Most Influential 2025: Changpeng “CZ” Zhao’s Posts Still Move Markets
Changpeng “CZ” Zhao, the founder and former CEO of Binance, remains one of the crypto industry’s most closely watched figures even after stepping down in 2023 and serving a brief U.S. prison sentence tied to violations of the federal Bank Secrecy Act (BSA). Zhao is featured on CoinDesk’s Most Influential 2025 list, underscoring his continued impact on how the market and industry narratives develop.
In 2025, Zhao has continued a prolific presence on social media, where he regularly comments on industry trends and the longer-term outlook for global crypto adoption. The activity persisted despite what the source material described as a subtle dig, suggesting public criticism has done little to change his approach to engaging the crypto community.
One post stood out for its directness: Zhao publicly disclosed that he held a $1.8 million position in ASTER, the native token of a derivatives exchange hosted on BNB Chain. The disclosure was described as slightly out of character, and it quickly demonstrated how closely traders and market participants track Zhao’s remarks. Shortly after the tweet, ASTER rose from $0.90 to $1.08.
The episode highlights an enduring dynamic in crypto markets: prominent figures can still influence short-term price action through public statements, particularly around smaller or ecosystem-linked tokens. It also reflects how closely Binance-linked developments are monitored, given Zhao’s history of building Binance into a global exchange and his ongoing association with projects connected to the BNB Chain ecosystem.
Beyond social media, 2025 also saw Zhao take a “more active role” in investment activities within YZi Labs, the venture capital arm of Binance previously known as Binance Labs. The shift signals that while Zhao is no longer Binance CEO, he continues to shape parts of the industry through capital allocation and public commentary.
- What happened: Zhao disclosed a $1.8 million ASTER position; ASTER moved from $0.90 to $1.08 shortly after.
- Why it matters: The move illustrates Zhao’s ongoing ability to influence market attention and short-term pricing via public statements.
- Broader context: Zhao has remained highly visible post-CEO tenure and has become more active in YZi Labs, Binance’s venture arm.