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Changpeng “CZ” Zhao, the embattled co-founder of Binance, now holds an estimated $75.8 billion in BNB tokens as the cryptocurrency reached an unprecedented peak of $850.70 this week.
The BNB holdings all-time high reflects a dramatic financial rebound for CZ, who remains a central figure in crypto despite legal troubles. Analysts attribute the surge to aggressive token burns, institutional accumulation, and growing adoption of BNB Chain.
Forbes estimates that CZ owns roughly 64% of BNB’s circulating supply—about 89.1 million tokens—while Binance controls another 7%. His February disclosure that 98% of his portfolio is in BNB has proven prescient, with the token’s 12% weekly gain catapulting his net worth past Julia Koch’s $71 billion family fortune.
“BNB’s supply shock from burns and corporate buying is creating a perfect storm,” said Dominick John, analyst at Kronos Research. “Whales and treasuries like Nano Labs are hoarding tokens, tightening liquidity.”
The BNB holdings all-time high also reflects Binance’s enduring market influence despite CZ’s 2023 guilty plea to U.S. money laundering charges.
According to Nansen, the exchange’s quarterly token burns—slashing supply from an initial 200 million—have compounded scarcity.
BNB’s price surge coincides with record activity on its native blockchain:
Total value locked (TVL) hit 2025 highs.
PancakeSwap volumes spiked 40% monthly.
The Maxwell upgrade (June 30) optimized network speed.
“To sustain this, BNB Chain needs relentless growth in TVL, DEX volume, and burns,” John added. “Any macro shock could derail momentum.”
Kadan Stadelmann, CTO of Komodo Platform, noted “whales disproportionately sway BNB’s price” due to its smaller market cap versus Bitcoin or Ethereum.
Binance’s burn mechanism has removed millions of BNB from circulation, with Stadelmann calling it “a calculated play to boost valuation.” Chinese firm Nano Labs amplified pressure by announcing plans to stockpile 10% of the circulating supply.
“The BNB holdings all-time high isn’t just luck—it’s engineered scarcity,” Stadelmann told Cointelegraph. “Investors now expect burns as a price catalyst.”
Despite ranking as Forbes’ 23rd-richest person, CZ’s fortune remains illiquid. His net worth hinges on BNB’s volatility and unresolved legal risks.
The BNB holdings all-time high contrasts with Binance’s regulatory battles, underscoring crypto’s unorthodox wealth trajectories.
CZ’s BNB holdings all-time high reaches $75.8B amid token’s 12% weekly gain.
Token burns and BNB Chain adoption drive scarcity narrative.
Whale accumulation (e.g., Nano Labs) exacerbates supply squeeze.
