Despite facing legal challenges and significant fines for Binance, CEO Changpeng Zhao, known as CZ, has seen his net worth soar to over $37 billion in 2023, thanks to Bitcoin’s impressive rise and his controlling stake in the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange.
CZ’s Fortune Climbs Amidst Binance Hurdles
Binance’s agreement to settle $4.3 billion in fines with U.S. authorities has not hindered CZ’s financial ascent. In fact, his net worth has expanded by over $25 billion this year alone, far surpassing the costs incurred by the exchange.
CZ’s current estimated wealth of more than $37 billion is largely attributed to his majority stake in Binance. The exchange continues to hold the title of the world’s largest cryptocurrency platform, a testament to the value and influence of its founder’s holdings.
CZ’s Legal Settlement and Wealth Dynamics
CZ has navigated through legal challenges with a guilty plea to charges concerning anti-money laundering and sanctions violations in November.
This plea is part of a comprehensive agreement allowing Binance to maintain its operational status. In addition to the company’s settlement, Zhao has consented to a personal fine of $50 million and will relinquish his CEO role, though he maintains his ownership stake.
Zhao’s plea arrangement could cap his prison sentence at 18 months, potentially sparing him from the harsher penalties that have been handed down in other high-profile crypto-related legal cases.
Despite a surge in his fortune in 2023, Zhao’s current net worth has not matched its nearly $97 billion peak at the start of 2022. Moreover, it has receded from a mid-year high of $50.4 billion, as tracked by the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.
Crypto Moguls’ Fortunes Soar Amidst Market Uptick
The cryptocurrency landscape in 2023 has not just been favorable for Binance’s Changpeng Zhao. The year’s market rebound, catalyzed by significant industry milestones such as the Binance settlement and the anticipation of the SEC’s approval of Bitcoin spot ETFs, has fattened the wallets of several crypto industry heavyweights.
Bloomberg reports that Brian Armstrong, the CEO of Coinbase Global Inc., has enjoyed a substantial increase in his net worth, with a $5.8 billion gain this year, bringing his total to $7.2 billion. This wealth boost is tied to the soaring shares of Coinbase, of which he holds a 16% stake.
Fred Ehrsam, the co-founder of Coinbase, has also seen his wealth surge by $1.8 billion this year, making his estimated fortune around $2.5 billion.
Meanwhile, Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss, the twin brothers behind the Gemini Trust crypto exchange, have each added $1.4 billion to their net worth, now standing at $2.7 billion individually.
Contrasting these success stories is Sam Bankman-Fried, the former CEO of FTX, who has been embroiled in legal troubles and convicted of fraud. Once at the pinnacle with a net worth of $25.9 billion, his current estimated fortune has plummeted to zero, as per Bloomberg’s index.
