The Binance Blockchain Week event in Dubai became the center of a high-stakes showdown between traditional and digital innovation, with Bitcoin and gold going head-to-head. Investors, tech enthusiasts, and financial experts watched closely as Binance founder Changpeng Zhao expertly debated renowned Bitcoin critic Peter Schiff, making a compelling argument for why Bitcoin is better than gold. 

Binance Founder Dominates Bitcoin And Gold Debate

During the Binance Blockchain Week in Dubai, Schiff and CZ faced off in a high-profile debate over the value of Bitcoin versus Gold. Schiff defended gold as a safe, stable, and tangible asset while the Binance founder made a compelling case for Bitcoin’s adoption, utility, value, and global reach. 

Throughout the debate, which lasted over an hour, CZ consistently demonstrated the practical advantages of Bitcoin, leaving Schiff’s gold argument largely on the defensive. The Binance founder emphasized Bitcoin’s transparent and predictable supply and its role in the modern financial systems. He pointed to hundreds of millions of users who rely on Bitcoin for payments, savings, and transfers. 

Schiff argued that Bitcoin lacks inherent value and is mainly driven by hype and faith that its price will rise. He stated that gold remains tangible, centuries old, scarce, and valuable in industry, making it superior to BTC. He further asserted that “nobody needs” Bitcoin and that the cryptocurrency is “backed by nothing.”

Practical demonstrations played a key role in the debate between Schiff and CZ. The Binance founder explained how Bitcoin and crypto payments already improve financial efficiency, especially in emerging markets. Schiff questioned whether these transactions truly count as money, since merchants ultimately receive traditional currency. CZ’s response highlighted the importance of adoption and network effects, noting that people who use BTC directly for payments give it real-world significance.

The debate also considered the preferences of younger generations. CZ asked Schiff whether millennials and Gen Z favoured Bitcoin or gold. The Bitcoin critic responded sharply, suggesting that they would choose gold. He pointed out that, with many young investors losing money on BTC, gold offers a safer, more appealing alternative. The Binance founder countered that younger people understand digital value more intuitively and prefer mobile, borderless, and censorship-resistant assets. 

Digital Value And The Future Of Money

The debate between CZ and Schiff also highlighted the changing definition of money. Bitcoin functions as a decentralized network that enables instant settlement and transparent verification. Its adoption has also helped evolve the financial economy, facilitating faster and more seamless cross-border payments. Schiff argued that gold’s scarcity and industrial demand preserve its value and make it a reliable hedge against economic uncertainty. 

Tokenization also became a point of agreement during the discussion, with Schiff emphasizing that gold can be digitized and tokenized for easier ownership and distribution without moving the physical metal. CZ contended that Bitcoin offers similar advantages while also enabling global financial inclusion. They also discussed the supply of both assets, with the Binance founder noting that Bitcoin has a visible supply, while gold doesn’t. 

They also talked about the performance of both assets over the years. Schiff argued that gold had outperformed BTC over the past four years. CZ contended that Bitcoin has far outpaced gold over the last 8 years, and since its launch in 2009, it has skyrocketed from a few cents to an ATH above $126,000. He concluded his debate, predicting that Bitcoin’s growth will outpace gold over time.

CZ and Peter Schiff spar over Bitcoin and tokenized gold, exposing a deeper fight about utility, trust, and what really backs the money of the future. Binance’s latest headline debate is not really about metal versus code or Bitcoin. It…

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Changpeng Zhao (CZ), founder of the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange Binance, announced plans to help make America a global crypto hub. CZ shared his thoughts on the United States market during a private press conference at Binance Blockchain Week, which took place at the Coca Cola Arena in Dubai Dec. 3-4.

When asked by a member of the media about his involvement in the US following President Trump’s pardon, CZ explained that he is “very appreciative of the pardon from Trump,” noting that this allows Binance to conduct business more “freely” in every part of the world – America included.

“It’s my full intention to help make America the capital of crypto,” CZ stated. “Also, America is an emerging land for Binance. For the last few years we have been dealing with the Biden administration so much that we have tried to withdraw from the US as much as possible. We didn’t invest in the US and we tried to pull out. But now I fully intend to help crypto businesses in the US.”

