Former Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao reflects on life after prison, plans for the future

Former Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao, commonly known as CZ, has broken his silence following his release from prison, publishing his first in-depth post reflecting on his experiences and outlining his future plans. 

The billionaire crypto mogul, with an estimated net worth of $61 billion, shared insights on his time behind bars and expressed gratitude to the cryptocurrency community for their support during what he described as his "darkest moments."

In the poston X, CZ acknowledged the challenges of prison life, calling it “a luxury” to have one piece of fruit per day. Now out of prison, the former Binance executive says he plans to take time to rest before charting his next moves. 

“Let me chill for a bit. Then figure out the next steps. There are always more opportunities in the future than there were in the past,” he said.

After serving a four-month sentence, which began in early June, CZ is now preparing for a new chapter. He revealed that his next major focus will be on Giggle Academy, an educational project that he says will play a significant role in his post-Binance career. 

Additionally, CZ plans to continue supporting projects in blockchain and decentralized finance, while also exploring emerging fields such as artificial intelligence (AI) and biotechnology.

In addition to his business ventures, CZ is working on completing his book, a project that has taken more time than initially expected. However, he indicated that the bulk of the work is now complete.

Reflecting on Binance’s performance after his departure, CZ expressed pride in the company’s continued success, describing it as “every founder’s dream.”

Despite his absence from an official leadership role, due to a prohibition from the US Department of Justice (DOJ), CZ remains a significant figure within Binance, given his 90 percent ownership stake. 

His influence on the company is expected to continue, even though he is no longer able to actively run it.