CZ: Not Running an Exchange Now, BNB Chain is Developing a New Version that is Faster, Cheaper, and More Privacy-Focused

**June 20: CZ’s Galaxy Brains Podcast Insights on BNB Chain, RWAs, and Crypto’s Next Era** Binance founder Changpeng Zhao (CZ) joined the Galaxy Brains podcast on June 20, sitting for an interview with Galaxy Research Director Alex Thorn. CZ shared that he’s shifted away from running Binance’s daily operations, a change that’s given him more time to connect with developers—an area he’s eager to focus on, especially as BNB Chain advances new features. He revealed the BNB Chain is currently being upgraded to its next major version, with plans to make it faster, cheaper, and enhanced with stronger privacy controls. For blockchain developers, CZ offered a key piece of advice: avoid launching large, system-altering upgrades during bull markets; instead, target significant updates during quieter bear market periods. On real-world assets (RWAs), CZ admitted he was skeptical of their viability a year to 18 months ago, questioning whether they’d ever gain meaningful trading traction or broad adoption. But the rapid growth of RWAs has surprised him—with assets like stablecoins, oil futures, and AI stocks now seeing solid acceptance in the crypto community, signaling strong global demand for accessible ways to access these traditional assets. CZ stressed crypto shouldn’t be viewed as a separate industry, but as a technological tool that streamlines financial transactions to be faster, cheaper, and more transparent. He noted traditional financial institutions can leverage blockchain, while crypto firms should expand to offer services common in traditional finance: loans, savings accounts, stock trading, remittances, and payments. Looking ahead, CZ sees a future where the lines between traditional finance and crypto fade entirely—evolving into a more global, efficient, and low-cost global financial ecosystem.