Squawk Pod Davos 2026: Binance Founder CZ 1/25/26
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Jan 25, 2026 Changpeng Zhao, founder and former CEO of Binance who served time and was later pardoned, discusses life after prison and his current projects like Giggle Academy. He recounts his prison experience and the pardon process. He clarifies Binance’s ownership and U.S. posture, weighs in on regulation and competition, and offers a market outlook for crypto in 2026.
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Brutal First Day In Prison
- Changpeng Zhao described the strip-search and intake process on his first day in prison as brutal and dehumanizing.
- He framed it as something he endured with emotional steadiness and resolved to 'just get through it.'
Cellmate Was A Long-Term Murderer
- Zhao shared that his cellmate was a double murderer who had many years left on his sentence.
- He used the story to illustrate the grim realities of prison life and the lack of fun in the experience.
Payments Aren't Investments
- Zhao clarified that accepting a stablecoin payment did not equal investing in that issuer and criticized media mischaracterizations.
- He emphasized that the $2 billion stablecoin transaction was a payment method choice, not a balance-sheet investment in World Liberty Finance.