Binance Founder CZ Finishes Editing Memoir, Mentions Jail Details

Binance Chief-Turned-Author Says His Memoir Pulls No Punches

Changpeng Zhao, better known as CZ, said on Saturday that he’s wrapping up the final edits on his forthcoming memoir. “Spent the last couple of weeks running through the final edits on my book/memoir. Nearly done. Need a cover design. Any suggestions?” he wrote on X.

The Binance founder added that the book spans roughly 97,000 words across 300 pages. CZ, a Chinese-Canadian entrepreneur born in Jiangsu, China, in 1977, founded Binance in 2017 and quickly turned it into one of the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchanges.

Before entering the digital asset industry, he studied computer science at McGill University and worked on trading systems for the Tokyo Stock Exchange and Bloomberg. When a follower asked if the memoir includes details about his time in jail, CZ replied:

“Yes, it’s all in there.”

The exchange suggests his forthcoming book will address the high-profile legal case that drew global attention in 2023. Zhao pleaded guilty in late 2023 to violating U.S. regulations and stepped down as CEO of Binance. In 2024, he served a four-month prison sentence, marking one of the most prominent legal outcomes in the cryptocurrency industry’s short history. CZ was recently pardoned by U.S. President Trump on Oct. 23, 2025.

Since his release, CZ has remained active online but has largely avoided commenting on Binance’s operations, instead focusing on philanthropy and personal projects. His upcoming memoir appears poised to offer a deeper look at his life before, during, and after his tenure leading the exchange.

While Zhao hasn’t revealed a release date or publisher, his announcement has already sparked anticipation among crypto enthusiasts eager to read his firsthand account of the events that reshaped Binance and his own career. In the X thread, various people replying shared images or suggestions of what they thought would be the best cover for his memoir.

FAQ ❓

• When will CZ’s memoir be released? A release date hasn’t been announced yet.
• Does CZ’s book discuss his time in jail? Yes, CZ confirmed the memoir includes details about his prison experience.
• How long is CZ’s memoir? It’s roughly 97,000 words and spans about 300 pages.
• Why did CZ go to prison? He served a four-month sentence in 2024 following a 2023 U.S. legal case involving Binance’s compliance issues.