Changpeng Zhao, known as CZ, the former CEO of Binance and its largest shareholder, commented on North Korean hackers’ Bitcoin holdings.
The hacker group Lazarus now holds over one billion dollars in Bitcoin, making it the third-largest state holder globally.
CZ jokes about North Korean “crypto reserve”
A Binance product advisory council member, @Berit1p, shared a screenshot from Arkham Intelligence, revealing that North Korean-backed hackers possess an astonishing $1.16 billion in Bitcoin, totaling 13,518 BTC.
This amount places North Korea as the third-largest holder among governments, following the US and UK.
According to Arkham, the UK holds 61,245 BTC, valued at approximately $4 billion. This Bitcoin was confiscated by UK police in 2018 from Jian Wen and Zhimin Qian, who allegedly acquired it through a pyramid scheme in China.
The US government currently holds around $16.93 billion in crypto, including 198,109 BTC worth $16.52 billion.
> Different ways to build a strategic crypto reserve. 😂
> — CZ 🔶 BNB (@cz_binance) March 17, 2025
In response to the tweet regarding North Korea, CZ humorously remarked about building a “strategic crypto reserve.”
CZ warns against minting new crypto
Earlier today, CZ issued a warning to developers about minting new cryptocurrencies unless they have substantial scale. He suggested that existing cryptocurrencies are sufficient for AI agents, arguing that not every agent needs its own token.
> On AI agents, I have an unpopular opinion:
> While crypto is the currency for AI, not every agent needs its own token.
> Agents can take fees in an existing crypto for providing a service.
> Launch a coin only if you have scale. Focus on utility, not tokens.🙏
> — CZ 🔶 BNB (@cz_binance) March 17, 2025
CZ emphasizes that launching a new cryptocurrency should only happen if there’s scale, advocating for a focus on utility rather than merely creating tokens.
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