Original author: Lianyan Society, Crypto KOL
Editor's note: On the evening of December 18, Binance founder CZ participated in the year-end Q&A event hosted by BNB Chain. During the event, he shared his views on several topics including amnesty, investment philosophy, stablecoins, and RWA. This article is a summary compiled by crypto KOL Lianyan Society, and the original text is as follows:
Has CZ returned? Not entirely.
After stepping down as CEO of Binance, CZ made a rare appearance at the recent BNB Chain annual AMA. Without the CEO title, he spoke more openly.
Regarding 2026, AI payments, and his current "free" life, there was a lot of information.
I have summarized 7 core insights, with the last one being particularly poignant for entrepreneurs.
1. On Retirement Life: Freedom is the Greatest Luxury
CZ candidly stated that his biggest feeling now is Free. Although retired, he has not stopped working. He is not idle at all, and his energy is mainly divided among four things:
Giggle Academy: A completely free education platform, which is now his pet project.
YZi Labs: Acting as a mentor and coach, helping entrepreneurs avoid pitfalls (not just providing money).
BNB Chain: Although he does not deal with technical details, he still controls the overall direction.
Government Advisor: This is quite interesting; he is helping a dozen countries, including those in the Middle East and Pakistan, design regulatory frameworks. This occupies a significant portion of his personal time.
CZ also mentioned that he maintains a regular lifestyle, insisting on about 30-40 minutes of exercise daily and trying more outdoor sports.
From building an empire to setting rules, this transformation is very steady.
2. The Invisible Growth of BNB Chain
Many people feel that BNB Chain is no longer attractive? The data might contradict that:
- Trading volume increased by 600% year-on-year.
- Daily active users (DAU) surpassed 2 million.
- Even with CZ's retreat, the number of Binance users has exceeded 300 million.
The ecosystem of BNB is like the total value of Nasdaq-listed companies far exceeding that of the Nasdaq trading platform itself.
Although the crypto market has seen significant growth, from the perspective of global wealth penetration, the proportion of crypto assets is still less than 1%, indicating several orders of magnitude of growth potential in the future.
CZ's summary of the past is very insightful: boxing in a marathon. One must have the endurance of a long-distance runner while maintaining high-frequency combat capability. This is much harder than simply chasing short-term rankings.
3. Prediction Markets: A Flourishing Landscape, Not a Horse Race Mechanism
Recently, prediction markets have become very popular (PolyMarket won big in the U.S. elections). Many competitors have also emerged on BNB Chain. CZ's attitude is: no internal competition in a horse race. Labs will not bet on just one, but will allow the market to compete naturally. It is still too early to talk about who the winner is; expanding the pie is the hard truth.
4. Stablecoin 2.0: Yield is Key
If stablecoins do not earn interest, they are products of the 1.0 era (like Tether). CZ believes the core of stablecoin 2.0 is: earning interest + transaction convenience. Models like Ethena (USDe), which can earn yields and be circulated, are the future. With compliance coming into play, stablecoins will encounter more opportunities, ultimately determined by users and the market.
5. AI + Crypto: The Most Certain Alpha
This point is very important! CZ believes AI Agents will be the largest user group for crypto payments. The logic is simple: robots cannot open bank accounts, pass KYC, or swipe credit cards. Crypto is the only economic interaction method for AI. There is a huge opportunity in on-chain payment networks designed specifically for AI.
6. RWA: National-Level Entry
When we talk about RWA (real-world assets on-chain), CZ is already discussing it with heads of state. Many resource-rich countries (oil, rare earths) may have money but lack liquidity. The tokenization of national resources is becoming a serious topic. This is not just about financing; it is about activating the liquidity of national-level assets. The narrative level of this track has changed.
7. Advice for Entrepreneurs: Don't Be a Speculator
CZ's current investment standard is only one: Mission-driven.
Want to make 10 million and run? ❌ He is not interested in such people now.
Switching fields every few months? ❌ Lacking determination.
For tech experts wanting to change careers, his advice is very practical: first become top-notch in technology, then work on emotional intelligence (EQ). Because the essence of business ultimately revolves around interpersonal networks.
Summary: Crossing Cycles
Listening to the entire AMA, it feels like CZ has changed, becoming more transcendent and more focused on the macro.
As he said, whether it's AI or SocialFi, regardless of who is first now, Keep Building is the only path to cross cycles. Nvidia sat on the sidelines for 40 years before exploding; why rush?
2026 belongs to the long-distance runners.
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