CZ's rare sharing in his latest AMA: AI + Crypto is the most certain Alpha, 2026 belongs to the long-distance runners.

In a rare AMA appearance, former Binance CEO CZ shared key insights on the future of crypto and his current endeavors. His life post-retirement is focused on four areas: the free educational platform Giggle Academy, mentoring through YZi Labs, overseeing BNB Chain's direction, and advising governments on regulatory frameworks.

Key takeaways from the discussion include:

BNB Chain's Growth: Despite perceptions, the chain has seen a 600% year-on-year increase in transaction volume and boasts over 2 million daily active users.
Market Philosophy: CZ advocates for letting the market decide winners in hot sectors like prediction markets, focusing on growing the overall ecosystem.
Stablecoin Evolution: The future lies in "Stablecoin 2.0"—models that generate yield and offer liquidity, like Ethena's USDe.
AI + Crypto: This is highlighted as the "most certain Alpha." CZ believes AI agents will be crypto's largest payment users, as crypto is their only viable means for economic transactions.
RWA (Real-World Assets): The narrative is shifting to a national level, with discussions on tokenizing national resources (e.g., oil, rare earths) to unlock liquidity for countries.
Advice for Entrepreneurs: CZ stresses being mission-driven, not speculative. He advises against frequent pivots and emphasizes that business success ultimately relies on strong relationships (networking).

CZ concluded by emphasizing long-term building over short-term gains, stating that 2026 will belong to those who can endure and run the marathon.

Is CZ back? Not entirely.

After resigning as Binance CEO, CZ made a rare appearance at the recent BNB Chain annual AMA. Without the CEO title, he spoke more candidly.

There's a lot of information about 2026, AI payments, and his current "free" life.

I've compiled 7 key insights, and the last one is particularly poignant for entrepreneurs.

1. On retirement life: Freedom is the greatest luxury.

CZ frankly stated that her biggest feeling now is "free." Although retired, she hasn't stopped working. She's not idle at all, and her energy is mainly divided into four things:

Giggle Academy: A completely free educational platform, which is also his current flagship project.
YZi Labs: We act as mentors and coaches to help entrepreneurs avoid pitfalls (not just by providing funding).
BNB Chain: Although it doesn't delve into the technical details, it still controls the overall direction.
Government advisor: That's interesting; he's helping over a dozen countries in the Middle East, Pakistan, and others design regulatory frameworks. And it represents a significant portion of his personal income.

CZ also mentioned that he maintains a regular lifestyle, insists on exercising for about 30-40 minutes every day, and tries more outdoor sports.

From conquering the country to setting the rules, this transformation has been very stable.

2. The Hidden Growth of BNB Chain

Many people think BNB Chain isn't sexy enough? The data might prove them wrong:

Transaction volume increased by 600% year-on-year.
Daily active users (DAU) have exceeded 2 million.
Even with CZ's retirement, Binance's user base still surpassed 300 million.

BNB's ecosystem is like the total value of Nasdaq-listed companies, which far exceeds the Nasdaq exchange itself.

Despite significant growth in the crypto market, crypto assets still account for less than 1% of global wealth penetration, leaving room for several orders of magnitude of growth in the future.

CZ's summary of the past is insightful: it's like boxing in a marathon. You need both the endurance of a long runner and the ability to maintain high-frequency combat power. This is much harder than simply chasing short-term rankings. (3/9)

3. Market Prediction: A diverse range of products does not equate to a horse race mechanism.

The prediction market is hot right now (PolyMarket's performance in the US election is phenomenal). Many competing products have also emerged on BNB Chain. CZ's stance is: no cutthroat competition. Labs won't bet on just one company; instead, it will let the market compete naturally. It's too early to talk about who the winner is; making the pie bigger is the key.

4. Stablecoin 2.0: Yields are king.

Stablecoins that don't generate interest are products of the 1.0 era (like Tether). CZ believes the core of stablecoin 2.0 is: interest generation + convenient transactions. Models like Ethena (USDe), which offer both returns and liquidity, represent the future. As compliance becomes more enforced, stablecoins will see more opportunities, and ultimately, users and the market will determine the winner.

5. AI + Crypto: The Most Certain Alpha

This is extremely important! CZ believes that AI agents will be the largest user group for crypto payments. The logic is simple: bots can't open bank accounts, pass KYC, or swipe credit cards. Crypto is AI's only means of economic interaction. On-chain payment networks designed specifically for AI present enormous opportunities.

6. RWA: National-level entry

While we were discussing RWA (Real-World Asset Tokenization), CZ (Central Secretary General) was already in talks with heads of state. Many resource-rich countries (oil, rare earth) have money but lack liquidity. Tokenizing national resources is becoming a serious issue. This is not just about financing; it's about activating the liquidity of national assets. The narrative level of this sector has changed. (7/9)

7. Advice for entrepreneurs: Don't be a speculator.

CZ's current investment criteria are singular: Mission-driven.

Want to make 10 million and run? ❌ He doesn't even look at people like that now.

Changing tracks every few months? ❌ Lack of focus.

A tech guru looking to switch careers offered practical advice: first, become a top-tier technical expert, then work on your emotional intelligence (EQ). Because the essence of business ultimately boils down to networking. (8/9)

Summary: Navigating Cycles

Listening to the entire AMA, I felt that CZ had changed; he was more detached and more focused on the macro level.

As he said, whether it's AI or SocialFi, no matter who's number one now, keeping building is the only way to weather the cycles. Nvidia sat on the sidelines for 40 years before it finally exploded, what's your rush?

2026 belongs to long-distance runners.