You heard it here first: ⁦@cz_binance⁩ of ⁦@binance⁩ says he has nothing to do with the Trump family. CZ also has plans to help blockchain & crypto companies innovate in the United States, such an insightful and inspiring fireside chat at #binanceblockchainweek pic.twitter.com/J4dFAJYtiZ

— Rachel Wolfson (@Rachelwolf00) December 4, 2025

The United States Becomes Strategic Market For Binance

CZ added that Binance US – which was launched in September 2019 to legally service US residents – still exists, yet it remains a small business.

He explained that in 2023 the SEC sued Binance US, causing the business to lose all banking access and a few state licenses. However, CZ now views the US as “a very important market” and a leading region in terms of tech talent. However, he believes that leaders in the blockchain industry still reside outside of the United States.

“Large businesses like Binance and a few other large players are not technically in the US, so I do want to help bring many of those businesses back into the region,” he said “Also, many institutional investors do not have access or exposure to BNB, so we want to help with that.”

CZ Says US Has Clear Crypto Regulations

Cryptonews further asked CZ about challenges holding back crypto adoption globally and how Binance aims to combat this moving forward.

CZ mentioned that first and foremost regulatory frameworks have to become clarified in many parts of the world. To enable this, he explained his involvement with more than a dozen different countries on ways to develop and implement regulations.

CZ added that currently only a handful of countries have clear regulations around digital assets, yet pointed out that the US is leading the way.

“Now the US is leading – which is good, but the US is only just starting. Trump has only been in power for a year,” he stated.

CZ further remarked that progress has been made with the recent passing of the GENIUS Act, which establishes clear rules around stablecoins. He added that the CLARITY Act, which aims to define digital assets, remains a work in progress.

“Also the first draft of regulations will not be perfect – it takes time to evolve. After this, the banks will need to work closely with crypto businesses. We need to integrate with existing financial systems to enable mainstream adoption, as that’s the best way for growth,” CZ remarked.

CZ Speaks Out About Prison Time

In addition to sharing his thoughts on the importance of the US market for crypto expansion, CZ described his time in prison. The executive was sentenced to four months in a US prison in April 2024 after pleading guilty to violating US money laundering laws.

You heard it here first: ⁦@cz_binance⁩ founder of ⁦@binance⁩ reflects on time in US prison, noting that he went through a lot of challenges but thankfully no one got hurt
Thank you CZ for all that you do for the crypto ecosystem #binanceblockchainweek #binance pic.twitter.com/SwMKuSW8ok

— Rachel Wolfson (@Rachelwolf00) December 5, 2025

“I went through a lot of challenges – I went to jail, etc. but I know that no one got hurt,” CZ stated. “There was no fraud, there were no users that got hurt because of my actions, so when I sleep at night I sleep very well because I know I am helping a lot of people.”

The post CZ Pushes to Make America a Global Crypto Capital as Binance Eyes US Expansion appeared first on Cryptonews.

CEA Industries Inc. (NASDAQ: BNC), the company that only months ago was promoted as the largest publicly traded BNB treasury in the United States, is now at the center of an escalating governance battle after Changpeng “CZ” Zhao’s YZi Labs filed a sweeping consent solicitation with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

The filing marks a direct attempt to overhaul the company’s board, unwind recent bylaw changes, and install new leadership at a firm that has seen its share price collapse despite holding one of the largest institutional BNB positions on record.

YZi Labs Moves to Replace BNC Directors After Months of Governance Disputes

The preliminary Schedule 14A, submitted Monday, asks BNC shareholders to approve expanding the board of directors, repealing any amendments made after July, and electing a new slate of directors nominated by YZi Labs.

The filing includes a white consent card allowing shareholders to formally support or reject the proposals.

If a majority of outstanding shares consent, YZi Labs would gain the ability to restructure the board through written authorization without the need for a shareholder meeting.

YZi Labs, which holds roughly 5% of BNC’s outstanding shares, argued in its statement that the current board has failed to provide timely disclosures, execute on corporate actions, or maintain basic investor communications.

