CZ to Make First Public Appearance Since Binance Exit at Blockchain Week in Dubai
The former Binance CEO, Changpeng ‘CZ’ Zhao, is set to attend Binance Blockchain Week 2024 in Dubai. This would mark his first public appearance since resigning from the helm of Binance. Earlier, on Oct 10, an announcement on his X post stated that Zhao will attend the event in a personal capacity and is among one of the biggest Web3 events of the year.
Legal Challenges and Settlement
The return to the limelight for Zhao follows several months of turmoil. Earlier this year, he agreed to a guilty plea in violations of the U.S.’s anti-money laundering regulations, which included a $50 million fine. Binance itself was fined a whopping $4.3 billion, one of the largest corporate settlements in U.S. history. Under the settlement, Zhao resigned as CEO, serving four months in prison. But more importantly, he is now barred permanently from managing Binance-which he still owns 90%-which makes him one of the richest dudes in crypto space, with an estimated net worth of $61 billion.
What to Expect at Binance Blockchain Week 2024
The highly anticipated Binance Blockchain Week will take place on Oct. 30-31 at the Coca-Cola Arena, Dubai. This year’s theme, “Momentum,” shall focus on continuous developments in the industry pertaining to the crypto world despite various regulatory challenges. It would go into the ever-evolving landscape of the Web3 space and further discuss the balance between decentralization and regulation.
It promises a line-up of keynote speeches, interactive sessions, and workshops all aimed at driving innovation in blockchain technology. The keynote speakers include Jeremy Allaire, the chief executive officer of Circle; Alex Svanevik, the chief executive officer of Nansen; and Michael Bouhanna, Sotheby’s Vice President of Digital Art. Zhao especially is in high demand because the crypto community is ready to hear him talk about anything after his lawsuits’ settlements and stepping away from Binance.
Zhao’s Next Chapter
Since his departure from Binance, he has made several statements regarding how he wants to be less involved with the crypto world. In a recent testimony, he announced education projects, especially for needy children. Currently, he is working on Giggle Academy-an initiative meant to provide learning opportunities for kids, although this project is at its infancy stage.
