Changpeng Zhao has released his memoir, Freedom of Money, which offers a personal account of the rise of the cryptocurrency industry and the story behind Binance’s founding.
The book, available globally from April 8, 2026, traces CZ’s journey from his early life in technology to building Binance into one of the world’s largest crypto platforms amid rapid industry expansion.
Blending personal narrative with industry insight, the memoir offers a behind-the-scenes look at the challenges of scaling a global business in a fast-evolving, often unregulated environment. It also reflects on the pressures of regulatory scrutiny and CZ’s personal experience, including serving a four-month sentence in a U.S. federal prison.
“While many people congratulated me on being number one, something else gave me more satisfaction… I was getting messages from users all around the world thanking us for providing them with financial access or even financial freedom,” CZ writes in the book.
Describing the memoir as an unfiltered account, CZ said it captures both successes and missteps during a defining phase of the crypto industry, offering lessons drawn from operating at the center of one of the fastest-moving sectors in modern finance.
The book also explores broader themes such as financial freedom, responsibility, and the evolving role of digital assets in global finance.
Industry leaders have highlighted the memoir’s significance in documenting a pivotal period. Richard Teng, Co-CEO of Binance, said the story reflects the early evolution of the crypto ecosystem, while Yi He, Co-CEO, noted that it captures the sector’s unpredictability and rapid growth in its formative years.
In line with CZ’s philanthropic commitments, all proceeds from the book will be donated to charity.
With Freedom of Money, CZ adds a personal voice to the narrative of crypto’s rise, offering readers insight into both the opportunities and complexities that have shaped the digital asset landscape.
