Yi He Gives First Interview as Binance Co-CEO: ‘300M Users Trust Us — That’s Why I’m Here’
In her first public interview since being appointed Co-CEO of Binance, Yi He — widely regarded as “crypto’s most powerful woman” — delivered a candid, emotional, and deeply personal conversation about leadership, responsibility, and the future of the digital asset industry.Coindesk recently named her “arguably crypto’s most powerful woman.”Today, she explained why she still sees herself first as Binance’s Chief Customer Service Officer, and why she has never walked away — despite wealth, pressure, and years of turbulence.“People ask me why I’m still here. It’s responsibility.”When asked why she continues to lead Binance despite already achieving financial security, Yi He did not hesitate:“So many people trust Binance. They trust me. They trust CZ. They put their assets, their lives, online on our platform. That moment — it’s not about money anymore. It’s about responsibility.”She emphasized that she considers herself “lucky to be given the chance to help build history,” adding that Binance’s users and global community are the reason she stepped into the Co-CEO role:“I’m only here because our community supports me. This new chapter for Binance in 2026 is for them.”Richard Teng + Yi He: Why “One Plus One” Makes Binance StrongerYi He described CEO Richard Teng’s first year as transformative — especially in regulation, compliance standards, and organizational maturity.“Richard has a great background with regulators. He helped us rewrite complex standards. Together, one plus one can truly support each other — and lead the industry.”Her appointment, she said, is about aligning Binance’s user-first philosophy with a more formalized regulatory-forward structure.October Was “the Most Horrible Moment” — Yi He on Surviving Market TurbulenceYi He didn’t shy away from discussing the recent market downturn:“October was the most horrible moment for us — for the whole industry.”She explained the dynamic clearly:Markets had risen for months, drawing in retail and institutions.When macro conditions shifted, professional investors sold their altcoins first, triggering widespread cascades.Many traders blamed exchanges — but Yi He stressed the reality:“When the market crashes, it’s not Binance selling your tokens. It’s traders, institutions, and market makers acting on risk.”Despite headwinds, Binance operationalized several protections:Fairer liquidationsPublicly available market maker programsTransparent incentives for high-volume tradersStronger defense systems against fraud and manipulation“Our duty,” she said, “is to protect users as much as possible — in bull markets and bear markets.”The Hardest Challenge? Talent.Yi He highlighted a structural challenge across Web3:“This industry is only ten years old. Very few people have real experience or deep knowledge. Talent is still our biggest bottleneck.”The message to young professionals was direct:“If you learn Web3 now, there is enormous opportunity. We will keep hiring — skill and integrity both matter.”300 Million Users: “When the Industry Is Strong, We Are Strong.”Binance recently crossed 300 million global users, eclipsing many of the world’s largest fintech and Web2 platforms.Yi He reaffirmed Binance’s long-term design philosophy:“Our strategy is simple: build a big, fair, and transparent platform. When the industry is strong, Binance is strong. When the industry suffers, we suffer even more.”She emphasized that Binance’s success was never built on the “best product” or “best technology” alone:“We care about users. That is why we became the biggest exchange.”This, she added, aligns closely with regulators’ objectives:“Regulators want to protect users. Binance wants to protect users. Sometimes we just speak different languages. Now we are learning to translate.”Where Crypto Goes Next: “Blockchain Will Transform Finance First”Yi He believes the next phase of Web3 adoption will begin not in gaming or social apps, but in traditional finance:“Blockchain will change financial infrastructure before anything else. Not by replacing banks, but by mixing with them — making them more efficient, more transparent.”She compared the moment to the early internet disrupting media:“In 2012, I saw Bitcoin for the first time and thought: this will change finance. Twelve years later, it’s happening step by step.”Core Belief: Protect Users Above All ElseYi He ended with the principle she believes drove Binance’s rise from a small startup in 2017 to a global financial force:“Many companies say users are important. But we truly protect them. That is why Binance grew. That is why people trust us.”Her message was universal:“Whatever country you are from, whatever background you have — people want freedom, love, and basic things they truly need. Our job is to build that for them.”
