Binance CEO Changpeng “CZ” Zhao has denied a rumor that he was “shot” by the US federal law enforcement agency, which had “widespread” on a messaging platform Chinese, in a recent tweet.
In a March 4 tweet, CZ addressed false speculation circulating on Chinese messaging platform WeChat, claiming he had been “shot” by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), taking the opportunity to reiterate the close working relationship that exists between Binance and the FBI.
Someone photoshopped this, and it spread widely on WeChat in China. He says I was shot by the FBI, who our team works closely with…♂️ 4. pic.twitter.com/2Iz7c1QgA8
— CZ Binance (@cz_binance) March 3, 2023
He wrote the number “4” at the end of the tweet, which refers to his January 3 Tweeter on the simplification of its objectives for 2023.
He scored the 4th goal as a reminder to ignore FUD (Fear, Uncertainty and Doubt), fake news, attacks and other distractions.
The first 3 objectives listed were to focus on education, compliance as well as products and services.
Shortly after, CZ retweeted a tweet from a user asking, “Brother Peng, I heard you were biu-biu by the FBI? If that’s true, just nod and give a hint (translated).
If you sold someone’s fake photoshopped image, then I’m sorry for you, but not really… https://t.co/pRfC2Jsqz5
— CZ Binance (@cz_binance) March 3, 2023
The user had circled text on a screenshot that read “Zhao Changpeng was shot dead by the FBI (translated)”.
Related: Binance CEO responds to Forbes claims: “They don’t know how an exchange works”
Harry Denley, a Metamask security analyst, assimilated the event to a false rumor spread about Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin in 2017 to “die in a car accident”.
Denley called the CZ rumor a “2023 adaptation of an attempt to manipulate the market” and suggested that CZ do “proof of life” with the latest Binance Smart Chain (BSC) block hash.
It was previously announced in October 2022 that Binance.US had hired former FBI Special Agent BJ Kang to lead its investigative unit, aimed at combating illegal activity on the platform.
Kang was once dubbed “the most feared man on Wall Street” by Reuters after he was pictured arresting Bernie Madoff – who was found guilty of running the biggest Ponzi scheme to date.
In more recent news, CZ, along with Binance.US CEO Brian Shroder, received a letter on March 1 from three US senators, Elizabeth Warren, Chris Van Hollen, and Roger Marshall, requesting more financial information. from Binance.
The senators claimed that the “little information” available regarding Binance’s finances suggests that the exchange is a “hotbed of illegal financial activity”.