CZ Year-End Q&A Recap: Besides Giggle Academy, What Else Is He Building?

Original Author: Chain Research Society, Crypto KOL

Editor's Note: On the evening of December 18, Binance founder CZ participated in the year-end AMA hosted by BNB Chain. During the event, he shared his views on topics such as amnesty, investment philosophy, stablecoins, RWA, and more. This article is a summary by the Crypto KOL Chain Research Society, and the original article is as follows:

Is CZ back? Not entirely.

After stepping down as Binance CEO, CZ made a rare appearance at the recent BNB Chain annual AMA. Without the CEO title, he appeared even more candid.

From discussing 2026, AI payments, to his current "freedom" life, there was a lot of information shared.

I have compiled the 7 most crucial insights, with the last point hitting close to home for entrepreneurs.

1. On Retirement Life: Freedom is the Greatest Luxury

CZ openly expressed that his greatest feeling now is Free. Although retired, he hasn't stopped working. He has been quite busy with four main things:

1. Giggle Academy: A completely free education platform, which is his current pet project.

2. YZi Labs: Acting as a mentor and coach, helping entrepreneurs navigate pitfalls (not just with money).

3. BNB Chain: While not diving into technical details, he still oversees the big picture.

4. Government Advisor: This is quite interesting; he is currently helping design regulatory frameworks for over a dozen countries in the Middle East, Pakistan, and more. And he has a significant personal involvement in this.

CZ also mentioned that he maintains a disciplined lifestyle, sticking to about 30-40 minutes of exercise every day and trying out more outdoor activities.

From conquering territories to setting rules, this transformation is quite stable.

2. The Stealth Growth of BNB Chain

Many people may think BNB Chain is no longer as exciting? The data might prove otherwise:

· Trading volume has increased by 600% year-on-year

· Daily Active Users (DAU) surpass 2 million.

· Even with CZ stepping back, Binance's user base still exceeds 300 million.

The BNB ecosystem's value is akin to that of a Nasdaq-listed company, far surpassing the Nasdaq exchange platform itself.

Despite significant growth in the crypto market, in terms of global wealth penetration, crypto assets account for less than 1%, indicating a multi-order of magnitude growth potential in the future.

CZ's insightful reflection on the past: "Boxing in a marathon." One must have the endurance of a long-distance runner while maintaining the high-frequency combat power. This is much more challenging than merely chasing short-term rankings.

3. Prediction Market: Diverse Growth, Not a Horse Race Mechanism

Recently, prediction markets have been thriving (PolyMarket hit the jackpot with the U.S. election). Many competitors have emerged on the BNB Chain. CZ's attitude is: no internal competition-style horse race. Labs will not only bet on one company but will let the market compete naturally. It is too early to discuss who the winner is now; expanding the pie is the hard truth.

4. Stablecoin 2.0: Returns Are King

If stablecoins do not earn interest, they are a product of the 1.0 era (like Tether). CZ believes that the core of Stablecoin 2.0 is: interest + ease of transaction. Models like Ethena (USDe), which can both earn yield and circulate, are the future. With compliance in place, stablecoins will see more opportunities, with the ultimate winner determined by users and the market.

5. AI + Crypto: The Most Definite Alpha

This point is crucial! CZ believes that AI Agents will be the largest user group for crypto payments. The logic is simple: robots cannot open bank accounts, pass KYC, or swipe credit cards. Crypto is AI's only economic means of interaction. A blockchain payment network designed specifically for AI offers tremendous opportunities.

6. RWA: National-Level Entry

When we talk about RWA (Real World Assets on-chain), CZ has already been in discussions with heads of state. Many resource-rich countries (oil, rare earth metals) are wealthy but lack liquidity. The tokenization of national resources is becoming a serious topic. This is not just finance; it's about activating the liquidity of national-level assets. The narrative level of this track has changed.

7. Advice for Entrepreneurs: Don't Be Speculators

CZ's current investment criterion is simple: Mission-driven.

Want to make a quick 10 million and run? ❌ He's not interested in those people anymore.

Switching tracks every few months? ❌ Lacking perseverance.

For tech experts looking to switch fields, his advice is straightforward: First, achieve excellence in technology, then work on your emotional intelligence (EQ). Because at the core of business, it's all about networking. (8/9)

Summary: Crossing the Cycle

Listening to the entire AMA, it feels like CZ has changed, becoming more aloof and focusing more on the big picture.

As he said, whether it's AI or SocialFi, no matter who's leading now, Keep Building is the only path to cross the cycle. Nvidia sat on the sidelines for 40 years before exploding; why are you in such a hurry?

2026 belongs to the marathon runners.

Original Tweet