Hurun Places CZ on 2025 Rich List
The release of the 2025 Hurun Rich List on October 28 generated significant discussion within both traditional finance and cryptocurrency circles. Changpeng Zhao (CZ), the founder of Binance, was notably included on the list, securing the 13th position with an estimated net worth of 190 billion RMB, approximately $27 billion. This figure represents a 41% increase from the previous year, marking a prominent acknowledgment of cryptocurrency's growing influence on global wealth creation.
Responses from CZ and He Yi
Reactions from within the crypto community were mixed. CZ himself humorously questioned the accuracy of the valuation, suggesting it might need to be divided by 100. His comment indicated a skepticism regarding the reported figures.
Binance co-founder He Yi also commented, noting that traditional wealth ranking methodologies often struggle to accurately assess the structure of cryptocurrency holdings. Both their responses underscored a common sentiment that conventional financial lists face challenges in evaluating decentralized and volatile digital assets.
Community Divided on Valuation Accuracy
Online discussions surrounding the Hurun list quickly intensified. Some community members argued that Hurun had significantly underestimated CZ's wealth, positing that his actual net worth could be considerably higher when factoring in his holdings of BNB, Bitcoin, and assets managed by his family office, YZi Labs, which reportedly oversees around $10 billion.
Conversely, other users suggested that such rankings might be strategically employed for publicity or to solicit paid adjustments. Some even speculated that CZ's inclusion was a public relations tactic to generate controversy, with some feeling that being listed alongside traditional Chinese tycoons was an unwelcome form of exposure.
Analyzing Binance's Profitability
Further fueling the debate, Binance recently completed its 33rd quarterly BNB burn on October 27, destroying approximately 2.09 million BNB tokens valued at $1.208 billion. Given that Binance typically allocates about 20% of its profits to token burns, this implies a quarterly profit close to $6.4 billion, equating to roughly $55,000 per minute.
For comparative context, Alibaba reported a Q2 2025 profit of $4.678 billion. This suggests that Binance's profitability may already surpass that of one of Asia's most established technology companies. In light of these figures, Hurun's valuation of $27 billion appears comparatively modest.
The Challenge of Estimating Crypto Wealth
Accurately determining wealth within the cryptocurrency space presents significant challenges. Token values are subject to extreme volatility, ownership structures can be opaque, and holdings in non-custodial wallets are not publicly disclosed. Unlike founders of publicly traded companies, CZ is not obligated to reveal his shareholdings or provide audited financial statements. Consequently, any net worth estimate is inherently based on assumptions, incomplete data, and speculation, making both over- and under-estimation unavoidable.
Focus on Progress Over Rankings
While the exact valuation of CZ's net worth—whether $27 billion, $60 billion, or $150 billion—was a subject of much discussion, Binance has continued to operate profitably and expand its global reach. The accuracy of Hurun's figure ultimately does not alter the company's market position or operational success.
This intense focus on billionaire rankings may, however, distract from more important aspects of the industry.
The growth of cryptocurrency is propelled by innovation, perseverance, and community advancement, rather than by individuals appearing on wealth lists. As one community member aptly put it, "Instead of guessing CZ’s wallet size, maybe finish your own work first."
Ultimately, the more pertinent question concerns individual progress within the space, rather than the exact earnings of any single figure. Wealth lists may fluctuate, but personal development and advancement remain the most significant measures of success.