Post
Wendyy_
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What Helped Yi He, the “Queen of Crypto,” Build the Binance Empire?
Behind Binance’s rise to the top of the crypto world, most people immediately think of Changpeng Zhao. Yet, standing quietly at the center of many decisive moments is Yi He — a co-founder who rarely seeks the spotlight, but consistently steps forward when the stakes are highest.
When Binance faced regulatory storms and relentless media scrutiny, Yi He was the one managing crises, stabilizing operations, and steering the exchange through its most fragile periods. To understand how Binance grew into a multi-billion-dollar empire, it’s impossible to overlook her journey, mindset, and leadership philosophy.
The Starting Line: Yi He’s Early Life
Yi He was born in a poor rural area of Sichuan, China. Electricity and clean water were scarce, and her father passed away early, leaving the family in difficult circumstances. His greatest legacy, however, was not money, but a bookshelf. As a teacher, he left behind a personal library that became Yi He’s window to the outside world.
While other children were confined to farm work, Yi He immersed herself in books. That habit shaped her independence of thought and her refusal to accept limitations imposed by background or circumstance.
Initially, she followed her mother’s wishes and studied education, preparing to become a teacher. But her curiosity and creative instinct pulled her elsewhere. On a whim, she auditioned for a television host role. Despite lacking formal training, her natural presence and sharp thinking earned her the job, transforming a rural schoolteacher into a familiar face on a travel-focused TV channel.
Her early life delivered a simple lesson she would repeat many times later: credentials don’t define how far you can go — attitude and timing do.
Entering Crypto Before It Was Popular
In 2013, when Bitcoin was hovering near $1,000 and widely dismissed as a scam, Yi He saw something different. Through a chance meeting with early crypto investors, she was invited to join OKCoin as Head of Marketing, at the time one of China’s largest Bitcoin exchanges.
Choosing crypto in 2013 meant stepping into uncertainty. For Yi He, that risk was precisely the opportunity. It was a space where early movers could define the rules instead of following them.
It was also at OKCoin that she met Changpeng Zhao. In 2014, Yi He, already a rising star within the company, hired CZ as CTO. At that time, he was just another engineer looking for traction.
Their paths crossed again in 2017, when CZ left to build Binance. Knowing he lacked marketing and community-building strength, he approached Yi He for help. Her response became legendary: “I’m expensive. You can’t afford me.”
Only after CZ persistently demonstrated the potential of Binance and BNB, just before the ICO, did Yi He agree — with one condition: “Go build it. I’ll handle the rest.”
Although never legally married, Yi He and CZ became life partners in every practical sense, raising three children together while running one of the most intense businesses in crypto. Their bond formed what many insiders describe as a “steel alliance”: CZ focused on systems and strategy, Yi He on people, execution, and growth.
Yi He’s Role in Binance’s Ascent
If CZ is the architect, Yi He is the operator. She is known for stepping directly into daily execution, handling internal coordination, culture, and crisis management. Titles matter little to her. As she once put it, leadership is defined by who stands at the front when the storm hits.
Binance’s dominance is not only the product of code or trading engines. Much of it comes from Yi He’s ability to align teams, maintain morale under pressure, and keep the organization close to its users even during existential threats.
Over time, the crypto community began to recognize her as one of the most influential women in the industry. While her exact net worth is undisclosed, reports from major outlets suggest she controls at least 10% of Binance’s equity.
In December 2025, Yi He was officially appointed Co-CEO alongside Richard Teng, marking her formal return to the executive forefront after CZ stepped down. Alongside this role, she continues to oversee YZi Labs, formerly known as Binance Labs.
Life Philosophy: How Yi He Thinks About Success
Growing up with nothing gave Yi He an unusual advantage: she is not afraid of losing. She has often referenced the idea of “mimetic desire,” the belief that most suffering comes from chasing dreams borrowed from others. For her, winning is a bonus. Failure is an expected part of progress.
She views crypto as a chessboard. You can lose pieces, but you must never lose conviction.
Yi He is equally uncompromising in her personal life. She returned to work almost immediately after childbirth, openly rejecting the idea that motherhood and ambition must conflict. To her, both career and family are deliberate choices, not sacrifices imposed by circumstance.
In relationships, she believes only strong individuals can walk together for the long term. It is a pragmatic, unapologetic worldview — fitting for someone often described as crypto’s queen, carrying both power and pressure in equal measure.
A Journey Defined by Responsibility
By conventional standards, Yi He started from a disadvantage: rural poverty, early loss, and no elite credentials. Yet she repeatedly chose uncertainty over comfort — leaving teaching, entering crypto early, and standing firm during Binance’s most dangerous moments.
What separates Yi He is not wealth or title, but perspective. She doesn’t complain about starting points or wait for permission. She accepts risk and takes responsibility for outcomes.
In an industry as unforgiving as crypto, where late arrivals are quickly forgotten, Yi He’s story offers a clear reminder: no one remains invisible forever if they are persistent, resilient, and clear-minded enough to see the path through to the end.
