Back to Markets
Crypto▲ Bullish
CZ's Washington Visit Targets Crypto Rules, Binance.US Liquidity
Binance founder CZ returns to US, pushes Binance.US to tap global exchange liquidity. Senate has 20 working days left on crypto bill.
Continue with
Changpeng Zhao is back in Washington. The Binance founder, who served four months in prison on Bank Secrecy Act violations in 2024, told CoinDesk his goal is to clear up “misunderstandings” about himself and the exchange. His broader ambition: make the U.S. the “capital of crypto.”
CZ no longer runs Binance day-to-day. He remains the majority shareholder of Binance Global and Binance.US. In two interviews earlier this month, he laid out a specific plan for the U.S. exchange: tap Binance Global’s liquidity pool to strengthen Binance.US as part of a push to grow the American market. He said he does not want to run a crypto exchange again, preferring an informal adviser role for the companies he invests in.
What CZ Wants for Binance.US
The liquidity plan is the clearest signal yet of how CZ intends to stay involved. Binance.US has operated at a smaller scale than its global parent, constrained by U.S. regulatory oversight. Directing liquidity from the global exchange would let it offer deeper order books and tighter spreads without taking on additional balance-sheet risk, traders familiar with the structure said. CZ did not disclose a timeline or specific amounts.
His Washington visit also served a personal goal. CZ said he wanted to address what he called “misunderstandings” among policymakers about his role and the company’s compliance posture. He acknowledged his guilty plea but told CoinDesk it did not hurt his reputation. He received standing ovations at recent industry events.