Key Takeaways
Former Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao (CZ) is now a free man after spending nearly four months in prison.
While the crypto community has welcomed his release, Zhao’s return has left many wondering what the future holds, considering that he is barred from returning to Binance’s executive suite.
In a recent statement, Zhao outlined his next steps and shared his vision for the future.
Rather than making a splash with a bold announcement or business plan, CZ has been reveling in the simple joys he was denied during his four-month incarceration.
In a Sept. 29 tweet , he thanked his supporters, acknowledged the curiosity surrounding his future endeavors, and emphasized his desire to take a breather.
“The food tastes so good… And what a luxury to be able to have more than one piece of fruit per day!” he wrote, his lighthearted words a departure from the weighty discussions about the future of the crypto industry. “I know some of you may have a lot of questions. I won’t have all the answers.”
CZ’s future role in crypto may be limited due to his plea deal with the Department of Justice (DOJ), which prohibits him from holding a decision-making position at Binance for the next three years.
Moreover, Binance’s current CEO, Richard Teng, has made it clear that CZ will have no role in the company, effectively banishing him for life.
Zhao shared that he is moving his attention to philanthropy, with his non-profit education platform, Giggle Academy, taking top billing.
The platform, which debuted in March amidst CZ’s legal troubles, offers a free education curriculum spanning grades 1 to 12, incorporating innovative features like gamification, adaptive learning, and blockchain technology.
The platform validates students’ achievements through “soul-bound tokens,” a novel approach to verifying academic accomplishments.
Zhao also reaffirmed his commitment to investing in emerging technologies, including blockchain and artificial intelligence, signaling a continued interest in the industries.
As for Binance, CZ himself has made it clear that the exchange is doing well without him.
This is despite the current CEO having banned Zhao from returning.
“Oh, Binance seems to be doing well without me back-seat-driving, which is excellent. Every founder’s dream!,” Zhao wrote.
The Binance founder also revealed that he was working on a book and had completed most of the writing process.