Binance co-founder Changpeng “CZ” Zhao has spoken out to stop rumors of a romance following his brief meeting with a female KOL during Binance Blockchain Week in Dubai.
The speculation started on December 4, when CZ met gold advocate Peter Schiff in a much-anticipated debate. During the session, Tintin—a crypto influencer associated with the Aster project—went on stage.
CZ strikes back
He met CZ in a “magic box” that contained a heavy gold object. This moment was captured on video and later amplified when Tintin tweeted that the box was “really damn heavy.” The moment has since become the most replayed segment in the debate's YouTube video.
What started as a lighthearted PR stunt quickly evolved into gossip material in the Chinese-speaking crypto community. Some users began spreading stories about a romantic connection between the two.
CZ, who never lets rumors grow, addressed the speculations directly in a post on X.
“There's rumors about me now? The market must really be slow—everyone has nothing better to do,” he joked.
He then presented the facts: his entire interaction with Tintin consisted of exchanging three messages and a meeting of about 10 minutes before the debate. The decision for someone to hand him the box on stage was made on the spot—there was no prior arrangement.
“Focus on someone else. I heard some and some…” he added, with a hint of sarcasm.
The rumors surfaced just days after Yi He, CZ's longtime partner and mother of his three children, was appointed co-CEO of Binance on December 3. The appointment, announced by CEO Richard Teng during Binance Blockchain Week, marked the exchange's biggest leadership shakeup since CZ stepped down in 2023.
When asked about potential conflicts between her personal and professional life, Yi He drew a clear line.
“My private life is independent of my professional life,” she said to reporters in Dubai. “My achievements and abilities as a co-founder are often overlooked when my private life is questioned.”
At the same time, CZ is keeping busy in Pakistan
Aside from the romance rumors, CZ has focused on expanding Binance's global footprint. On December 12, he visited Pakistan along with Binance CEO Richard Teng and Tron founder Justin Sun for meetings with Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb.
The visit coincided with a significant regulatory milestone: Pakistan's Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (PVARA) issued licenses to both Binance and HTX, paving the way for the exchanges to seek full licensing in the country.
“A significant milestone for Binance in Pakistan,” Teng stated on X, adding that the exchange has achieved AML registration from PVARA. “Looking forward to building a safe, transparent, and forward-looking ecosystem for digital assets together.”
CZ has been an advisor for the Pakistan Crypto Council since April 2024, and it appears that the South Asian nation is eager to position itself as a crypto-friendly jurisdiction in the region.
Oh for the Tintin rumors? It seems like CZ has already moved on—even though the crypto gossip community hasn't.
