Changpeng Zhao (CZ) launched his autobiography, and one factor stood out to components of the crypto group; it wasn’t very “crypto.” It had no $NFT tie-in, no token-gated entry, and no on-chain experiment, however simply Amazon.
This determination caught the eye of Colin Wu, and he questioned why one in every of crypto’s greatest figures would select such a conventional route. He argued that the e book may have supported crypto funds or included a soulbound $NFT for patrons on the very least. Wu feels there may very well be one thing that will align extra intently with Web3 rules.
CZ defends Amazon launch
Wu, in an X submit, pointed to Vitalik Buterin’s 2022 e book Proof of Stake. Its launch took a really completely different path. Its launch allowed readers to donate Ether to obtain a digital copy, paired with an $NFT. Nevertheless, the proceeds (together with royalties) from the gross sales went towards Gitcoin Grants. This grew to become an early instance of how publishing may slot in with crypto-linked distribution.
In that context, CZ’s strategy felt unusually conservative. In the meantime, Zhao had dismissed the concept that there was something deeper behind the selection.
“It’s not that difficult,” he wrote. “You don’t have to boost a cow simply to drink milk.” He added that he has at all times purchased books on Amazon. He implied that constructing a customized crypto-based distribution system only for one launch didn’t make a lot sense. CZ talked about that he hopes folks exterior the crypto trade may simply purchase and skim it. Appears just like the aim was accessibility.
没那么复杂。喝牛奶不一定要养奶牛。我一直在亚马逊买书。电商不是我们的专长。为了一本书自己搞个买书的功能好像有点麻烦。另外希望非加密行业的也能容易买到。
— CZ 🔶 BNB (@cz_binance) April 8, 2026
In one other submit, Wu went in with the concept of a conventional launch as a crypto looped launch may introduce many problems. He said that CZ would possibly need to use a extra prudent, safer issuance methodology that avoids all kinds of tax points.
CZ’s e book exposes his authorized fights
In response to Wu, CZ’s e book provides a extra private and at occasions blunt take a look at his journey. He described it as full of sturdy opinions. It seems like Binance founder hates Zhou Wei (former CFO), Lao Xu, SBF, media, and legal professionals. Nevertheless, he praised He Yi and Heina whereas he barely talked about Solar Ge in any respect.
The authorized chapters become main factors within the e book. CZ mentioned that when he was beneath investigation by the US authorities, he employed numerous legal professionals, which break the bank. These legal professionals began combating amongst themselves.
At one level, he mentioned, one lawyer even instructed him that the extra fines they paid, the higher. That is how they ended up paying billions of {dollars} in fines. In the long run, the decide identified that they’ve paid so many fines, which proves that crimes have to be extraordinarily critical. This left CZ completely floored.
CZ has described his time in custody in stark element. Wu famous that Zhao defined that the jail was noisy from morning until night time, which made it inconceivable for him to sleep in any respect. He went on so as to add that within the remaining 14 days, CZ was instantly transferred to a detention middle and thought he was going to be held indefinitely.
In response to Wu’s retelling, the detention middle had solely 24-hour unflinching white incandescent lights. Zhao relied on silently calculating Bitcoin’s hash algorithm in his thoughts to remain sane.
Zhao stepped down as CEO of Binance after pleading responsible to US cash laundering violations. The corporate agreed to a $4.3 billion settlement. Nevertheless, he later obtained a pardon from Donald Trump. This transfer nonetheless stays debatable within the political view.
Since then, the worldwide crypto trade has seen many ups and downs. The cumulative digital belongings market cap hovers round $2.41 trillion. Bitcoin value jumped by greater than 6% over the past 7 days. BTC is buying and selling round $71,000 on the press time.
