Zhao Changpeng, co-founder and former CEO of Binance, said he does not want to return as the company’s chief executive in his first public appearance after a four-month prison stint in the US.
Advertisement
The 47-year-old Chinese-Canadian entrepreneur, known widely in the industry by his initials CZ, was sentenced to a California prison in May for failing to take required anti-money-laundering measures while he headed the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange. He was released in September.
In an interview on Thursday during the Binance Blockchain Week conference, his first public event since leaving prison, Zhao said he will not consider returning to helm the company he started in 2017.
“I think in the judge’s mind, he treated me very leniently,” Zhao said. “It’s a very subjective opinion, I try not to think about it. I think everyone here will have their own opinions, but I just want to move on.”
The crypto billionaire said he would not return to Binance even if he were allowed. He is currently banned from serving in the company under a plea deal with the US.
Advertisement
“I don’t have any need to go back. I don’t have any wish to go back,” he said.