Who is the CEO of Binance?

Binance, founded by Changpeng Zhao, remains the largest crypto exchange despite leadership changes and regulatory challenges.

Jul 20, 2025 at 09:28 pm

Understanding the Leadership of Binance

Binance, one of the largest and most influential cryptocurrency exchanges in the world, has seen its leadership structure evolve over time. At the forefront of this evolution is Changpeng Zhao, commonly known as CZ. He is widely recognized as the founder and former CEO of Binance. While Binance has undergone structural changes, CZ played a pivotal role in shaping the company’s trajectory and establishing its dominance in the global crypto market.

Changpeng Zhao: The Man Behind Binance

Changpeng Zhao, a Canadian-Chinese entrepreneur, founded Binance in 2017. Prior to launching Binance, CZ worked in various tech and finance roles, including positions at Bloomberg, Fusion Systems, and OKCoin. His technical background and deep understanding of blockchain technology allowed him to create a platform that quickly became a leader in cryptocurrency trading.

Under CZ's leadership, Binance expanded rapidly, launching numerous products such as Binance Smart Chain, Binance NFT, and Binance.US. His vision was not only to build an exchange but also to foster a comprehensive blockchain ecosystem that supports innovation and decentralization.

Leadership Changes at Binance

In November 2022, Binance underwent a significant leadership transition. Amid regulatory scrutiny and market turbulence, Changpeng Zhao announced his resignation as CEO. This decision followed a period of intense pressure from global regulators and the fallout from the collapse of FTX, a competing exchange.

Following CZ's departure, Richard Teng was appointed as the new CEO of Binance. Teng is a seasoned executive with a strong background in financial regulation and risk management. Before joining Binance, he served as the Chief Executive of the Financial Markets Conduct Authority in Singapore.

Richard Teng's leadership has focused on enhancing compliance, strengthening internal controls, and rebuilding trust with global regulators and users.

Current Leadership Structure of Binance

Under Richard Teng, Binance continues to operate with a decentralized leadership model. The company does not have a single headquarters and operates across multiple jurisdictions to comply with varying regulatory frameworks.

Key executives in Binance’s leadership include:

• Catherine Coley – Former President of Binance.US and a key figure in navigating U.S. regulatory challenges.
• Shundong Zhao – Chief Technology Officer, responsible for overseeing platform infrastructure and security.
• Patrick Hillmann – Chief Marketing Officer and spokesperson for the company.

Binance also maintains regional leadership teams in Asia, Europe, and the Americas to manage localized operations and regulatory engagement.

What Does the Future Hold for Binance?

Despite leadership changes and regulatory hurdles, Binance remains the largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume. The company continues to innovate with new products and services, including launchpads for new crypto projects, staking services, and educational initiatives.

Under Richard Teng, Binance is focusing on:

• Regulatory compliance and transparency
• Strengthening internal governance
• Expanding into regulated financial products
• Enhancing user security and asset protection

While the leadership landscape has shifted, Binance's mission to "provide equal access to financial services through blockchain technology" remains intact.

FAQs

Q: Where is Binance headquartered?

Binance does not have a formal headquarters. It operates as a decentralized entity with teams located in various countries, including Malta, Singapore, and Dubai.

Q: Who owns Binance now?

Binance is privately owned, and its ownership structure is not publicly disclosed. However, it is known that Changpeng Zhao previously held a significant stake, and ownership may have been transferred or diversified following leadership changes.

Q: Has Binance faced legal challenges?

Yes, Binance has faced regulatory actions in multiple jurisdictions, including the United States, the United Kingdom, and Japan. These actions primarily relate to anti-money laundering (AML) compliance, licensing issues, and user data protection.

Q: What is Binance Smart Chain?
Binance Smart Chain (BSC) is a blockchain network developed by Binance that enables developers to build decentralized applications (dApps) and smart contracts. It operates in parallel with the original Binance Chain and supports BEP-20 tokens.