Some people just see the future differently, and Changpeng Zhao is definitely one of them. He’s the brain behind Binance, which is the biggest marketplace for digital currencies like bitcoin. His story shows how believing in a big idea can change everything.
In 2014, way before most of us even know what bitcoin was. CZ does something that his own family thought was crazy. He sold his apartment in Shanghai and used the money to buy 1,500 Bitcoins. Each Bitcoin was only worth about $600 back then. People might have wondered why he’d trade a real home for what seemed like invisible internet money.
Fast forward to today, 2025. Those 1,500 Bitcoins are now valued at an incredible over $167 million. And that Shanghai apartment is now worth around $1.5 million. The difference is outstanding.
CZ saw bitcoin as a game-changing idea. He had a deep belief in Bitcoin’s future, seeing its potential to change how money works long before it was widely accepted or understood. He didn’t just see a digital coin; he saw a revolution.
Not only did this make him rich, but it was the reason for Binance’s foundation, which is the biggest marketplace for Crypto. When Binance first launched in 2017, it stood out. CZ and his team focused on making it feasible to use, with lots of different cryptocurrencies to trade, and kept fees low. This made it super popular, attracting millions of users very quickly. Further, Binance built a whole “ecosystem,” including things like its own coin (BNB), an educational platform (Binance Academy), and even a way for new crypto projects to get started (Launchpad).
It grew from a simple exchange into a powerhouse that has played a huge part in bringing cryptocurrency to people all over the world, despite facing various challenges in its journey.
CZ’s story teaches us that sometimes, the “craziest” ideas are the ones that truly reshape futures. It took incredible courage to do what he did, and the payoff is truly legendary
