Changpeng Zhao Makes History as Wealthiest US Prisoner with $33B Fortune

Despite facing a four-month prison sentence after pleading guilty to enabling money laundering at his cryptocurrency exchange, former Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao's (CZ) substantial wealth is expected to remain intact and possibly even grow.

The sentencing in a Seattle federal court marked a departure from the three-year term sought by federal prosecutors, with the defence requesting five months of probation.

Although sentencing guidelines suggested a longer prison term of 12 to 18 months, CZ's sentence reflects a mitigated outcome.

Wealthiest US Inmate: Embarrassing or Memorable New Moniker for CZ?

Seattle Judge Richard Jones opted for a four-month prison sentence, a deviation from the lengthier term suggested by sentencing guidelines.

Nevertheless, CZ, despite his time behind bars, will secure a place in history as the wealthiest individual to serve time in a US federal prison, with his ownership of Binance and an estimated $33 billion personal fortune according to Forbes' Real-Time World;s Billionaires list.

At the time of writing, he ranks 50th.

Source: Forbes Real-Time Billionaires List

With Binance's business poised to thrive amidst the current cryptocurrency bull market, his wealth is anticipated to further expand.

He is poised to hold the title of the wealthiest individual ever to serve time in prison.

Yesha Yadav, law professor and associate dean at Vanderbilt University, noted:

"CZ will now be one of the wealthiest people in prison."

Although he relinquished his CEO title as part of his agreement with the government, CZ’s influence on the company persists, evident in the composition of its board of directors, which is predominantly comprised of his close associates, and the significant role played by Yi He, the mother of his three children in its operations.

CZ's Wealth Unaffected & Likely to Rise

Even with CZ facing a prison sentence, industry experts and legal professionals interviewed by CNBC suggest that his vast personal wealth will remain largely untouched and, if anything, could even grow.

According to Tre Lovell, a corporate law attorney based in Los Angeles, the government can only claim restitution or fines, not CZ's entire assets or wealth.

Neama Rahmani, a former federal prosecutor, concurs, emphasizing that CZ's personal fortune would not be significantly impacted by his sentence:

"Because Zhao and the government came to an agreement, the government didn't get a judgment or restitution order against Zhao and do discovery into his assets. He’ll have significant wealth when he is released from prison."

But why does that ring true to CZ but not for another fallen crypto king who is serving 25 years in prison?

CZ’s case stands out notably because he pleaded guilty to a single count of violating the United States (US) Bank Secrecy Act (BSA).

This positions him as a first-time offender, leading to a settlement with federal authorities.

Under this agreement, he stepped down as CEO but retained his stake in the company without having his assets frozen.

Braden Perry, a former senior trial lawyer for the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), explained:

"Typically, personal assets that are not directly linked to the criminal activity might remain unaffected. His assets could also be managed on his behalf while he is incarcerated."

This contrasts sharply with the trajectory of Sam Bankman-Fried (SBF), the former CEO and founder of FTX.

SBF's crypto empire collapsed into bankruptcy in 2022, wiping out his wealth.

During the peak of the early 2022 crypto frenzy, his net worth soared to $25 billion, only to plummet to zero by the time he entered prison.

Joshua de Vos, research lead at CCData, stated:

“In relation to CZ's personal wealth ... he would still be able to retain his share in Binance, as well as maintain his crypto holdings which also contribute an unknown, yet material, amount to his overall wealth and net worth. Since there is no misappropriation or bankruptcy proceedings, it is highly unlikely that CZ would see his wealth reduced to zero as was the case with SBF."

In contrast, SBF faced accusations of diverting funds from FTX customers to fuel his extravagant lifestyle and high-risk investments at his struggling hedge fund.

He was convicted on seven counts of financial fraud, encompassing wire fraud, securities fraud, commodities fraud, and money laundering.

Additionally, CZ's sentencing was considerably milder compared to SBF's.

He kept a comparatively low profile for years, which made him much less of a public target.

He also proactively negotiated his guilty plea instead of opting to try to beat the government in one of the most high-profile trials of the last few years.

While CZ faces a four-month prison term for BSA violations connected to Binance, SBF received a 25-year sentence for offenses related to his exchange, including allegations of fraud and mishandling customer funds.

SBF almost certainly could have negotiated a significantly shorter sentence had he not decided to go head-to-head with the feds.

Crypto Rally Sparks Surge in CZ's Financial Standing

Industry analysts predict that CZ's wealth will likely continue its upward trajectory, fuelled by the ongoing surge in cryptocurrency prices, which typically drives increased trading activity on Binance and contributes to his personal fortune.

Despite facing a series of legal challenges, including a lawsuit from the Department of Justice and ongoing litigation with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), his financial outlook remains robust.

The SEC's allegations against Binance for multiple unregistered offerings and sales of crypto asset securities add to the legal complexities surrounding CZ and his company.

The outcome of this case is yet to be determined, prolonging the uncertainty.

While Forbes' World's Billionaires list provides one perspective on CZ's net worth based on stock prices and exchange rates, Bloomberg's Billionaires Index paints a more lucrative picture, valuing his wealth at $38.1 billion at the time of writing and ranking him 39.

Source: Bloomberg Billionaires Index

With reports suggesting that CZ holds approximately 90% ownership in Binance, his substantial fortune is primarily tied to his equity stake in the company.

Binance Remains a Dominant Force in the Industry

Binance continues to assert its dominance in both spot and derivatives cryptocurrency markets, maintaining its position as a market leader.

With an impressive influx of over 40 million new users in 2023, marking a 30% increase from the previous year, the exchange's user base continues to expand rapidly.

Accumulated holdings on the platform now exceed $100 billion, underscoring its significance in the crypto sphere.

Estimated to have generated $9.8 billion in annual revenue through March, as per Bloomberg projections, Binance also facilitated a staggering $18.1 trillion in trading volume in 2023, according to data from CCData.

Despite experiencing a decline in market share to 41.6% following CZ’s resignation as CEO in November 2023, Binance remains a dominant force in the industry.

While CZ has acknowledged personal investments in bitcoin and Binance's native BNB token, the precise value of these holdings remains undisclosed.

At present, BNB has surged by over 80% this year, reaching $596.26 at the time of writing, showcasing the continued growth and potential of the platform.

Lucas Kiely, the Chief Investment Officer at digital wealth platform Yield App, emphasized that CZ's substantial ownership in the world's leading cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume could potentially position him to capitalise on the broader expansion of the cryptocurrency market.

According to Kiely, the recent approval of a spot bitcoin exchange-traded fund (ETF) in the US has reignited interest in the cryptocurrency market, catalysing a surge of new institutional investment.

This development is expected to significantly benefit Binance and its operations.

He added:

"Such developments could contribute to the growth of Binance and, by extension, CZ's wealth."

Andy Goldin, global head of data and analytics at Binance, expressed in an interview in March:

"It's really the ETFs and whatnot that are helping drive a lot of this activity. It's really fueled by more institutional trading activity at this point."