Zhao Changpeng CZ angrily scolded: Someone maliciously spent money to buy media to attack me! Suspect that Financial Times, Reuters, and Forbes are backed by the same financial backer.

CZ harshly criticized several well-known media outlets for spreading fear, uncertainty and doubt (FUD), receiving funding from the same sponsor, and fabricating information to attack Binance and himself. (Background: Binance CZ reflects on the one-year anniversary of his release from prison, lamenting “the crypto world is so exciting”: US regulatory shift, BNB, BTC, and ETH hitting new highs repeatedly) (Background information: CZ confirmed the connection between Aster and former Binance employees, YZi Labs holds shares, and the perpetual futures DEX space is heating up) October has just begun, and Binance founder Zhao Changpeng (CZ) has been posting continuously on social media, directly pointing fingers at the Financial Times and Reuters, questioning whether the two media outlets are receiving funding from the same sponsor to attack him and Binance, and mockingly referring to them as the “tin foil hat club” for spreading FUD (fear, uncertainty, doubt). In this post, “tin foil hat” is a derogatory term implying “conspiracy theorists,” as there is a cultural notion in the US that conspiracy theorists fear being monitored by electromagnetic waves, hence the saying about wearing hats made of tin foil. CZ used it to ridicule the Financial Times and Reuters for their “simultaneous release, same narrative” reports, suggesting that the two media outlets are spreading false or misleading narratives as if controlled by the same “puppet master.” It's a triple JV. FT, Reuters, and now Forbes all work for the same sponsor / “puppet master”? “journalism” Someone ( who is probably really scared ) is in attack mode. pic.twitter.com/oprhQ3L6Ia — CZ BNB (@cz_binance ) October 1, 2025 New round of conflict between media and crypto giants Zhao Changpeng's fierce comments quickly spread. He wrote in a post: Someone (who might be very scared) is in attack mode. He then again named the Financial Times, Reuters, and Forbes, stating that the three media outlets published negative news with “the same script, the same deadline.” These remarks stirred up Binance supporters and led outsiders to begin examining the positions and methods traditional media use when reporting on crypto issues. The trigger: YZi Labs report and FUD accusations The incident stemmed from the Financial Times' report on YZi Labs. The article claimed that the startup was raising funds from external investors and had ties to Binance. Zhao Changpeng rebutted these claims as “completely wrong,” emphasizing that YZi Labs has no fundraising plans and has no business relationship with Binance. Regarding personal controversies, he reiterated that previous judicial proceedings only involved “insufficient anti-money laundering (AML) programs,” not direct money laundering activities. For the crypto community, the term “FUD” is particularly sensitive, as negative information often amplifies quickly and drives price fluctuations. On the regulatory front, Zhao Changpeng has long been under a magnifying glass. He has indicated that he was not involved in money laundering, but rather that the crypto regulatory framework was insufficient years ago. However, such information is often simplified in media headlines, creating the illusion of a “conviction of guilt.” Currently, there is no solid evidence showing that multiple media outlets are colluding to manipulate the market; each report tends to focus on Zhao Changpeng's legal developments, funding flows, or market manipulation allegations. For example, the Aster token skyrocketed by 7,000% after CZ mentioned it, pointing out that 96% of the tokens are concentrated in a few wallets, raising manipulation concerns. This type of analysis based on on-chain data is distinct from “making something out of nothing,” yet it is often conflated in public discourse. Related reports Kaito suspected of misappropriating $90 million in initial funding to participate in Binance financial products? Official clarification: just temporarily stored Binance's altcoin trading volume proportion breaks historical high of 82.3%, confirming the altcoin season has arrived? “Zhao Changpeng CZ angrily scolds: Someone maliciously paid to buy media to attack me! Suspecting the Financial Times, Reuters, and Forbes are backed by the same sponsor” This article was first published in BlockTempo's “Dynamic Trends - The Most Influential Blockchain News Media.”