Binance? Changpeng Zhao is the answer.

Known widely as CZ, Zhao founded Binance in 2017 and became its chief executive. The exchange launched during the early cryptocurrency boom and grew rapidly into one of the world’s largest crypto trading platforms by volume.

Binance raised about $15 million through an initial coin offering in 2017, and trading began shortly afterward. Zhao also introduced Binance Coin, now known as BNB, which was designed to provide utility within the exchange ecosystem, including reduced trading fees in some circumstances.

The wording “founder” is commonly used for Zhao, although he is also described as Binance’s co-founder in many references. Another frequent mix-up is Brian Armstrong, who founded Coinbase, a separate cryptocurrency exchange. Zhao stepped down as Binance CEO in November 2023, but that later leadership change does not alter his role in founding the company.