Former Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao (CZ) has released an autobiographical book titled ‘Freedom of Money,’ in which he details the journey of creating the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange, the regulatory challenges in the U.S., and his vision for the future of the financial system. The global release of the book took place on April 8, 2026, and it is already available for purchase in several countries.
This is reported by Business • Media
“If you’re having trouble sleeping at midnight today, grab a copy. All proceeds will go to charity,” CZ noted.
From founding Binance to a billion-dollar valuation: key points from the book
In his book, CZ combines personal memoirs with a manifesto on financial freedom. The author shares stories from his childhood in China, the journey to founding Binance in 2017, and the transformation of the startup into a global player with 300 million users and a market valuation of around $100 billion by 2026.
The book highlights the main trends and challenges in the cryptocurrency industry:
- dynamically growing market amid high volatility and numerous scandals;
- competition among cryptocurrency exchanges;
- the importance of business transparency and customer orientation;
- the role of cryptocurrencies in expanding access to financial services for citizens of underbanked countries.
Zhao also analyzes the internal organization of Binance, emphasizing talent acquisition, rapid scaling, and the creation of an innovative culture under pressure from regulators.
Regulatory pressure in the U.S. and Zhao’s position
A significant portion of the book is dedicated to conflicts with American regulators. Zhao details the investigations by the Department of Justice and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), as well as other legal challenges.
He acknowledged guilt for violating the Bank Secrecy Act, which involved insufficient oversight of U.S. users during the early stages of Binance’s operations and compliance effectiveness issues. At the same time, Zhao emphasizes that:
- no charges of fraud or money laundering were brought against the company;
- Binance did not have a physical presence in the U.S.;
- some jurisdictions consider U.S. actions regarding the regulation of foreign platforms a violation of international law.
Zhao voluntarily appeared in the U.S., admitted guilt, after which Binance was fined $4.3 billion, and Zhao himself received a personal fine of $150 million, along with a sentence of 4 months in prison. He wrote most of the book during his time in prison.
After his release, Zhao was detained for overstaying his visa in the U.S., although he remained in the country under a court order. Despite being pardoned in October 2025, Zhao stated that he does not plan to return to the position of CEO of Binance.