At the age of 39, Yi He – co-founder of Binance – is not only praised as one of the most powerful figures in the cryptocurrency world but is also likened to the “architect behind the digital dynasty.”
Harsh childhood in a poor rural area
According to Fortune, Yi He was born in Sichuan (China) in the 1980s, into a poor family. The village at that time still did not have stable electricity, and at night the whole family had to light oil lamps, with water for daily use being carried from a well several kilometers away. The biggest tragedy struck when she was just 9 years old: her father passed away suddenly, leaving a huge void both spiritually and economically.
Since then, Yi He had to face life early. She once recounted selling soft drinks in supermarkets to help her mother, even doing many odd jobs just to make ends meet. That hardship, according to her, became the “material” that forged her tenacious character and resilience later.
Despite the poverty, she had a special passion for studying. After passing the entrance exam to the Chinese Academy of Sciences, she chose the field of Psychology – a field that helped her hone her observation and understanding of people. Yi He has often said that the library is “the doorway to another world,” and the policies on books nurtured her desire to change her life.
Her eloquence and bright appearance helped her transition to television after graduation. Yi He became the host of travel programs, building a dynamic and approachable image. This was also the time she accumulated skills in communication and personal image management – abilities that would later prove extremely useful when stepping into the blockchain field.
The fate with cryptocurrency
Around 2014, when Bitcoin was just beginning to emerge in China, Yi He recognized the potential of blockchain technology. She joined OKCoin, one of the first major exchanges in China. Here, Yi He was the one who discovered and invited Changpeng Zhao (CZ) – a Chinese technology engineer who had worked at Bloomberg and the Tokyo Stock Exchange – to enter the crypto industry.
The professional relationship later developed into a partnership, and their combination became the foundation for a global empire: Binance.
In 2017, Yi He and CZ founded Binance. While CZ took on the role of “chief engineer” regarding technology and systems, Yi He is seen as the mastermind behind the growth strategy. She directly managed marketing, community building, and customer service – key areas that helped Binance break through.
In less than a year, Binance has risen to become the largest cryptocurrency exchange in the world, attracting millions of users. This rapid progression has led many experts to call it a “miracle.”
According to Forbes, in 2021, Binance processed a trading volume of over 7.7 trillion USD – a figure that far exceeds many rival exchanges. This success is not only due to technology but also from the marketing strategy and the philosophy of “customer-centric” that Yi He has persistently pursued.
In an interview with Fortune, when asked about her past hardships, Yi He candidly said: “I have risen from hardship and still succeeded. Why don’t you try doing the same?” – a response that was both powerful and reflected her confidence.
Currently, Yi He is not only seen as the “woman behind” CZ but also as one of the most notable technology leaders in the world. From her position as co-founder, she has been called by Bloomberg the “most powerful woman in crypto,” a title few can dispute.
She once quoted a Mongolian proverb: “Speak well and don’t mention the pain; tell good stories without mixing in sadness.” For her, the past is not a burden but a motivation, and the future of cryptocurrency is an opportunity to reshape the entire global financial system – similar to how the Internet changed communication two decades ago.
