Breaking: Binance CEO “CZ” Claims Sam Bankman-Fried Threatened His Team

Varinder Singh
December 9, 2022
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Binance CEO Changpeng “CZ” Zhao on Friday strongly criticized Shark Tank fame Kevin O’Leary for defending former FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried. He says Kevin O’Leary losing $15 million that FTX paid to him for being a spokesperson has changed his thinking about crypto. It also made him defend and support a fraudster that misappropriate customer funds.

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Binance CEO Displeased With Kevin O’Leary

Binance CEO “CZ” highlighted that Binance exited the crypto exchange FTX 1.5 years ago in July 2021. Since then, FTX has invested over $5.5 million in several companies. Moreover, FTX spent money on sports deals including Miami Stadium, multiple Super Bowl advertising, baseball referees, and Formula 1 racing.

Sam Bankman-Fried also made massive political donations and purchased luxury real estate. He has misused customer funds with his hedge fund Alameda Research.

However, Kevin O’Leary continues to defend SBF. O’Leary has again defended SBF during CNBC’s Squawk Box interview, saying he is “innocent until proven guilty.” To this, Binance CEO said:

“Worse than losing $15M, you’d think that being used as the poster child for one of the greatest financial crimes in history would make Kevin O’Leary think twice before taking Sam at his word AGAIN.”

Binance CEO pointed out that Binance continues to do due diligence even after making an investment. Binance became an early investor in FTX, but Alameda and SBF relationship made them uncomfortable and decided to exit from it.

Read More: Sam Bankman-Fried Explains FTX-Alameda Relationship

He claims Sam-Bankman-Fried threatened Binance team members when Binance pulled out as an investor. He said, “we still have those text messages.”

After Binance’s exit, SBF only “invested in friends from media, policymakers, celebrities like Kevin.” Binance CEO claims SBF used his influence to manipulate public opinion, even attacking him and others in the crypto industry.

“My ethnicity was a focus of those attacks and Kevin O’Leary signaled his intention to continue those attacks in the media and will likely repeat them at next week’s Senate hearing. I’m Canadian and Binance is not a Chinese company.”

Also Read: SBF Lawyers Fails To Retort Senate and House Testimony Calls

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Why Trust CoinGape

CoinGape has covered the cryptocurrency industry since 2017, aiming to provide informative insights Read more…to our readers. Our journal analysts bring years of experience in market analysis and blockchain technology to ensure factual accuracy and balanced reporting. By following our Editorial Policy, our writers verify every source, fact-check each story, rely on reputable sources, and attribute quotes and media correctly. We also follow a rigorous Review Methodology when evaluating exchanges and tools. From emerging blockchain projects and coin launches to industry events and technical developments, we cover all facets of the digital asset space with unwavering commitment to timely, relevant information.

About Author
About Author
Varinder has over 10 years of experience and is known as a seasoned leader for his involvement in the fintech sector. With over 5 years dedicated to blockchain, crypto, and Web3 developments, he has experienced two Bitcoin halving events making him key opinion leader in the space. At CoinGape Media, Varinder leads the editorial decisions, spearheading the news team to cover latest updates, markets trends and developments within the crypto industry. The company was recognized as Best Crypto Media Company 2024 for high impact and quality reporting. Being a Master of Technology degree holder, analytics thinker, technology enthusiast, Varinder has shared his knowledge of disruptive technologies in over 5000+ news, articles, and papers.
Investment disclaimer: The content reflects the author’s personal views and current market conditions. Please conduct your own research before investing in cryptocurrencies, as neither the author nor the publication is responsible for any financial losses.
Ad Disclosure: This site may feature sponsored content and affiliate links. All advertisements are clearly labeled, and ad partners have no influence over our editorial content.