Changpeng Zhao is walking free. What will he do next?

He’s been banned from operating Binance for life and now plans to focus on educating children and philanthropy. But does this truly signal the end of Changpeng Zhao’s involvement in the crypto world?

Zhao, once dubbed the world’s richest inmate with a net worth estimated by Forbes at $61.6 billion, spent four months in prison after admitting that Binance failed to implement adequate Know Your Customer checks, violating the Bank Secrecy Act. On Friday, September 27, he walked free from a low-security prison in California.

Although his release was originally scheduled for September 29, the regulations allowed for his earlier release on Friday since the 29th fell on a Sunday, giving wardens discretion in the matter.

Despite his relatively short prison sentence, life will be markedly different for the billionaire. While he once held a cult-like status as the head of Binance, he now faces a lifetime ban from managing the exchange.

This has sparked speculation about his future. Will he return to the crypto industry that brought him immense wealth, or pivot toward artificial intelligence? At his sentencing hearing in April, the 47-year-old indicated that his priorities have shifted, stating:

“For the next chapter of my life, I want to provide opportunities for others, especially our youth. I’m building a platform to offer high-quality education for underprivileged children worldwide, for free.”

To support this mission, he has launched a website called Giggle Academy, though it appears to still be in the pre-launch phase.

Binance has expressed its well wishes for CZ, emphasizing that there are no hard feelings following Richard Teng’s appointment as CEO. “We are happy that CZ is back home with his family. While he is no longer managing Binance, we look forward to seeing what he does next.”

It’s clear that the entrepreneur will likely want to reconnect with his 8.8 million followers on X, where he was an active presence prior to his incarceration.

CZ’s Future

Critics argue that the punishment CZ received is minimal—Better Markets previously stated there was “overwhelming evidence” suggesting he “willfully, knowingly, and intentionally designed and ran Binance as a crypto money laundering hub for the most heinous global criminals.”

His four-month sentence fell short of the 18-month maximum outlined in sentencing guidelines and was far less than the three years sought by U.S. prosecutors. A former Binance employee, who preferred to remain anonymous, remarked, “It feels like a slap on the wrist compared to the charges he faced. It’s another instance of a financial criminal not facing adequate repercussions.”

They speculated that four months might not be enough for CZ to truly learn from his actions, adding, “He probably views this as a minor setback in his quest to rebuild his empire.”

While it’s uncertain if CZ will return to the crypto scene, the source noted that some of his closest associates have stepped into leadership roles at Binance. “Even if he isn’t directly involved in crypto anymore, He Yi’s presence at Binance means he’ll always be connected to the space.”

However, a larger question looms: what impact has Changpeng Zhao had on the world’s largest crypto exchange? Binance has faced bans from major economies like the U.K. and U.S. When asked if his jail time would leave a lasting mark on the platform, the insider responded, “I don’t think so. People seem to forget about CZ and Binance’s issues compared to SBF and FTX.”

It’s clear that rehabilitating his image is now a top priority for CZ, but both he and Binance will continue to confront legal challenges in the months ahead.

Just a few years ago, any mention of potential setbacks would have elicited a dismissive “4” from CZ—a number he used to signify “FUD”: fear, uncertainty, and doubt. No longer at the helm of the empire he helped create, Changpeng Zhao may have to adopt a more humble approach moving forward.