"Built by You": Binance Co-Founder Yi He on $800M in Recovered Funds, the 1 Billion User Goal, and Why AI Is Crypto's Next Frontier

Binance co-founder and co-CEO Yi He said the exchange has helped users recover more than $800 million in funds sent to wrong addresses since 2017, as she and co-CEO Richard Teng marked the platform's ninth anniversary with a community-focused AMA on Binance Square themed "Built by You."Speaking alongside Teng, Yi He reflected on crypto's growth from fewer than 6 million users at Binance's 2017 launch to over 741 million globally today — 210 million of them on Binance — while insisting the industry remains "still early stage" against the company's long-standing goal of onboarding 1 billion users.Key TakeawaysGlobal crypto users have grown from under 6 million in 2017 to more than 741 million today, with 210 million on BinanceYi He reaffirmed the 1 billion user target originally set by founder CZ, calling it a "first stage goal"Binance has helped users recover over $800 million in funds sent to incorrect addresses since 2017Yi He identified AI-crypto integration as the biggest opportunity for builders in the Binance ecosystem over the next decadeThe anniversary theme "Built by You" reflects the exchange's user-driven product philosophy"Nine Years Is Still Kids Level"Asked whether she ever imagined crypto reaching today's scale, Yi He said the industry's growth has exceeded early-stage expectations — but remains far from mature."In that moment, CZ set an aggressive goal: we want to serve 1 billion users globally. Even now, we're probably only at the 320 million user level," she said, referring to active usage. "I think maybe 1 billion is a first-stage goal for us. I always say we are still early stage. Even though we are nine years in, if you compare with very mature industries, nine years is still kids level."From "Code Is Law" to $800 Million RecoveredPressed on whether community feedback had ever genuinely shifted Binance's approach, Yi He said user care shapes the exchange "not just for one day — that's every day," and pointed to a defining moment from 2017, when Binance first began helping users recover funds sent to wrong addresses."A really poor student talked to me and said, that's my school fee, that's my whole life. I don't want to lose my life just because I made a mistake," she recalled. "Before that, everyone felt code is law, and no one should take any responsibility for you. We just took one more step. Since then, we've helped users get money back — more than the $800 million level."She framed the policy as part of a broader philosophy: "If you really care about people, they know it. If you don't care, they can feel it. Your users definitely know who really cares about them."Teng echoed the theme, attributing user loyalty through a volatile year to trust "developed from consistency of actions and deeds each and every day, from millions of interactions over the course of nine years."AI Plus Crypto: The Next Decade's Biggest Build OpportunityAsked where builders and entrepreneurs should focus within the Binance ecosystem over the next decade, Yi He pointed squarely at the intersection of artificial intelligence and crypto."The first part is definitely between AI and crypto," she said. "A lot of people, younger people, use AI every day. I've begun to communicate with AI every day. The opportunity is how to mix AI and crypto tech to help the world have a better financial system."Drawing a parallel to earlier technology shifts, she argued the two industries will reinforce rather than replace existing systems: "The internet never killed media — it helped a lot of strong media become stronger. Crypto and blockchain will help the financial system become much more efficient, much lower cost, and will help us reach more and more retail users."Her end-state vision removes the technology from view entirely: "One day, people won't need to know what crypto is or what AI is — they'll just have a great service on their device."