How do you view the path Yi He has chosen — and her way of surviving, and thriving, in one of the most volatile industries in the world?
#Binance #wendy #YiHe $BTC $ETH $BNB
When Binance faced regulatory storms and relentless media scrutiny, Yi He was the one managing crises, stabilizing operations, and steering the exchange through its most fragile periods. To understand how Binance grew into a multi-billion-dollar empire, it’s impossible to overlook her journey, mindset, and leadership philosophy.
The Starting Line: Yi He’s Early Life
Yi He was born in a poor rural area of Sichuan, China. Electricity and clean water were scarce, and her father passed away early, leaving the family in difficult circumstances. His greatest legacy, however, was not money, but a bookshelf. As a teacher, he left behind a personal library that became Yi He’s window to the outside world.
While other children were confined to farm work, Yi He immersed herself in books. That habit shaped her independence of thought and her refusal to accept limitations imposed by background or circumstance.
Initially, she followed her mother’s wishes and studied education, preparing to become a teacher. But her curiosity and creative instinct pulled her elsewhere. On a whim, she auditioned for a television host role. Despite lacking formal training, her natural presence and sharp thinking earned her the job, transforming a rural schoolteacher into a familiar face on a travel-focused TV channel.
Her early life delivered a simple lesson she would repeat many times later: credentials don’t define how far you can go — attitude and timing do.
Entering Crypto Before It Was Popular
In 2013, when Bitcoin was hovering near $1,000 and widely dismissed as a scam, Yi He saw something different. Through a chance meeting with early crypto investors, she was invited to join OKCoin as Head of Marketing, at the time one of China’s largest Bitcoin exchanges.
Choosing crypto in 2013 meant stepping into uncertainty. For Yi He, that risk was precisely the opportunity. It was a space where early movers could define the rules instead of following them.
It was also at OKCoin that she met Changpeng Zhao. In 2014, Yi He, already a rising star within the company, hired CZ as CTO. At that time, he was just another engineer looking for traction.
Their paths crossed again in 2017, when CZ left to build Binance. Knowing he lacked marketing and community-building strength, he approached Yi He for help. Her response became legendary: “I’m expensive. You can’t afford me.”
Only after CZ persistently demonstrated the potential of Binance and BNB, just before the ICO, did Yi He agree — with one condition: “Go build it. I’ll handle the rest.”
Although never legally married, Yi He and CZ became life partners in every practical sense, raising three children together while running one of the most intense businesses in crypto. Their bond formed what many insiders describe as a “steel alliance”: CZ focused on systems and strategy, Yi He on people, execution, and growth.
Yi He’s Role in Binance’s Ascent
If CZ is the architect, Yi He is the operator. She is known for stepping directly into daily execution, handling internal coordination, culture, and crisis management. Titles matter little to her. As she once put it, leadership is defined by who stands at the front when the storm hits.
Binance’s dominance is not only the product of code or trading engines. Much of it comes from Yi He’s ability to align teams, maintain morale under pressure, and keep the organization close to its users even during existential threats.
Over time, the crypto community began to recognize her as one of the most influential women in the industry. While her exact net worth is undisclosed, reports from major outlets suggest she controls at least 10% of Binance’s equity.
In December 2025, Yi He was officially appointed Co-CEO alongside Richard Teng, marking her formal return to the executive forefront after CZ stepped down. Alongside this role, she continues to oversee YZi Labs, formerly known as Binance Labs.
Life Philosophy: How Yi He Thinks About Success
Growing up with nothing gave Yi He an unusual advantage: she is not afraid of losing. She has often referenced the idea of “mimetic desire,” the belief that most suffering comes from chasing dreams borrowed from others. For her, winning is a bonus. Failure is an expected part of progress.
She views crypto as a chessboard. You can lose pieces, but you must never lose conviction.
Yi He is equally uncompromising in her personal life. She returned to work almost immediately after childbirth, openly rejecting the idea that motherhood and ambition must conflict. To her, both career and family are deliberate choices, not sacrifices imposed by circumstance.
In relationships, she believes only strong individuals can walk together for the long term. It is a pragmatic, unapologetic worldview — fitting for someone often described as crypto’s queen, carrying both power and pressure in equal measure.
A Journey Defined by Responsibility
By conventional standards, Yi He started from a disadvantage: rural poverty, early loss, and no elite credentials. Yet she repeatedly chose uncertainty over comfort — leaving teaching, entering crypto early, and standing firm during Binance’s most dangerous moments.
What separates Yi He is not wealth or title, but perspective. She doesn’t complain about starting points or wait for permission. She accepts risk and takes responsibility for outcomes.
In an industry as unforgiving as crypto, where late arrivals are quickly forgotten, Yi He’s story offers a clear reminder: no one remains invisible forever if they are persistent, resilient, and clear-minded enough to see the path through to the end.
How do you view the path Yi He has chosen — and her way of surviving, and thriving, in one of the most volatile industries in the world?
#Binance #wendy #YiHe $BTC $ETH $BNB
Disclaimer: Includes third-party opinions. No financial advice. May include sponsored content. See T&Cs.