The firm said BNC shareholders “deserve a well-functioning board” and warned that failure to act would lead to “further destruction of shareholder value.”

The consent solicitation follows months of tension between the two sides, documented through repeated requests for information and governance concerns raised by YZi Labs.

The dispute intensified after CEA Industries’ $500 million PIPE financing in August, which funded the company’s transformation into a BNB-focused digital asset treasury.

@10XCapitalUSA launches $BNB treasury company backed by @YZiLabs targeting US public listing as corporate adoption explodes beyond Bitcoin-only strategies into BNB ecosystem.#BNB #Treasuryhttps://t.co/OaYEWjhoGV

— Cryptonews.com (@cryptonews) July 10, 2025

Shares soared more than 600% in July as the treasury strategy was announced, but the company’s stock has since fallen over 92%, closing recently at around $6.47, even as BNB itself reached a record high above $1,300 in October before retreating to the $820 range.

BNB Hits Second ATH This Month, Crosses $1,300 Barrier

Binance Coin (BNB) surged past $1,300 on October 6, 2025, marking its second all-time high within hours after initially breaking $1,200 earlier in the day, as the token flipped XRP to become the third-largest…

— Cryptonews.com (@cryptonews) October 10, 2025

BNC’s reported net asset value stands at $8.09 per share, pushing the stock’s mNAV multiple down to roughly 0.8×.

Filing Accuses CEA Industries of Operational Lapses and Leadership Conflicts

YZi Labs’ filing lists a range of operational failures, including delays in filing registration documents for an at-the-market offering, a lack of investor updates, and an unfinished investor relations website months after the PIPE.

It also says the company provided no regular reporting on net asset value, BNB yield, or accumulation rates.

The group raised further concerns over branding confusion, with the company switching between “CEA Industries” and “BNB Network Company” without clear guidance to investors.

The filing also cites potential conflicts of interest within the leadership structure. CEO David Namdar, director Hans Thomas, and former 10X Capital executive Russell Read all have ties to 10X Capital, the firm responsible for managing BNC’s digital asset treasury.

According to YZi Labs, Namdar and Thomas took part in discussions promoting other crypto treasury ventures while leading BNC, prompting questions about their focus and independence.

The firm said it repeatedly sought clarity on executive employment terms and management fees but did not receive responses.

The battle comes as CEA Industries holds one of the world’s largest disclosed BNB treasuries, with approximately 480,000 to 515,000 BNB accumulated at an average cost near $851 per token.

At recent prices, the holdings are valued around $412 million, alongside $77.5 million in cash.

The company has previously stated its goal is to accumulate 1% of BNB’s total supply by the end of 2025.

The names of YZi Labs’ proposed director nominees remain redacted in the preliminary filing. CEA Industries has not yet issued a public response to the consent solicitation.

The post CZ’s YZi Labs in Boardroom Coup Bid for World’s Largest BNB Treasury appeared first on Cryptonews.

Binance founder CZ has once again waded into crypto philosophy hour. And some of his followers took issue with his latest stance.

Bitcoin Magazine

Newly-Pardoned Changpeng Zhao and Peter Schiff Agree to Bitcoin vs. Gold Debate

Changpeng “CZ” Zhao and Peter Schiff are supposedly taking their long-running argument to the stage.

The Binance founder has agreed to debate the outspoken economist and gold advocate after Schiff publicly challenged him to a “Bitcoin versus tokenized gold” discussion. 

The exchange follows Schiff’s announcement that he’s launching his own blockchain-based gold product — and CZ’s sharp critique that such tokens are “not truly on-chain.”

“As much as you voice against Bitcoin, you are always professional and nonpersonal,” CZ told Schiff on X today. “I appreciate that. Can have a debate about it.”

Schiff replied later: “Absolutely. Several people have already reached out to me offering to moderate. Do you have a preference?”

All this debate talk arrives hours after President Donald Trump granted a full pardon to Changpeng Zhao. President Trump said CZ “wasn’t guilty” and was “persecuted by the Biden administration.”

