Binance founder addresses speculation after Dubai event
Changpeng Zhao, better known as CZ, has directly responded to gossip circulating in Chinese crypto communities about his relationship with a female influencer. The rumors started after a brief on-stage interaction during Binance Blockchain Week in Dubai earlier this month.
During a debate with gold advocate Peter Schiff, crypto influencer Tintin walked on stage and handed CZ what she called a “magic box” containing a heavy gold item. The moment was captured on video and later became the most replayed segment of the debate’s YouTube recording.
The actual interaction was minimal
CZ took to X to set the record straight. “There’s gossip about me now? The market must be really slow—everyone’s got nothing better to do,” he wrote with a hint of amusement.
He explained that his entire interaction with Tintin consisted of just three exchanged messages and a ten-minute meeting before the debate. The decision to have someone hand him the box on stage was made spontaneously—there was no prior arrangement or planning involved.
“Go pay attention to someone else. I heard somebody and somebody…” he added, deflecting the attention elsewhere with what seemed like sarcasm.
Timing raises questions
The rumors emerged just days after Yi He, CZ’s long-term partner and mother of his three children, was promoted to co-CEO of Binance on December 3. This leadership change was announced by CEO Richard Teng during the same Dubai event and represents the exchange’s most significant management shake-up since CZ stepped down from his CEO role in 2023.
When asked about potential conflicts between her personal and professional roles, Yi He maintained clear boundaries. “My personal life is independent from my professional life,” she told reporters in Dubai. She expressed frustration that her achievements as co-founder often get overshadowed by questions about her personal life.
Business continues despite distractions
While the gossip mill churned, CZ remained focused on Binance’s global expansion. On December 12, he visited Pakistan alongside Binance CEO Richard Teng and Tron founder Justin Sun for meetings with Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb.
The timing was significant—Pakistan’s Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority had just issued no-objection certificates to both Binance and HTX, clearing the path for full licensing in the country.
CZ shared a practical detail from the trip: “In the car, my roaming didn’t work, so I borrowed Justin’s hotspot, bought an eSIM, PAID IN CRYPTO. He said he learned something new.”
Richard Teng called the regulatory progress “a meaningful milestone for Binance in Pakistan,” noting that the exchange has obtained AML registration from PVARA. CZ has served as an adviser to the Pakistan Crypto Council since April 2024, as the country positions itself as a crypto-friendly jurisdiction in South Asia.
As for the romance rumors, CZ appears to have moved on, even if some corners of the crypto community haven’t. The brief interaction in Dubai seems to have been exactly what he described—a spontaneous moment during a busy event, nothing more.
