Bitcoin News Today: BNB Rally Pushes CZ's Net Worth Past $75B Forbes Ranks Him 23rd

Binance co-founder and former CEO Changpeng “CZ” Zhao’s net worth surged past $75.8 billion following a significant rally in BNB, the exchange’s native token. BNB reached an all-time high of $850.70 on July 8, 2025, reflecting a 12% increase in the preceding week. With Zhao holding an estimated 64% of the circulating BNB supply, the price surge directly amplified his personal wealth. Forbes subsequently ranked him as the 23rd richest individual globally, surpassing figures such as Julia Koch. This milestone underscores the growing influence of crypto-native assets in traditional wealth rankings [1].

The recent BNB rally is attributed to rising on-chain activity and strategic upgrades to the BNB Smart Chain. The “Maxwell” upgrade, launched on June 30, enhanced block processing speeds and validator coordination, positioning the network to handle higher transaction volumes. Coupled with Binance’s periodic token burn program—aimed at reducing the circulating supply of BNB—the upgrade has intensified speculation about the token’s long-term value proposition. BNB’s supply is capped at 200 million coins, and the latest burn event reinforced expectations of continued scarcity-driven demand [1].

Zhao’s cryptocurrency holdings, disclosed on Binance Square, reveal a portfolio heavily concentrated in BNB, which constitutes nearly 98.5% of his assets. Binance itself controls an additional 7% of the circulating supply, giving the former CEO and the exchange collective influence over a significant portion of the token. His Bitcoin exposure is minimal, with 1.32% of his portfolio allocated to BTC, alongside small positions in stablecoins EURI (0.17%) and USDT (0.03%). Zhao also noted an unspecified holding of sBTC, a wrapped Bitcoin asset on the Stacks network, but admitted uncertainty about its origin. When questioned about his low Bitcoin allocation, he speculated that the EURI holding might stem from an outdated Binance Card feature but could not confirm its source [1].

Despite stepping back from daily operations at Binance, Zhao remains a central figure in the crypto ecosystem. His legal challenges, including a four-month prison sentence, have not curtailed his influence. In May 2025, he publicly requested a presidential pardon from Donald Trump, suggesting a potential return to leadership roles if granted. Additionally, he denied allegations of acting as a “fixer” for WLF and co-founder Zach Witkoff, clarifying that a meeting in Pakistan with a local official was coincidental and unrelated to his role at Binance [1].

The BNB rally highlights the volatility and concentrated ownership structures inherent in cryptocurrency markets. Zhao’s fortune remains closely tied to BNB’s performance, mirroring trends observed among other crypto-native billionaires. While technical upgrades and supply-side policies currently support bullish sentiment, external factors such as regulatory shifts and macroeconomic conditions could disrupt this trajectory. The interplay between network upgrades, tokenomics, and individual holdings continues to define the evolving crypto landscape [1].

Source: [1] [title: BNB Rally Pushes CZ's Net Worth Past $75B, Forbes Ranks Him 23rd] [url: https://financefeeds.com/bnb-rally-pushes-czs-net-worth-past-75b-forbes-ranks-him-23rd/]