Binance founder Changpeng Zhao predicted that every country will eventually create its own stablecoin to support domestic financial systems. Zhao, widely known as “CZ,” shared these views at the ASEAN Tech Summit held on July 31, 2026, emphasizing the growing importance of digital payment solutions across the globe.
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AAPLRegulatory engagement and blockchain progress
CZ stated that open and transparent communication between startups and financial regulators is fundamental to blockchain development. He acknowledged that this process is often challenging, especially for smaller companies, since policymakers typically have limited bandwidth to engage individually with every project. According to Zhao, building trust and understanding with authorities requires patience and continued effort.
He advised that founders in the blockchain sector should not expect immediate regulatory certainty or quick negotiations. Instead, successful navigation of the regulatory landscape usually involves gradual relationship-building and consistent dialogue over time.
CZ also addressed the market downturn commonly referred to as “crypto winter,” which has created a cautious atmosphere within the digital asset sector. He asserted that blockchain technology itself continues to progress, even as certain centralized exchanges have faced shutdowns or setbacks under current market conditions.
Despite recent market challenges and exchange closures, blockchain technology is advancing and evolving rather than vanishing from the digital landscape.
He separated individual projects facing difficulties from the wider adoption and development of blockchain infrastructure, noting that industry fundamentals remain robust.
Stablecoins set to transform payment systems
Zhao discussed a range of possible futures for digital finance, highlighting the central role stablecoins may play in supporting efficient payments. He considered the potential for stablecoins to be replaced or integrated with central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) in some jurisdictions, depending on how regulatory regimes evolve.
He viewed a return to exclusive reliance on traditional banking systems as unlikely. Zhao pointed to slow transaction speeds and significant costs associated with international bank transfers as key reasons legacy models cannot meet the needs of an increasingly interconnected economy.
The demand for efficient, high-throughput payment systems is prompting further innovation in the digital finance sector, driven in part by trends such as artificial intelligence, which relies on rapid transaction processing.
Zhao indicated that faster and more flexible solutions are essential to maintaining global economic competitiveness. He expects payment infrastructure to adapt as more applications require speedy digital settlements.
He forecasted that countries and major economies would engineer their own stablecoin frameworks in response to domestic policy objectives and technological priorities. In Zhao’s perspective, this trend aligns with an increasing focus on self-sufficient digital financial ecosystems at the national level.
Changpeng Zhao is the founder of Binance, currently the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume. His remarks come as governments and industry leaders evaluate the future role of stablecoins, digital currencies pegged to underlying assets like fiat money, in modernizing national and global payments infrastructure.
Mini dictionary: Stablecoin, a type of cryptocurrency designed to maintain a stable value by being pegged to a reserve asset such as the US dollar, euro, or other traditional currencies.
Ongoing conversations between national regulators and digital asset innovators are expected to determine stablecoin adoption timelines, as the sector continues to attract interest from both the private and public sectors.
