Binance’s Changpeng Zhao (CZ) Proposes “Dark Pool” DEX For Crypto Futures, Here’s Why

Bhushan Akolkar
June 2, 2025
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Changpeng Zhao (CZ), the former CEO of crypto exchange Binance, has filed a motion in the Delaware bankruptcy court asking them to dismiss a $1.8 billion FTX lawsuit. The case centers on a 2021 share repurchase deal between FTX and Zhao. CZ said that he lives in the UAE and that the US court lacks jurisdiction over him.  Former Binance CEO Slams FTX Lawsuit In the $1.8 billion clawback lawsuit, the FTX trust claimed that the funds were improperly transferred by former FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried. In November 2024, the FTX estate and FTX Digital Markets filed a lawsuit against Binance and several of its executives, challenging a July 2021 share repurchase agreement involving Sam Bankman-Fried.  Responding to it, CZ has filed a motion in bankruptcy court requesting that the claims against it be thrown out. In his latest motion filing, Zhao said:  “The claims are so far removed from Delaware, and even the United States, that the statutes at issue, which lack extraterritorial application, do not even apply.” Last month, in July, two Binance executives - Samuel Wenjun Lim and Dinghua Xiao - had already urged the court to dismiss them from the lawsuit. Zhao also stated that he was a "nominal counterparty" in this transaction.  The filing further stated that the FTX trust and FTX Digital Markets "nonsensically blame" Zhao and crypto exchange Binance, for Sam Bankman-Fried's wrong acts. Zhao stated that the two crypto firms were “briefly business partners,” with Binance holding a 20% stake in FTX before parting ways due to “personal grievances.” He added that the equity was later exchanged for cryptocurrency. Zhao Cites Bankruptcy Court Rules In the latest court filing, Changpeng Zhao argued that serving U.S. counsel on a foreign defendant violates bankruptcy procedures and invalidates the complaint. Zhao, who resides in the UAE, also claimed that U.S. bankruptcy law does not definitively extend to foreign transfers. The filing also notes that FTX trust is attempting to overreach by applying fraudulent transfer claims internationally. Zhao said the constructive fraud accusations fail to meet legal standards under safe harbor provisions. In April, Zhao also rejected accusations of having ties with the US Federal Reserve.  Zhao recently completed a four-month prison term after pleading guilty to U.S. anti-money-laundering violations. On the other hand, FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried is serving a 25-year sentence for fraud and conspiracy.

Highlights

  • Changpeng Zhao highlighted vulnerabilities in traditional DEXs, including front-running, MEV attacks, and market manipulation.
  • He emphasized that transparency in order visibility can expose traders to exploitation, leading to higher costs and risks.
  • This suggestion follows the recent $100 million loss by crypto trader James Wynn.
  • Zhao proposed key features for a dark pool DEX, including concealed order books, delayed visibility of deposits, and advanced cryptographic techniques.

Binance found that Changpeng Zhao (CZ) has demanded the formation of a dark pool perpetual decentralized exchange (DEX) for trading crypto futures. CZ calls it the need for greater privacy for traders using DEXs. Interestingly, this call comes after the recent James Wynn liquidation saga, wherein he said that he’s exposed the corrupt system after losing $100 million over the past week.

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Changpeng Zhao Proposes On-Chain Dark Pool DEX Amid MEV Attacks

In a message on the X platform, Binance founder Zhao suggested the creation of an on-chain dark pool decentralized exchange (DEX) with perpetual contracts. While addressing concerns around transparency and its impact on large-scale trades, CZ also outlines the challenges faced by traders on existing DEXs. Thus, he proposed having a dark pool mechanism for DEXs. Interestingly, this proposal comes soon after crypto trader James Wynn faced liquidations on his massive high-leverage Bitcoin bets, losing $100 million in the process.

The Existing Challenges of the DEX Ecosystem

The Binance founder highlighted some critical drawbacks in the traditional DEX system i.e., the visibility of trades in real-time. Changpen Zhao noted that this creates two major challenges and vulnerabilities:

  • Front-running and MEV Attacks: CZ said that observers can exploit visible orders to execute trades ahead of large buyers, increasing slippage and trading costs.
  • Market Manipulation on Perps: The Binance founder also added that public visibility of liquidation points can lead to coordinated efforts to trigger liquidations, exposing traders to significant risks.

CZ said that, particularly for these reasons, large traders in traditional finance (TradFi) often prefer dark pools. Such private trading venues provide secrecy around order details. While emphasizing the unique risks in perpetual futures trading, the Binance founder said that absolute transparency with further increased vulnerabilities.

Developers on Solana already seem to be working on this as private decentralized exchanges (DEXs) increasingly dominate trading activity within its DeFi ecosystem. Recent data reveals that the majority of Jupiter-routed trades happen through private DEXs.

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Changpeng Zhao: Key Things A Dark Pool DEX Should Have

While sharing his vision of a dark pool decentralized exchange (DEX), Changpeng Zhao proposed a model that prioritized privacy by:

  • Concealing order books or delaying the visibility of deposits into smart contracts.
  • Leveraging advanced cryptographic techniques, such as zero-knowledge (ZK) proofs, to ensure secure and private transactions.

CZ believes such a dark pool DEX will address privacy and security for traders. Changpeng Zhao added that developers should seize this opportunity to build an on-chain dark pool DEX, while catering to large-scale traders.

James Wynn Exposes A Corrupt System

Following massive Bitcoin liquidations and a $100 million loss last week, James Wynn wrote: ” One thing for sure is that I have exposed just how corrupt these markets are. Guess it’s better to just buy and hold $BTC on spot / cold storage it”. However, the crypto traders has been on a roll again, betting on Moonpig.

This episode brings back the spotlight to the internal market-making desks operated by many leading cryptocurrency exchanges. Internal market-making desks provide liquidity by taking the opposite position of a user’s trade. Interestingly, these desks often serve as counterparties to user trades, thereby creating potential conflicts of interest in highly volatile markets.

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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.
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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
Bhushan is a seasoned crypto writer with over eight years of experience spanning more than 10,000 contributions across multiple platforms like CoinGape, CoinSpeaker, Bitcoinist, Crypto News Flash, and others. Being a Fintech enthusiast, he loves reporting across Crypto, Blockchain, DeFi, Global Macros with a keen understanding in financial markets. 

He is committed to continuous learning and stays motivated by sharing the knowledge he acquires. In his free time, Bhushan enjoys reading thriller fiction novels and occasionally explores his culinary skills. Bhushan has a bachelors degree in electronics engineering, however, his interest in finance and economics drives him to crypto and blockchain.
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.