CZ Downplays ¥190B Fortune After 2025 Hurun Ranking

Binance founder Changpeng Zhao (CZ) has downplayed his reported fortune. After the 2025 Hurun Rich List ranked him among China’s richest individuals. According to the list, Zhao’s wealth has surged to ¥190 billion ($26 billion). A 41% increase from last year, placing him 13th overall. However, CZ quickly took to X (formerly Twitter) to laugh off the ranking. He joked that the figure is wildly exaggerated.

CZ Reacts with Humor

In response to a post by PANews, which shared his position on the Hurun list. Zhao simply wrote: “Nonsense, divide by 100 and that’s about right 😂.”

His lighthearted reply quickly went viral among the crypto community. Supporters and fellow Binance users joined the conversation. With one user commenting that Hurun “always inflates figures for attention,” to which CZ replied, “👆truth.” Another follower jokingly called the ranking “胡润，胡说,” meaning “Hurun is talking nonsense,” which also drew a laughing emoji from Zhao.

Wealth Ranking Sparks Online Buzz

The Hurun Research Institute’s 2025 Hengchang Shaofang Rich List featured many familiar Chinese business figures. Specifically, topping the list were Zhong Kuikui of Yangshengtang and Zhang Yiming of ByteDance. Furthermore, Zhao’s position at 13th marks a climb of three spots from 2024. The recent rebound in crypto markets largely fueled it. Given Binance’s continued dominance in global trading volumes.

The list estimated CZ’s fortune at around ¥190 billion. This is equivalent to approximately $26 billion USD, reflecting the broader recovery in digital assets. Still, Zhao’s dismissive response highlights his ongoing discomfort with public wealth rankings. A topic he has often called “speculative and misleading.”

From Legal Challenges to a Presidential Pardon

CZ’s humorous tone comes just days after renewed public attention. Following his presidential pardon from President Donald Trump. The pardon came after Zhao pleaded guilty when he failed to implement an effective anti-money laundering program while running Binance.

U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren criticized the move on X. She accused Zhao of corruption and political influence. Her comments drew backlash, with commentators and CZ himself resharing posts defending him. One user clarified that CZ “was not charged with money laundering” but only admitted to a compliance failure. CZ reposted several supportive comments. This suggests he’s taking the renewed attention in stride.

Staying Grounded Amid Fame and Fortune

Despite being one of the most recognized figures in crypto. Zhao often presents himself as humble and unfazed by headlines. His reaction to the Hurun ranking is another example of his tendency to downplay status and wealth. It is focusing instead on Binance’s mission to expand crypto adoption. As one user commented under his post, “Even when they rank you among billionaires, you still act like a regular guy.” CZ’s simple reply, “That’s the goal,” perfectly summed up his approach: grounded, unbothered and never too serious about the numbers.