Binance’s CZ Sees Crypto Role in AI and Japan’s Web3 Push

Binance founder Changpeng Zhao (CZ) says crypto could become essential infrastructure for AI payments, while Japan’s proposed tax changes may support Web3 investment. In a PIVOT interview published on 24 October 2026, CZ recalled that building trading systems in Tokyo influenced Binance’s technology. He also said Binance voluntarily paid $6 million to affected users in 2017, about 40% of its reserves at the time. CZ welcomed Japan’s proposal to cut the tax rate on crypto gains to around 20%, from rates as high as 55%, saying clearer rules could attract capital and founders. He identified stablecoins and real-world asset (RWA) tokenisation as areas of international competition. CZ also discussed his four-month prison sentence after a US Bank Secrecy Act conviction, describing the case as involving compliance failures rather than fraud or user losses. Since leaving the Binance CEO role, he has focused on Giggle Academy, a free AI-supported education platform that he says has reached two million children; he invests about $5 million a year in it. Looking ahead, CZ argued that autonomous AI agents may need crypto for fast, small-value payments that traditional banking may not readily handle. The comments add to a long-term adoption case for crypto, but the interview announced no Binance product or policy changes and does not present an immediate market catalyst.