Original author: Chain Research 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 this time, he shared his views on various topics including amnesty, investment philosophy, stablecoins, RWA, etc. This article is a summary organized by the crypto KOL Chain Research Society, the original text is as follows:
Has CZ returned? Not entirely.
After resigning as CEO of Binance, CZ rarely appeared in the recent BNB Chain annual AMA. Without the CEO title, he actually talked more openly.
Regarding 2026, AI payments, and his current 'free' life, there is a lot of information.
I have organized 7 core insights, and the last one is quite painful for entrepreneurs.
1. About retirement life: Freedom is the greatest luxury.
CZ frankly states that his biggest feeling now is Free. Although retired, he has not stopped working. He has been quite busy, mainly focusing his energy on four things:
1. Giggle Academy: A completely free educational platform, which is also his current pet project.
2. YZi Labs: Acting as a mentor and coach, helping entrepreneurs avoid pitfalls (not just giving money).
3. BNB Chain: Although not touching the technical details, it still controls the big direction.
4. Government advisor: This is very interesting; he is helping dozens of countries like those in the Middle East and Pakistan design regulatory frameworks. And he holds a significant personal stake.
CZ also mentioned that he still maintains a regular lifestyle, insisting on about 30-40 minutes of exercise every day, and trying more outdoor activities.
From conquering the land to setting rules, this wave of transformation is very stable.
2. The invisible growth of BNB Chain
Many people feel that BNB Chain is no longer sexy? The data might contradict that:
· Trading volume increased by 600% year-on-year.
· Daily active users (DAU) exceeded 2 million.
· Even if CZ steps back, the number of Binance users has still broken 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 grown significantly, from the perspective of global wealth penetration, the proportion of crypto assets is still less than 1%. There is still several orders of magnitude of growth space in the future.
CZ's summary of the past is very incisive: boxing in a marathon. One must have the endurance of a long-distance runner while maintaining high-frequency combat ability. This is much more difficult than simply chasing short-term rankings.
3. Prediction markets: A hundred flowers blooming is not a horse racing mechanism
Recently, prediction markets have been very popular (PolyMarket won big in the U.S. election). Many competitors have also emerged on BNB Chain. CZ's attitude is: no internal competition racing. Labs will not only bet on one, but let the market compete naturally. It is still too early to talk about who the winner is; expanding the cake is the hard truth.
4. Stablecoin 2.0: Yield is king
If stablecoins do not earn interest, they are products of the 1.0 era (such as Tether). CZ believes the core of stablecoin 2.0 is: earning interest + transaction convenience. Models like Ethena (USDe) that can earn yield and be circulated are the future. With compliance being implemented, 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 that AI Agents will be the largest user group in 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. A payment network designed specifically for AI on the blockchain, there are huge opportunities here.
6. RWA: National-level entry
When we talk about RWA (real-world assets on the blockchain), CZ is already in discussions with heads of state. Many resource-rich countries (oil, rare earth) have money but lack liquidity. The tokenization of national resources is becoming a serious issue. This is not just financing; it is about activating the liquidity of national-level assets. The narrative level of this track has changed.
7. Advice to entrepreneurs: Don't be a speculator
CZ's current investment criterion is just one: Mission-driven.
Want to make 10 million and run? ❌ This kind of person he doesn't value now.
Changing tracks every few months? ❌ Lacking determination.
For tech experts wanting to change careers, his advice is also 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
After 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, no matter who is first now, Keep Building is the only path to cross cycles. Nvidia sat on the bench for 40 years before exploding; what are you in a hurry for?
2026, belongs to long-distance runners.
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