Jack Paul 
Binance founder addresses speculation after Dubai event
Changpeng Zhao, the co-founder of Binance, has directly responded to rumors about a romantic connection with a crypto influencer. The speculation started after a brief on-stage interaction during Binance Blockchain Week in Dubai earlier this month.
During a debate with gold advocate Peter Schiff, crypto influencer Tintin walked onstage and handed CZ what she called a “magic box” containing a heavy gold item. The moment was captured on video and became the most replayed segment of the debate’s YouTube recording.
Three messages and ten minutes
CZ took to X to clarify the situation with characteristic directness. “There’s gossip about me now? The market must be really slow—everyone’s got nothing better to do,” he wrote, perhaps reflecting on the quiet market conditions that might have fueled such speculation.
He then laid out the facts plainly. His entire interaction with Tintin consisted of exchanging three messages and meeting for about ten minutes before the debate. The decision to have someone hand him the box onstage was made spontaneously—there was no prior arrangement or planning.
“Go pay attention to someone else,” he added, deflecting with what seemed like mild sarcasm. “I heard somebody and somebody…”
Timing and context
The rumors emerged just days after Yi He, CZ’s long-term partner and mother of his three children, was elevated to co-CEO of Binance on December 3. The appointment marked the exchange’s most significant leadership change since CZ stepped down in 2023.
When asked about potential conflicts between her personal and professional roles, Yi He drew a clear boundary in Dubai. “My personal life is independent from my professional life,” she told reporters. “My achievements and capabilities as co-founder are often overlooked with my personal life in question.”
Business continues amid speculation
While the gossip circulated, CZ remained focused on Binance’s global expansion. On December 12, he visited Pakistan alongside Binance CEO Richard Teng and Tron founder Justin Sun for meetings with Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb.
The visit coincided with a regulatory milestone: Pakistan’s Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority issued no-objection certificates to both Binance and HTX, clearing the path for full licensing in the country.
CZ even shared a practical crypto moment from the trip. “In the car, my roaming didn’t work, so I borrowed Justin’s hotspot, bought an eSIM, PAID IN CRYPTO,” he tweeted. “He said he learned something new.”
Richard Teng called the Pakistan development “a meaningful milestone for Binance,” noting that the exchange has obtained AML registration from Pakistani authorities. CZ has served as an adviser to the Pakistan Crypto Council since April 2024, as the country positions itself as a crypto-friendly jurisdiction in South Asia.
As for the romance rumors, CZ appears to have moved on, even if some corners of the crypto community haven’t. The brief interaction in Dubai seems to have been exactly what he described—a spontaneous moment during a busy event, nothing more.