CZ Denies Romance Rumors With KOL: “3 Messages, 10 Minutes—That’s All”

Binance co-founder Changpeng “CZ” Zhao has stepped in to quash rumors of a romance swirling around his brief interaction with a female KOL at Binance Blockchain Week in Dubai.

The speculation traces back to December 4, when CZ faced off against gold advocate Peter Schiff in a much-anticipated debate. During the session, Tintin—a crypto influencer affiliated with the Aster project—walked onstage.

CZ Claps Back

She handed CZ a “magic box” containing a heavy gold item. This moment was captured on video and later amplified when Tintin tweeted that the box was “real f**king heavy.” The moment has since become the most replayed segment of the debate’s YouTube video.

What started as a lighthearted promotional stunt quickly morphed into gossip fodder across Chinese-speaking crypto communities. Some users began spinning tales of a romantic connection between the two.

CZ, never one to let rumors fester, addressed the speculation head-on in a post on X.

“There’s gossip about me now? The market must be really slow—everyone’s got nothing better to do,” he quipped.

He then laid out the facts: his entire interaction with Tintin consisted of exchanging three messages and meeting for about 10 minutes before the debate. The decision to have someone hand him the box onstage was made on the spot—there was no prior arrangement.

“Go pay attention to someone else. I heard somebody and somebody…” he added, deflecting with a hint of sarcasm.

Timing Raises Eyebrows

The rumors emerged just days after Yi He, CZ’s long-term partner and the mother of his three children, was elevated to co-CEO of Binance on December 3. The appointment, announced by CEO Richard Teng at Binance Blockchain Week, marked the exchange’s most significant leadership shake-up since CZ stepped down in 2023.

When asked about potential conflicts between her personal and professional roles, Yi He drew a clear boundary.

“My personal life is independent from my professional life,” she told reporters in Dubai. “My achievements and capabilities as co-founder are often overlooked with my personal life in question.”

Meanwhile, CZ Keeps Busy in Pakistan

Romance rumors aside, CZ has been focused on expanding Binance’s global footprint. On December 12, he visited Pakistan alongside Binance CEO Richard Teng and Tron founder Justin Sun for meetings with Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb.

The visit coincided with a major regulatory milestone: Pakistan’s Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (PVARA) issued no-objection certificates to both Binance and HTX, clearing the path for the exchanges to pursue full licensing in the country.

“A meaningful milestone for Binance in Pakistan,” Teng said on X, noting that the exchange has obtained AML registration from PVARA. “Looking forward to building a safe, transparent, and future-ready digital-asset ecosystem together.”

CZ has served as an adviser to the Pakistan Crypto Council since April 2024, and the South Asian nation appears eager to position itself as a crypto-friendly jurisdiction in the region.

As for the Tintin rumors? It seems CZ has already moved on—even if the crypto gossip mill hasn’t.