Behind every great empire, there is a figure who operates in the shadows, turning gears that the world rarely sees. In the world of Bitcoin and Blockchain, everyone knows the name CZ. But today, we’re talking about the woman who recruited him. The woman who built the community that made Binance a household name. Today, we dive into the incredible life of Yi He.
In the fast-paced, high-stakes world of cryptocurrency, names like Bitcoin and CZ dominate the headlines. But behind the world’s largest exchange, Binance, stands a woman whose influence is so profound she is often called the "First Lady" of the crypto world. Her name is Yi He. Her journey from a rural village in China to the pinnacle of global finance is a story of relentless ambition and the power of reinvention.
Yi He was born in 1986 in a small province in Sichuan. Her parents were teachers, and her early life was defined by the modest, disciplined environment of a rural educator's household. She didn't start her career with a degree in finance or computer science. In fact, her first job was as a teacher, following in her parents' footsteps. But the quiet life of a classroom couldn't hold her. She moved on to become a psychological counselor and later, a host on a national travel television station.
By her mid-twenties, Yi He was a famous face in China. She was charismatic, articulate, and comfortable in the spotlight. However, she felt she was merely a spectator of the world’s changes rather than a participant. In 2014, everything changed. She discovered Bitcoin. While the rest of the world saw a volatile digital experiment, Yi He saw a bridge to a new financial era.
She pivoted instantly. She joined OKCoin as a co-founder, where she was responsible for branding and marketing. It was here that she made a decision that would change the course of history: she recruited a brilliant developer named Changpeng Zhao, known as CZ, to be the company’s Chief Technology Officer. Though they eventually went their separate ways, the professional bond was formed.
Yi He left the crypto space briefly to join a mobile video tech company, where she proved her marketing genius by helping the firm reach a billion-dollar valuation. But in 2017, crypto called her back. CZ was launching a new exchange called Binance. He reached out to her, and despite the risks, she chose to join him as a co-founder.
Yi He was the secret weapon. While CZ handled the technical architecture, Yi He built the community. She understood people better than anyone else in the industry. She pioneered the "Binance Angels" program, creating a global army of loyal volunteers. She was known for being in chat rooms at three in the morning, personally answering user questions. She turned a sterile trading platform into a global movement.
Today, as the head of Binance Labs and the leader of the company’s marketing and strategy, Yi He is arguably the most powerful woman in blockchain. She has navigated regulatory storms, market crashes, and intense public scrutiny with a philosophy she often repeats: "If you think of yourself as a warrior, you will fight. If you think of yourself as a victim, you will fail."
Yi He’s life is a testament to the fact that your background does not define your destination. She transformed herself from a village girl into a television star, and finally into the "Steel Rose" of the digital frontier. She didn't just join the future; she helped build it.