Binance co-founder Changpeng “CZ” Zhao has stepped in to quash rumors of a romance swirling round his temporary interplay with a feminine KOL at Binance Blockchain Week in Dubai.
The hypothesis traces again to December 4, when CZ confronted off in opposition to gold advocate Peter Schiff in a much-anticipated debate. Through the session, Tintin—a crypto influencer affiliated with the Aster undertaking—walked onstage.
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CZ Claps Again
She handed CZ a “magic field” containing a heavy gold merchandise. This second was captured on video and later amplified when Tintin tweeted that the field was “actual f**king heavy.” The second has since turn into essentially the most replayed section of the controversy’s YouTube video.
What began as a lighthearted promotional stunt rapidly morphed into gossip fodder throughout Chinese language-speaking crypto communities. Some customers started spinning tales of a romantic connection between the 2.
CZ, by no means one to let rumors fester, addressed the hypothesis head-on in a publish on X.
“There’s gossip about me now? The market should be actually sluggish—everybody’s received nothing higher to do,” he quipped.
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He then laid out the info: his total interplay with Tintin consisted of exchanging three messages and assembly for about 10 minutes earlier than the controversy. The choice to have somebody hand him the field onstage was made on the spot—there was no prior association.
“Go take note of another person. I heard someone and someone…” he added, deflecting with a touch of sarcasm.
Timing Raises Eyebrows
The rumors emerged simply days after Yi He, CZ’s long-term companion and the mom of his three kids, was elevated to co-CEO of Binance on December 3. The appointment, introduced by CEO Richard Teng at Binance Blockchain Week, marked the change’s most vital management shake-up since CZ stepped down in 2023.
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When requested about potential conflicts between her private {and professional} roles, Yi He drew a transparent boundary.
“My private life is unbiased from my skilled life,” she instructed reporters in Dubai. “My achievements and capabilities as co-founder are sometimes missed with my private life in query.”
In the meantime, CZ Retains Busy in Pakistan
Romance rumors apart, CZ has been targeted on increasing Binance’s international footprint. On December 12, he visited Pakistan alongside Binance CEO Richard Teng and Tron founder Justin Solar for conferences with Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb.
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The go to coincided with a serious regulatory milestone: Pakistan’s Digital Belongings Regulatory Authority (PVARA) issued no-objection certificates to each Binance and HTX, clearing the trail for the exchanges to pursue full licensing within the nation.
“A significant milestone for Binance in Pakistan,” Teng mentioned on X, noting that the change has obtained AML registration from PVARA. “Wanting ahead to constructing a secure, clear, and future-ready digital-asset ecosystem collectively.”
CZ has served as an adviser to the Pakistan Crypto Council since April 2024, and the South Asian nation seems desirous to place itself as a crypto-friendly jurisdiction within the area.
As for the Tintin rumors? It appears CZ has already moved on—even when the crypto gossip mill hasn’t.