JUST IN: Binance Founder CZ agrees to Bitcoin vs Gold debate with Peter Schiff. pic.twitter.com/oKtxii6YqH

— Bitcoin Magazine (@BitcoinMagazine) October 23, 2025

Schiff’s tokenized gold pitch vs. bitcoin

Schiff recently said that he’s building a tokenized gold platform and neobank, with a blockchain token called Tgold at its core. 

The product will reportedly allow users to purchase physical gold through a mobile app, store it in secure vaults, and transfer or redeem it digitally. 

Schiff describes it as “real money for the digital age” — physical gold represented on-chain.

All this comes amid a multiyear gold rally, with prices hitting a record $4,380 per ounce earlier this month before settling near $4,128, at time of writing. 

Schiff argues that tokenized gold could provide a stable, asset-backed alternative to Bitcoin’s volatility, serving as both a medium of exchange and store of value.

CZ pushes back: “It’s a ‘Trust Me Bro’ Token”

CZ wasted no time in firing back.

On X, he called tokenized gold “a ‘trust-me-bro’ token,” arguing that such assets rely on third-party custodians — precisely the kind of centralized trust structures Bitcoin was designed to eliminate.

“Tokenizing gold is NOT ‘on-chain’ gold,” CZ wrote. “It’s tokenizing that you trust some third party will give you gold at some later date — maybe decades later, during a war, after management changes, etc.”

His comments echo a common view among crypto purists: that true digital ownership requires self-custody and verifiable scarcity — traits Bitcoin has, but gold tokens do not.

As of writing, there is not an agreed-upon or specific time for Schiff and CZ to debate.

This post Newly-Pardoned Changpeng Zhao and Peter Schiff Agree to Bitcoin vs. Gold Debate first appeared on Bitcoin Magazine and is written by Micah Zimmerman.

Bitcoin Magazine

Trump Pardons Binance Founder Changpeng Zhao: WSJ

President Donald Trump has granted a full pardon to Changpeng Zhao, the convicted founder of crypto exchange Binance.

The move follows months of lobbying by Zhao and allies who argued his prosecution was politically motivated. Sources said Zhao had also explored partnerships to bolster the Trump family’s own crypto ventures.

Trump signed the pardon on Wednesday, according to the Wall Street Journal, marking one of his most controversial decisions since returning to the White House. 

Advisers said he had recently expressed sympathy for Zhao, describing the Binance founder’s case as part of a broader “war on cryptocurrency” waged by the previous administration.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed the pardon, saying Trump had “exercised his constitutional authority” to right what he viewed as a politically driven prosecution.

“The Biden Administration’s war on crypto is over,” she said, according to WSJ. 

Zhao, who had pleaded guilty to violating U.S. anti–money laundering laws, was serving a sentence related to Binance’s compliance failures. The pardon effectively clears his record and could reshape Washington’s stance toward the crypto industry.

Rumors had been circulating that former Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao, better known as “CZ,” was under consideration for a presidential pardon this year. 

According to FOX Business’ Charles Gasparino, discussions inside the Trump White House had intensified over whether to pardon Zhao this most recent quarter.

Trump’s decision and attention on the matter was reportedly divided between foreign policy flashpoints — including conflicts in Gaza, Ukraine, and renewed trade tensions with China.

Binance or Zhao have not made a public comment yet. This story is developing.

CZ background

Changpeng Zhao’s 2023 conviction marked one of the most high-profile cases in the government’s campaign against major exchanges. 

U.S. prosecutors accused Binance of allowing illicit transactions with sanctioned entities and failing to implement proper anti-money-laundering controls. CZ pleaded guilty, stepped down as CEO, and paid a personal fine of $50 million.

Zhao served a four-month prison sentence. He was sentenced in April 2024 and released in September 2024, after spending time in a low-security federal prison in California and then a halfway house.

Despite this, even critics of Binance have questioned whether the criminal charges were proportionate. 

Trump’s team reportedly sees Zhao’s situation as an opportunity to demonstrate a “new era” of crypto policy — one that favors innovation over punishment.

This post Trump Pardons Binance Founder Changpeng Zhao: WSJ first appeared on Bitcoin Magazine and is written by Micah Zimmerman.