Binance founder Changpeng Zhao has seen his net worth surge to $110 billion, according to Forbes’ 2026 World’s Billionaires list. This comes just 17 months after his release from a California federal prison. This increase in the personal wealth of Changpeng Zhao comes at a time when Binance and the cryptocurrency market, in general, are growing stronger than ever.
The increase in the personal wealth of Changpeng Zhao comes as Binance’s valuation has soared to approximately $100 billion. Zhao reportedly owns about 90% of the exchange, meaning fluctuations in its value significantly impact his personal wealth. Forbes highlights Zhao as one of the wealthiest figures in cryptocurrency due to his substantial company stake.
Binance Controls 38% Crypto Market Share
The operational performance has been instrumental in the growth of the personal wealth of Changpeng Zhao. Binance generated approximately $16 billion to $17 billion in revenue in the 2024-2025 financial period, considering the strong trading volumes on the platform. This comes as the company processed more than $30 trillion annually in trading volumes, making it the biggest cryptocurrency exchange in the world in terms of trading volumes.
According to market data, Binance currently commands a 38% market share of the total crypto exchange business in the world. Such a dominant position in the market instills confidence, despite government pressure and scrutiny of its operations. Binance’s continued dominance in the cryptocurrency space thus translates into a higher company value and consequently increases Zhao’s wealth.
Zhao’s comeback aligns with Donald Trump’s 2025 return to the White House. Binance had accepted the Trump family’s World Liberty Financial USD 1 stablecoin as part of a $2 billion investment in Abu Dhabi. CZ also received a pardon from Trump. Zhao’s re-emergence into US business circles came when he spoke at a forum in Mar-a-Lago, despite Trump denying any business ties to Zhao.
Also Read | Ethereum (ETH) Faces Potential Pullback as TD Sequential Sell Signal Appears
Regulatory and Compliance Concerns
Zhao’s increased wealth does not seem to mitigate government and regulatory pressure and scrutiny of Binance’s operations. Fortune, Wall Street Journal, and New York Times publications claimed that Binance had fired its top compliance investigators after they raised alarms about a $1 billion transfer to sanctioned Iranian parties. CZ pleaded guilty in 2023 and paid a settlement of $4.3 billion to the US government.
CZ now surpasses Bill Gates ($108 billion) and Michael Bloomberg ($109 billion), joining a select club of just 20 individuals worldwide worth over $100 billion. CZ’s wealth profile is a reflection of the increasing prominence of cryptocurrency in global finance and a significant paradigm shift in power from traditional and emerging financial leaders.
Also Read | Armed Gang Forces French Couple to Transfer €900,000 Crypto During Home Invasion
