Crypto entrepreneur Changpeng Zhao has jumped up in the list of the world’s richest individuals. According to Forbes, his estimated net worth is now around $110 billion, placing him 17th on the global rich list.
Responding to the Forbes list, CZ said the figure is “not accurate” and described rich lists as “guess a number lists.”
Changpeng Zhao built most of his wealth through Binance, the crypto exchange he founded in 2017. Today, Binance is valued at around $100 billion, and Zhao is believed to own a large share of the company.
Being one of the largest platforms in the crypto market. Binance in 2024 and 2025 generated about $16–$17 billion in revenue & processed over $30 trillion in trading volume, making up around 38% of global crypto trading.
Thus, most of Zhao’s wealth is still tied to his stake in Binance. Even after stepping down as CEO in 2023, the exchange remains the main source of his fortune.
In response to this Forbes richest list, Zhao said on X that the reported figure was “not accurate.”
He described global rich lists as “guess a number lists,” suggesting that such rankings often rely on rough estimates rather than precise financial data.
Further, he also pointed to overall market conditions, noting that Bitcoin and the overall crypto market remain about 50% below their all-time highs. According to him, this makes it difficult to determine an exact valuation of crypto-related wealth.
Zhao’s wealth now places him ahead of several well-known global business figures, including Bill Gates and Mukesh Ambani, on certain rich-list rankings.
Perhaps, Zhao is not the only crypto figure appearing on global billionaire rankings.
Giancarlo Devasini, Bitfinex exchange CFO and Co-founder of Tether, has an estimated net worth of $89.3 billion. That places him 22nd on global wealth rankings.
Both Zhao and Devasini stand among the few individuals in the top 25 whose fortunes are largely built on the cryptocurrency industry.
Changpeng Zhao’s net worth is estimated around $110 billion, largely tied to his ownership stake in Binance, making him one of the richest people in the world.
No. Changpeng Zhao is among the world’s richest individuals but not the richest. His estimated wealth places him around the top 20 globally.
CZ built his fortune by founding Binance in 2017. The exchange grew rapidly and became the largest crypto trading platform by volume.
Yes. Figures like Giancarlo Devasini, linked to Tether and Bitfinex, also appear on global billionaire rankings due to the crypto industry’s growth.
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