CZ's Unpopular Crypto Opinions | Generated by AI
Question: What are unpopular opinions from Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao (CZ)?
Answer:
Changpeng Zhao, commonly known as CZ and the founder and former CEO of Binance, has shared several opinions on X (formerly Twitter) and in interviews that he explicitly labeled as “unpopular” or which sparked debate in the crypto community due to their contrarian nature. These views often challenge hype-driven trends in crypto, emphasizing long-term value, caution, and utility over speculation. Below is a curated list of key examples, drawn from his direct statements, with context where relevant:
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Prioritize long-term building over quick gains: CZ argued that crypto investors waste too much energy (and money) chasing small, fast profits—often called “degen” trading—leading to high risks and losses. Instead, he urged focusing on ethical teams developing sustainable, utility-focused projects, as “big money is built slowly with stamina.” This counters the short-term speculation dominant in crypto culture.
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Sell at peak greed, buy at peak fear: In a direct reversal of the common “buy the dip” mantra, CZ advised selling assets like Bitcoin when market sentiment shows maximum greed (e.g., via the Fear & Greed Index) and buying during extreme fear. He acknowledged this as tough to time but essential for smart trading, though critics noted he rarely issues “sell” signals himself.
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Not every AI agent needs its own token: Amid the 2025 AI-crypto boom, CZ stated that while crypto is ideal as a currency for AI ecosystems, most AI agents shouldn’t launch custom tokens. They can simply charge fees in established cryptos, reserving token launches for projects with proven scale. He stressed focusing on utility over token proliferation to avoid dilution and scams.
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Bitcoin is a “bad” store of value because it keeps rising: In a tongue-in-cheek 2021 post, CZ sarcastically called Bitcoin a poor store of value since its price “keeps going up” despite fluctuations. This poked fun at critics who downplay BTC’s volatility while highlighting its long-term appreciation.
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You need Bitcoin more than it needs you: CZ flipped the narrative on Bitcoin’s exclusivity, suggesting individual holders benefit more from its scarcity and growth than BTC does from any one user. This pushes against FOMO-driven narratives and emphasizes personal adoption.
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High DeFi yields are bubbles and unsustainable: During the 2020 DeFi summer, CZ warned that staking for liquidity and earning “super high” returns (often subsidized by new token emissions) was high-risk and likely to burst. He predicted only core concepts like liquidity provision would endure, urging caution amid the hype.
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No single blockchain can rule them all: CZ dismissed the idea of “one blockchain to rule them all” due to scalability limits, advocating for multiple faster chains to handle global demand. This challenged dominant narratives around Ethereum or Bitcoin maximalism.
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Meme coins are greed-driven, not community-driven: In early 2025, CZ critiqued the meme coin frenzy on chains like BNB, calling the ecosystem “immature” and driven by quick-profit seekers rather than genuine communities. He later deleted a thread on this but stood by the view that memes often mask scams.
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Strong projects don’t pay for exchange listings: Addressing 2025 debates on Binance’s practices, CZ claimed truly robust crypto projects gain listings organically without fees or airdrops, countering accusations of pay-to-play while defending competitive exchange dynamics.
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Wealth rankings should prioritize philanthropy: CZ proposed replacing billionaire wealth lists with rankings of charity and giving efforts, arguing success metrics should value societal impact over net worth accumulation.
These opinions reflect CZ’s broader philosophy of patience, ethics, and real-world utility in crypto, often clashing with the sector’s speculative ethos. While some drew backlash (e.g., accusations of hypocrisy on decentralization), they consistently garnered significant engagement.
References:
- Binance CZ Shares Unpopular Opinion on Building Wealth in Crypto
- CZ says ‘Buy Fear, Sell Greed’—Crypto X says ‘Yeah, sure’
- ‘Not every agent needs its own token’ - Binance’s CZ shares unpopular opinion
- Ex-Binance Boss CZ Makes Important Community Statement: Details
- CZ Addresses Binance Listing Fees & Airdrops After Silence