CZ’s Bold Vision: Making America the Global Crypto Capital as Binance Plots Major US Expansion
Binance founder Changpeng Zhao isn't just eyeing the US market—he's launching a full-scale campaign to reshape the country's financial landscape.
The world's largest crypto exchange is making moves that could redefine America's role in the digital asset revolution. Forget playing catch-up; CZ wants to build the infrastructure that puts the US at the center of everything crypto.
The Regulatory Chess Game
Expanding stateside means navigating the most complex regulatory environment on the planet. Binance isn't just complying—they're reportedly engaging with multiple agencies simultaneously, from the SEC to state-level regulators. It's a high-stakes dance where every step gets scrutinized by both crypto enthusiasts and traditional finance skeptics.
Why America Matters Now
The timing couldn't be more strategic. With institutional adoption accelerating and legacy financial firms finally dipping their toes in crypto waters, the market's ripe for a dominant player to consolidate the fragmented US landscape. Binance's global experience gives them an edge—they've seen what works in dozens of jurisdictions and what doesn't.
The Infrastructure Play
This isn't just about adding American users. CZ's vision involves building the pipes and protocols that could make the US the default hub for crypto innovation. Think trading infrastructure, custody solutions, and developer tools that attract talent and capital from around the world.
Of course, Wall Street veterans might scoff—after all, they've seen 'next big things' come and go for decades. But this time, the technology's real, the demand's global, and the players have actual balance sheets. Whether America becomes the crypto capital depends less on regulation and more on who builds the best roads for this new economy to travel.
The United States Becomes Strategic Market For Binance
CZ added that Binance US – which was launched in September 2019 to legally service US residents – still exists, yet it remains a small business.
He explained that in 2023 the SEC sued Binance US, causing the business to lose all banking access and a few state licenses. However, CZ now views the US as “a very important market” and a leading region in terms of tech talent. However, he believes that leaders in the blockchain industry still reside outside of the United States.
“Large businesses like Binance and a few other large players are not technically in the US, so I do want to help bring many of those businesses back into the region,” he said “Also, many institutional investors do not have access or exposure to BNB, so we want to help with that.”
CZ Says US Has Clear Crypto Regulations
Cryptonews further asked CZ about challenges holding back crypto adoption globally and how Binance aims to combat this moving forward.
CZ mentioned that first and foremost regulatory frameworks have to become clarified in many parts of the world. To enable this, he explained his involvement with more than a dozen different countries on ways to develop and implement regulations.
CZ added that currently only a handful of countries have clear regulations around digital assets, yet pointed out that the US is leading the way.
“Now the US is leading – which is good, but the US is only just starting. Trump has only been in power for a year,” he stated.
CZ further remarked that progress has been made with the recent passing of the GENIUS Act, which establishes clear rules around stablecoins. He added that the CLARITY Act, which aims to define digital assets, remains a work in progress.
“Also the first draft of regulations will not be perfect – it takes time to evolve. After this, the banks will need to work closely with crypto businesses. We need to integrate with existing financial systems to enable mainstream adoption, as that’s the best way for growth,” CZ remarked.
CZ Speaks Out About Prison Time
In addition to sharing his thoughts on the importance of the US market for crypto expansion, CZ described his time in prison. The executive was sentenced to four months in a US prison in April 2024 after pleading guilty to violating US money laundering laws.
“I went through a lot of challenges – I went to jail, etc. but I know that no one got hurt,” CZ stated. “There was no fraud, there were no users that got hurt because of my actions, so when I sleep at night I sleep very well because I know I am helping a lot of people.”
