Editor's Note: On the evening of December 18th, Binance founder CZ participated in the year-end Q&A event hosted by BNB Chain. During the event, he shared his views on various topics including amnesty, investment philosophy, stablecoins, RWA, and more. This article is a summary compiled by crypto KOL Lian Yan She. The original text is as follows:
Is CZ back? Not exactly.
After stepping down as CEO of Binance, CZ made a rare appearance in the recent BNB Chain annual AMA. Without the CEO title, he actually spoke more freely.
Regarding 2026, AI payments, and his current "free" life, there was a wealth of information.
I've compiled the 7 most core insights. The last one is quite pointed for entrepreneurs.
1. About Retirement Life: Freedom is the Ultimate Luxury
CZ直言现在最大的感受就是 Free。虽已退休,但并未停止工作。一点也没闲着,精力主要分给了四件事:
1. Giggle Academy: A completely free education platform, which is now his pet project.
2. YZi Labs: Acting as a mentor and coach to help entrepreneurs avoid pitfalls (not just providing funding).
3. BNB Chain: While not involved in technical details, he still oversees the general direction.
4. Government Advisor: This is very interesting; he is currently helping over a dozen countries, including those in the Middle East and Pakistan, design regulatory frameworks. And this takes up a significant portion of his time.
CZ also mentioned that he still maintains a regular lifestyle,坚持每天约 30-40 分钟的健身, and is trying more outdoor sports.
From building an empire to setting the rules, this transition is very steady.
2. The Invisible Growth of BNB Chain
Many people think BNB Chain isn't sexy enough? The data might surprise you:
· Transaction volume increased 600% year-over-year.
· Daily Active Users (DAU) surpassed 2 million.
· Even with CZ's departure, Binance's user base still broke 300 million.
The BNB ecosystem is like the total market value of companies listed on Nasdaq far exceeding the value of the Nasdaq exchange itself.
Despite significant growth, from the perspective of global wealth penetration, crypto assets still account for less than 1%, indicating potential for growth by several orders of magnitude in the future.
CZ's summary of the past is very apt: boxing in a marathon. It requires the endurance of a long-distance runner while maintaining the high-frequency combat capability of a boxer. This is much harder than simply chasing short-term rankings.
3. Prediction Markets: A Blooming Field, Not a Horse Race Mechanism
Prediction markets have been hot lately (PolyMarket is killing it in the US elections). Several competitors have emerged on BNB Chain. CZ's attitude is: no internal,卷式赛马. Labs won't bet on just one player; instead, they will let the market compete naturally. It's too early to talk about who will win; making the pie bigger is what really matters.
4. Stablecoin 2.0: Yield is King
Stablecoins that don't generate yield are products of the 1.0 era (like Tether). CZ believes the core of Stablecoin 2.0 is: yield generation + transaction convenience. Models like Ethena (USDe), which can both earn yield and circulate, are the future. As compliance is achieved, stablecoins will see more opportunities, and ultimately, users and the market will decide the winner.
5. AI + Crypto: The Most Certain Alpha
This is very important! CZ believes AI Agents will be the largest user group for crypto payments. The logic is simple: robots can't open bank accounts, pass KYC, or use credit cards. Crypto is the only means of economic interaction for AI. Payment networks on-chain designed specifically for AI present huge opportunities.
6. RWA: Entry at the National Level
While we are talking about RWA (Real World Assets on-chain), CZ is already talking to heads of state. Many resource-rich countries (oil, rare earths) have wealth but lack liquidity. National resource tokenization is becoming a serious topic. This is not just about fundraising; it's about activating liquidity for national-level assets. The narrative level of this track has changed.
7. Advice for Entrepreneurs: Don't Be a Speculator
CZ's current investment criterion is only one: Mission-driven.
Want to make 10 million and run? ❌ He looks down on that kind of person now.
Changing tracks every few months? ❌ Lacks perseverance.
For technical experts wanting to switch careers, his advice is also very practical: first become top-notch in technology, then work on emotional intelligence (EQ). Because the essence of business, in the end, is about playing the interpersonal network. (8/9)
Summary: Navigating Cycles
Listening to the entire AMA, it feels like CZ has changed—more detached, more focused on the macro picture.
As he said, whether it's AI or SocialFi, no matter who is number one now, Keep Building is the only path to navigate cycles. Nvidia sat on the bench for 40 years before exploding; what's your hurry?
2026 belongs to the long-distance runners.
