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Former Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao unfollowed 384 accounts on X in a single day after discovering that social media handles he follows were being sold for as much as $20,000, with buyers seeking the perceived credibility of a ‘CZ follow.’
Zhao warned on November 10 that he would unfollow any accounts that are sold, calling on his community to report handles listed for sale in what has become a shadow marketplace for crypto social media clout.
“I will unfollow any sold accounts,” Zhao declared on X. “If you see an account for sale, let me know — DM, tweet, notify interns.”
The crypto celeb accounts trend, driven by digital clout and social validation, has created a shadow marketplace where users sell handles that have received attention or a “follow” from industry figures like CZ. For some, these “CZ-followed” accounts represent a status symbol — a mark of credibility in the crypto community.
At the center of this controversy is the sale of crypto celeb accounts — X handles that capitalize on being followed by major crypto personalities. According to influencers and data shared by Asian journalists, accounts once followed by CZ were selling for thousands of USDT.
An influencer known in the Chinese-speaking crypto community remarked, “In 2022, an account followed by CZ could fetch up to 20,000 USDT. Some buyers paid around 3,000 USDT for handles that later lost the follow.”
The influencer added that while some buyers are merely “celebrity-chasing,” the darker side is the use of crypto celeb accounts for scams and rug pulls. “The worrying thing,” they said, “is these accounts falling into the hands of criminals.”
Data compiled by Asian journalist Linwan shows that CZ unfollowed a staggering 384 accounts on November 8, marking what some in the community have called a “systematic purge.”
“Before November, CZ’s unfollows were sporadic,” Linwan reported. “But on November 8, he unfollowed over three hundred accounts, which feels like a targeted cleanup.”
Among those removed were projects once supported by Binance, including BakerySwap, TopGoal, Bundle, KOI, CommEX, and ReachMe. CommEX notably took over Binance’s operations in Russia after its market exit — but Zhao now appears to be distancing himself from the exchange’s former regional ties.
The mass unfollowing extended to industry heavyweights and crypto media figures.
CZ reportedly unfollowed Olaf Carlson-Wee of Polychain Capital, Scott Lewis of DeFi Pulse, Darryl Wang of Tangent, Tushar Aggarwal of Persistence, and Howard Yuan of Shard Capital.
Analysts believe CZ’s move may signal a shift in how top influencers interact with crypto celeb accounts and the wider community.
“CZ’s follow has always been seen as a badge of approval,” said Alex Thorn, Head of Research at Galaxy Digital.
“By purging his list, he’s effectively resetting how influence and legitimacy are perceived in crypto media circles.”
Experts warn that crypto celeb accounts have become a form of “digital status currency.”
Dr. Carla Reyes, a blockchain law professor at Southern Methodist University, commented, “The sale of these accounts shows how trust and reputation can be monetized in decentralized spaces. When a ‘follow’ by CZ is worth thousands, it highlights how social capital can distort digital ecosystems.”
This commodification of credibility has opened the door for exploitation. Scammers can impersonate real voices or leverage a past CZ follow to promote fraudulent tokens or investment schemes.
For Zhao, the message is clear: authenticity matters more than social metrics.
“I follow people who are supportive, informative, and bring positive energy,” he wrote. “But if you sell your account, I’ll unfollow you.”
His stance sends a broader message across the crypto sphere, a warning that crypto celeb accounts shouldn’t be mistaken for legitimacy. As the line between clout and credibility blurs, Zhao’s crackdown might just be the wake-up call crypto social media needs.
The crypto celeb accounts saga underscores a new challenge in the age of digital reputation — where “being followed” is currency, and authenticity is the only asset that can’t be bought.
