- CZ reveals most of his wealth is in BNB, showing confidence in the network’s future.
- AI, DeFi, and RWAs emerge as BNB Chain’s next growth areas despite regulatory hurdles.
- CZ highlights Japan’s role in Web3 adoption, praising its tech culture and clear rules.
Binance co-founder Changpeng “CZ” Zhao has signaled unshaken confidence in the BNB’s future. His comments in the BNB Chain Fireside Chat revealed both personal alignment and strategic direction. CZ said most of his wealth remains in BNB, highlighting his confidence in the network’s long-term growth. He further pointed out artificial intelligence (AI), decentralized finance, and real-world assets as the next areas of focus.
CZ Aligns Wealth With BNB Chain Future
CZ told the audience he holds a significant amount of BNB and described himself as a cheerleader for the network rather than a decision-maker. His role today, he explained, is encouraging builders to keep expanding the ecosystem.
In June 2024, a Forbes report said CZ held about 64% of BNB’s circulating supply while Binance controlled another 7%. Together, this accounted for nearly 89.1 million tokens. Earlier this year, CZ confirmed that 98% of his portfolio is in BNB and just 1.32% in Bitcoin.
As BNB prices hit new highs in late July, CZ’s holdings were valued near $75 billion. At that time, the token surged above $850.70. Today, BNB is the fourth-largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization, worth $120.3 billion. Beyond trading, it powers payments for transaction fees, staking, and governance. A recent announcement confirmed that YZi Labs, CZ’s family office, backs the new BNB treasury, signalling a longer-term strategy to preserve and expand token value.
AI, DeFi, and RWAs Shape the Next Phase
Looking forward, CZ pointed out AI-driven trading agents as a potential area for developers. Another project that may be pursued, he proposed, was a privacy-preserving decentralized exchange, and added that decentralized exchange trading would one day outshine the centralized exchange volumes, reflecting an emerging trend in the industry as the regulators increase scrutiny of centralized platforms.
CZ emphasized that tokenized securities, treasuries, and commodities have significant potential for real-world assets. Nevertheless, he recognized difficulties in regulatory, KYC compliance, and liquidity provisions. Regardless of these obstacles, BNB Chain is making massive investments in RWA support and collaborating with builders in the space.
He noted that digital asset treasury companies can make crypto investment more accessible. According to him, single-asset treasuries are simple, while basket strategies depend on strong management. Stablecoins also remain central in his outlook. CZ said nearly every country now pays attention to its development and regulation.
Related: B Strategy Targets $1B Raise with Nasdaq-Listed BNB Treasury
Japan’s Role in Web3 Expansion
CZ also spoke about Japan’s importance in the blockchain industry and reminded the audience that Japan was one of the first nations to legally recognize Bitcoin back in 2017. He praised the country’s strong developer base, clear regulations, and culture of embracing technology.
He said he hopes to see a dedicated BNB Chain team in Japan. According to him, the nation provides a strong environment for AI and robotics projects. CZ further pointed out that Japan is an ideal market for technological expansion and Web3 adoption.
For the audience, CZ’s closing remarks served as advice for builders as he urged people to work on projects they are passionate about and emphasized the importance of creating value and focusing on personal strengths.
CZ’s remarks demonstrate the position that BNB Chain can take in relation to Ethereum, Solana, and some new Layer-2 networks. His personal commitment to BNB shows a great deal of alignment to the future of the network. Through highlighting AI, DeFi and RWAs, CZ is indicating the areas the Binance ecosystem may focus on.
With regulatory headwinds on centralized exchanges, liquidity is moving to on-chain products. The founder of Binance is confident that BNB Chain can capture this trend, with a strategy targeted on innovation and adoption in major regions like Japan.
