Binance co-founder Changpeng “CZ” Zhao has quelled rumors about a romance that circulated after his brief interaction with a female KOL during Binance Blockchain Week in Dubai.
Speculation began on December 4, when CZ debated gold supporter Peter Schiff. During this debate, Tintin—a crypto influencer linked to the Aster project—took the stage.
CZ strikes back
She handed CZ a “magic box” containing a heavy golden object. This moment was captured on video and later became more famous when Tintin posted on X that the box was “really f**king heavy.” Since then, this is the most replayed clip in the YouTube video of the debate.
What started as a funny promotional stunt quickly became fodder for gossip in Chinese crypto communities. Some users began inventing stories about a romantic relationship between the two.
CZ, who doesn't let rumors linger long, directly addressed the speculations in a post on X.
“Are there now rumors about me? The market must be really boring—everyone apparently has nothing better to do,” he joked.
He then stated the facts: his entire interaction with Tintin consisted of exchanging three messages and speaking for about 10 minutes before the debate. The choice to have her hand him the box on stage was made on the spot—nothing was arranged in advance.
“Go meddle with someone else. I heard someone with someone…” he added, with a sarcastic undertone.
The rumors surfaced just a few days after Yi He, CZ's long-time partner and mother of his three children, was appointed co-CEO of Binance on December 3. This appointment, announced by CEO Richard Teng during Binance Blockchain Week, marked the biggest changes in the company's leadership since CZ stepped down in 2023.
When asked about potential conflicts between her private life and her work, Yi He drew a clear line.
“My private life is separate from my work,” she told reporters in Dubai. “My achievements and skills as a co-founder are often overlooked when questions about my private life arise.”
Meanwhile, CZ remains active in Pakistan
Despite the romance rumors, CZ is focused on expanding Binance globally. On December 12, he visited Pakistan with Binance CEO Richard Teng and Tron founder Justin Sun for meetings with Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb.
The visit coincided with an important regulatory moment: the Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (PVARA) in Pakistan issued no-objection certificates to both Binance and HTX, paving the way for the exchanges to apply for a full license in the country.
“An important milestone for Binance in Pakistan,” Teng said on X, noting that the exchange has received an AML registration from PVARA. “We look forward to building a safe, transparent, and future-proof digital asset ecosystem together.”
CZ has been an advisor to the Pakistan Crypto Council since April 2024. Pakistan wants to clearly position itself as crypto-friendly in the region.
And what about the Tintin rumors? It seems CZ has moved on again—although the crypto gossip continues.
