Wall Street’s Two Most Powerful Men Endorse CZ’s Prison Memoir

Binance founder Changpeng Zhao (CZ) released his 366-page memoir “Freedom of Money” on April 8, carrying endorsements from BlackRock CEO Larry Fink and Bridgewater Associates founder Ray Dalio.

The book, written mostly during CZ’s four-month US prison sentence in 2024, covers his path from rural China to building the world’s largest crypto exchange and its $4.3 billion settlement with the US Department of Justice (DOJ).

Wall Street Heavyweights Back Crypto’s Most Controversial Founder

Fink, who oversees roughly $10 trillion in assets at BlackRock, framed CZ as an early mover in blockchain adoption.

“CZ saw early what many are only beginning to understand today: digital assets and blockchain technology can unlock real opportunities for nations willing to embrace the future. His story is about conviction, resilience, and an unwavering belief in the power of technology to serve people.”

Dalio struck a more personal tone, praising CZ’s trajectory from poverty to global influence.

“As a great admirer of CZ for his bold contributions to making alternative monies accessible to almost everyone in the world, I’m thrilled that he has so clearly laid out his life story. I recommend it for anyone who aspires to go from humble beginnings to a world shaper or is interested in a fascinating read of CZ building Binance into a pillar of the new monetary order.”

The remaining three are His Majesty the King of Bhutan, Haidilao founder Zhang Yong, and early Bitcoin (BTC) investor Matt Roszak. Yi He, Binance co-founder and co-CEO, wrote the foreword.

The endorsements arrive at a commercially strategic moment for both sides. BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) now processes $16 billion to $18 billion in daily trading volume, directly competing with Binance for crypto liquidity.

IBIT daily trading volume vs. Coinbase and Binance spot volumes, Source: Kaiko on X

BlackRock also integrated its BUIDL tokenized fund as collateral on Binance in November 2025.

Compliance Cracks Cast a Shadow Over CZ’s Freedom of Money

However, the book launches amid fresh compliance concerns at Binance.

Just weeks before publication, Bloomberg reported that Binance’s Chief Compliance Officer Noah Perlman, a former federal prosecutor hired as part of the 2023 plea deal reforms, has begun discussing his departure.

At least four senior compliance staff left or were pushed out in recent months.

More troubling, Fortune reported in February 2026 that Binance fired at least five compliance investigators who uncovered evidence of $1 billion in transfers to Iran-linked entities between March 2024 and August 2025.

Senator Richard Blumenthal opened a Senate inquiry into the matter, and nine Senate Democrats called on the DOJ and Treasury to investigate.

Binance denied firing investigators for reporting violations.

The exchange stated that it found “no evidence” of sanctions-law violations related to the flagged activity.

All book royalties go to CZ’s education nonprofit Giggle Academy, but endorsements from the world’s most powerful asset managers carry a different kind of currency, one that no charity pledge fully offsets.