Bitcoin’s climb from $0.05 to $80,000 was never welcomed by governments, says former Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao (CZ). In a post-prison interview, CZ stressed that for over 13 years the asset grew against active official pushback, with only the last 18 months bringing any substantial institutional or regulatory support. “There is no alternative to Bitcoin,” he declared, calling it the strongest store of value and the backbone of the coming AI-driven economy.
Speaking to the Crypto Banter channel, CZ detailed his time in a U.S. prison – 76 days during which he wrote The Freedom of Money in 15-minute sessions on a limited offline terminal. He described the experience as a turning point, noting his pardon removed the “felon” label that had blocked global licensing. Reflecting on Binance’s history, he identified two regrets: not separating Binance US from Binance Global from the start, and dedicating too little time to his family.
CZ remains deeply involved in blockchain, still devoting 80–90% of his time and capital to the sector. He argued that cryptocurrencies are currently the most undervalued asset class, essential for an economy where billions of AI agents will conduct micro-transactions. “What will these agents use? PayPal? No, the only option is blockchain,” he said. He also half-jokingly suggested Elon Musk might be an alien whose ventures are steps toward returning to Mars.
CZ praised the UAE’s regulatory model as supportive, while criticizing systems that change rules arbitrarily. He emphasized that Bitcoin’s 15-year battle against government skepticism makes its resilience unique, and with conditions finally shifting, the bigger question is what the asset can achieve going forward.
