Former Binance CEO, Changpeng ‘CZ’ Zhao, is gearing up for his first public appearance since his resignation at the Binance Blockchain Week in Dubai. The event, scheduled for Oct. 30-31, is expected to be a significant gathering in the Web3 world, and Zhao has confirmed his attendance in a personal capacity.
This announcement has sparked excitement in the crypto community, with many eagerly anticipating what Zhao might share during his appearance. Even Tron founder and CEO, Justin Sun, expressed his enthusiasm and welcomed the Binance co-founder’s participation in the event.
After recently pleading guilty to violating U.S. anti-money laundering regulations and paying a hefty fine, Zhao stepped down as CEO of Binance and served time in prison. Despite these legal troubles, he still maintains a 90% ownership stake in Binance, making him one of the wealthiest figures in the crypto space with an estimated net worth of $61 billion.
The Binance Blockchain Week in Dubai aims to build on the success of last year’s event in Istanbul, with a theme centered around “Momentum” and focusing on the industry’s progress despite challenges. The event will feature discussions on maintaining decentralized values while adapting to regulatory changes, along with interactive sessions and workshops to explore new blockchain tools and platforms.
Aside from Zhao, the event will host a lineup of notable speakers, including Circle CEO Jeremy Allaire, Nansen CEO Alex Svanevik, Dubai Future Foundation CEO Khalfan Belhoul, and Sotheby’s Vice President of Digital Art Michael Bouhanna.
As Zhao embarks on a new chapter post-Binance, he has expressed his intention to shift his focus away from the crypto sector towards providing opportunities for youth, especially through educational initiatives for underprivileged children. While a website called Giggle Academy has been created for this purpose, it is still in its early stages, leaving many curious about Zhao’s future endeavors beyond the crypto world.