- Binance founder Changpeng Zhao’s net worth hits $110B, placing him ahead of Bill Gates.
- Binance remains the world’s largest crypto exchange with 38% market share.
- CZ questions Forbes report claiming his net worth topped $110B despite crypto market drop.
Changpeng Zhao, widely known as CZ, has returned to the global wealth rankings, with a net worth now surpassing Bill Gates, according to new estimates.
The Binance founder is valued at around $110 billion, placing him 17th on the global billionaires list and making him the richest person in crypto.
The surge in Zhao’s wealth comes roughly 17 months after he left his role as Binance CEO following a U.S. investigation.
Zhao pleaded guilty to failing to maintain an effective anti-money laundering program, paid a $50 million fine, and served four months in a California prison while Binance paid $4.3 billion in penalties.
Despite those events, the core of Zhao’s fortune, his ownership in Binance, has grown significantly.
Binance Valuation Drives CZ’s Wealth
The largest driver of Zhao’s wealth remains Binance, the exchange he founded in 2017. Industry estimates place Binance’s value at around $100 billion. Legal filings from past investigations indicate that Zhao owns roughly 90% of the company.
Binance continues to dominate the global crypto trading market. The exchange controls about 38% of the sector’s market share and processes tens of trillions in annual trading volume across spot and derivatives markets.
Analysts estimate Binance generated roughly $16 billion to $17 billion in revenue across 2024 and 2025. That figure is about 2.5 times Coinbase’s $6.6 billion in annual revenue.
Beyond exchange trading, Binance also operates the BNB Chain ecosystem. The network’s native token supports a blockchain ecosystem currently valued at around $88 billion in market capitalization.
Wealth Rises Despite Crypto Market Decline
Zhao has publicly questioned the logic behind reports showing his wealth rising while the broader crypto market declined.
In a March 11 post on social media, CZ challenged a report claiming his net worth exceeded $110 billion. He pointed out that the crypto market dropped more than 50% in 2026 and mocked the numbers presented by Forbes.
Exchange owners can accumulate wealth during market pullbacks because trading platforms generate revenue from transaction fees regardless of price direction. Periods of high volatility often increase trading volume. That activity can raise exchange revenues.
Some of Zhao’s personal crypto holdings have also moved lower during the recent market crash. His estimated 1,400 Bitcoin holdings fell about 25% in value over the past year to roughly $100 million.
However, the majority of his wealth comes from Binance equity rather than direct token holdings.
Related: Changpeng Zhao Says Binance Will Not Conduct Major Sell-Offs Amid Market FUD
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