Binance founder Changpeng Zhao speaks about a possible return to the exchange

Former Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao talked about his prison experience, future plans and his relationship with Binance at the Binance Blockchain Week conference.

Zhao, who was ousted as Binance CEO following a plea deal reached with US authorities last November, spoke candidly about his time in prison during an interview on the Wu Blockchain podcast. He explained that what he missed most during his incarceration were human connections.

Referring to the sentence he received for violating the Banking Secrecy Act, Zhao stated that he was the first person to be sentenced to prison for a single violation of this nature.

He compared it to recent cases and touched on TD Bank’s $1.8 billion fine for which no individuals were charged.

CZ clarifies its relationship with Binance

Regarding his current relationship with Binance, CZ confirmed that he is stepping down from operational duties while clarifying his position as a major shareholder.

He noted that, contrary to some reports, the plea agreement does not include an explicit “lifetime ban” on managing crypto exchanges. “Those two words are not included in the plea agreement I made with the government,” CZ explained.

Going forward, CZ announced that it is focusing on two main initiatives: Giggle Academy and investments in blockchain, artificial intelligence and biotechnology.

CZ stated that he protected his shareholder rights in Binance. He also expressed a desire to return to an operational role. CZ also stated that he probably wouldn’t return even if he were allowed to do so.

Giggle Academy is central to CZ’s future plans

The former CEO revealed ambitious plans for Giggle Academy. Giggle Academy is an education initiative that aims to provide digital education to approximately 1.2 billion people worldwide who do not have access to traditional education.

The platform plans to use artificial intelligence (AI), game developers and teachers to create interactive educational content that can be delivered via mobile devices.

Zhao emphasized that the project focuses on social impact, not profitability. He estimated that developing educational content across multiple subjects and languages ​​could cost approximately $1-2 billion.

Regarding cryptocurrency markets, Zhao remained optimistic about the industry’s long-term prospects. But he still accepted short-term unpredictability.

He noted the historical pattern of four-year cycles in the performance of Bitcoin (BTC) and emphasized the continued need for infrastructure development in the crypto space.

On regulatory matters, Zhao observed positive developments in crypto legislation in various jurisdictions. He noted that larger countries often move more slowly in implementing regulatory frameworks.