Childhood and Education Journey of Changpeng Zhao in Timeline

By Popular Timelines Editorial Team · Updated: October 23, 2025

How education and upbringing influenced the life of Changpeng Zhao. A timeline of key moments.

Changpeng Zhao, or CZ, is a Chinese-Canadian businessman and the co-founder of Binance, a leading cryptocurrency exchange. He stepped down as CEO in November 2023 after admitting guilt to money laundering charges in the U.S. Zhao was sentenced to four months imprisonment in April 2024, for his role in facilitating illicit activities on the exchange. He completed his sentence by September 2024. Zhao's case highlights the regulatory scrutiny and legal challenges faced by cryptocurrency businesses and their executives.

Sections (3)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements

1977: Birth

In 1977, Changpeng Zhao was born in China.

1977: Birth of Changpeng Zhao

In 1977, Changpeng Zhao, also known as CZ, was born in China. He would later become the co-founder and CEO of Binance.

1989: Migration to Canada

In 1989, Zhao acquired a Canadian visa and left China after the events of Tiananmen Square.

1992: Citizenship

Around 1992, Zhao acquired Canadian citizenship.

2005: Return to China

In 2005, Zhao moved back to China and eventually owned an apartment in Shanghai.

2005: Launch of Fusion Systems

In 2005, Zhao moved to Shanghai to launch his business career. He established his first technology startup company called Fusion Systems, which was known for its high-frequency trading platforms.

2013: First Heard of Bitcoin

In 2013, Zhao first heard of bitcoin while playing poker with Bobby Lee, who advised Zhao to invest in it. Zhao sold his apartment in Shanghai and invested all of his wealth in bitcoin.

2015: Bitcoin Investment

In 2015, Zhao sold his Shanghai apartment and used the funds to purchase bitcoin.

2017: Departure from China

In late 2017, Zhao left China after the Chinese government banned crypto exchanges.

April 6, 2021: Liquid net worth in crypto

On April 6, 2021, Zhao told Bloomberg Markets that nearly 100% of his liquid net worth was in the form of cryptocurrency.

2021: Political Beliefs

In 2021, Zhao stated in Singapore, "I am not a complete libertarian, I'm not an anarchist... I don't believe human civilization is advanced enough to live in a world with no rules."