Changpeng Zhao | Vibepedia

Changpeng Zhao, commonly known as CZ, is a Canadian businessman and entrepreneur who co-founded Binance, one of the world's largest cryptocurrency exchanges. With a net worth estimated at $111.8 billion as of March 2026, according to Forbes, Zhao is not only the richest Canadian but also the 17th-richest person in the world. His journey in the cryptocurrency space began with his role as CTO of [[okcoin|OKCoin]] and later as the CEO of [[binance|Binance]]. However, his tenure as CEO was marked by controversy, including allegations of violating the Bank Secrecy Act and the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, which led to his resignation in November 2023. Despite pleading guilty and serving a four-month prison sentence, Zhao received a presidential pardon from [[donald-trump|President Donald Trump]] in October 2025. As the cryptocurrency landscape continues to evolve, Zhao's influence and legacy remain significant, with [[binance|Binance]] maintaining its position as a leading player in the market, alongside other major exchanges like [[coinbase|Coinbase]] and [[kraken|Kraken]].