CZ Marks 1 Year Post-Prison With Crypto Milestones

• CZ focuses on crypto recovery, education, and DeFi growth post-incarceration.
• Regulatory shifts and milestones fuel a strengthened ecosystem.

On September 29, 2025, Changpeng “CZ” Zhao reflected on his first year since being released from a U.S. prison, emphasizing his contributions to the cryptocurrency sector’s recovery and growth. CZ has redirected his efforts toward strategic investments, philanthropy, and decentralization initiatives, Cryptopolitan reported.

In 2024, CZ launched Giggle Academy, an online education platform providing free digital skills courses to over 50,000 children worldwide. The initiative showcases his commitment to improving access to blockchain education globally. Additionally, he rebranded Binance Labs as YZi Labs, which holds a minority stake in Aster, a decentralized perpetual exchange launched in September 2025. Positioned as an alternative to competitors like Hyperliquid, Aster is actively championed by CZ as part of his ongoing efforts to accelerate decentralized finance (DeFi) innovation.

Developer engagement and on-chain activity have notably increased on Binance’s proprietary BNB Chain. CZ highlighted this trend as a key indicator of utility token adoption and growing decentralized trading volumes, both of which signal a revitalized crypto ecosystem. He sees these developments as markers of industry recovery and an expanded focus on decentralization.

The crypto market has experienced a resurgence, with Bitcoin reaching an all-time high of $124,000 in August 2025 and Ethereum exceeding $4,900 during the same period. Binance Coin (BNB) peaked at $1,000 before stabilizing in late September. CZ celebrated these milestones as evidence of renewed investor confidence, supported by favorable regulatory changes.

Key shifts in U.S. policy have also invigorated the sector. In May 2025, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) dropped its lawsuit against Binance, reflecting a softer regulatory stance. Pro-crypto executive orders under the Trump administration have further propelled industry growth. Although barred from running Binance due to legal restrictions, CZ acknowledged the exchange’s continued dominance under new leadership and stricter compliance measures.

As of September 29, 2025, 16:09 UTC, market data shows Bitcoin (BTC) trading at $113,895.70 with a 3.17% change in 24-hour volume. Ethereum (ETH) is priced at $4,163.66, marking a 2.86% increase over the same period. Binance Coin (BNB) has risen 3.47% in the last 24 hours, trading at $1,012.08. Meanwhile, Aster (ASTER) stands at $1.87 with a 2.19% increase in trading volume over the past day.