Binance Founder CZ Responds to Forbes Billionaires List: ‘Wealth Doesn’t Define Success’

Binance founder Changpeng Zhao (CZ) has dismissed his inclusion among the world’s top billionaires, saying that his true measure of success lies not in wealth but in helping people.

The crypto pioneer’s comments came shortly after Forbes ranked him as the 21st richest person in the world. The publication estimated his net worth at $87.3 billion.

“It’s Way Too High,” Says Zhao

The discussion began when YouTuber Ajay Kashyap posted a screenshot of the Forbes Billionaire List on X. In the post, he specifically drew attention to Zhao’s ranking.

Overall, his words reflect a consistent theme in Zhao’s public statements, downplaying personal wealth while emphasizing the social and humanitarian side of technology.

Even so, as Binance continues to dominate the global crypto exchange market, Zhao remains vocal about his priorities. He consistently emphasizes utility, inclusion, and user security over fame or fortune.

BNB Reaches Record-Breaking Heights

While Zhao deflected attention from his fortune, his company’s token, BNB, was making headlines of its own. The digital asset reached a new all-time high of $1,241.81 on Monday amid renewed investor confidence and network activity.

Notably, BNB’s market capitalization surged to $171.93 billion, cementing its position as the fifth-largest cryptocurrency globally. The coin’s 24-hour price increase stood at 5.3%, fueled by strong trading volumes and bullish market sentiment.

BNB Chain Total Value Locked (TVL), a key indicator of on-chain activity, also rose significantly, climbing from $7.58 billion on September 27 to $15 billion this week. This marks the token’s highest TVL in over three years, reflecting growing trust in Binance’s blockchain ecosystem.

TVL on BSC just crossed $15,000,000,000 📸

Source: @DefiLlama pic.twitter.com/ySsW6kyTKB

— BNB Chain (@BNBCHAIN) October 4, 2025

CZ Admits He Spends More Time on X

Amid these market developments, CZ also offered a personal insight that caught the attention of the crypto community. He acknowledged that he spends more time on X than on Binance Square, the company’s in-house social media platform launched in 2023.

When explaining his preference, Zhao cited security practices: he avoids staying logged into Binance.com when not executing trades, and said he enjoys using X to connect with the broader crypto community beyond Binance’s own user base.

Nevertheless, the Binance exchange has achieved impressive growth. The platform recently announced 275 million active users.

Strengthening Ties with Governments and Institutions

Beyond his online activity, Zhao has been actively engaged in global partnerships to integrate cryptocurrencies into national economies.

For context, during a recent visit to Kazakhstan, he met with President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev during the Digital Bridge 2025 forum. The meeting covered several topics, including Binance’s licensing, the growth of the crypto industry, and the potential inclusion of BNB in the country’s state reserves.

As reported earlier by The Crypto Basic, Kazakhstan’s Alem Crypto Fund, managed by the Ministry of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development, announced that it had added BNB to its long-term investment portfolio, an important validation of Binance’s credibility at the national level.

Meanwhile, in Pakistan, Zhao’s influence also continues to expand. Earlier this year, he was appointed Strategic Advisor to the Pakistan Crypto Council (PCC).

In this role, he collaborates with both the government and private sector to develop a compliant, transparent, and globally competitive crypto ecosystem for the country.

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