Changpeng Zhao, commonly known as CZ, lived a fairly conventional life before entering the world of cryptocurrency. In 2013, he was first introduced to Bitcoin and began studying its technology in depth. He became convinced that this new decentralized system had the potential to transform the global financial structure, even though at the time most people viewed Bitcoin as highly risky and unreliable.
In 2014, CZ made a bold and controversial decision. He sold his personal apartment and converted the proceeds into approximately 1,500 Bitcoin. At that time, one Bitcoin was priced at around 600 US dollars. His family, especially his mother, strongly disapproved of this move and considered it foolish, as exchanging a physical asset like property for a digital currency was far outside normal financial thinking.
Over the following years, Bitcoin experienced extreme volatility. There were periods of sharp price declines that caused many investors to panic and exit the market. Despite this uncertainty, CZ remained committed to his decision. During this time, he continued working on blockchain and exchange infrastructure, and in 2017 he founded Binance, which rapidly grew into the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange.
As time passed, Bitcoin’s value increased dramatically. The same 1,500 Bitcoin that once equaled the price of a single apartment eventually became worth tens, and later hundreds, of millions of dollars. Depending on market conditions at different points in time, their value has been estimated anywhere from around 130 million dollars to figures exceeding 160 million dollars.
Today, this story is often cited in the crypto space as a real example of how a decision that once appeared reckless turned into an extraordinary long-term outcome. CZ’s choice is seen as a reflection of his strong belief in Bitcoin and his ability to recognize the future potential of emerging technology well before it became mainstream.$BNB
