Binance Founder CZ Links UAE Recognition of Bitcoin as Store of Value
Changpeng Zhao, founder and former CEO of Binance, claims to have played a small role in the UAE's recognition of Bitcoin as a store of value comparable to gold.
The announcement comes after years of growing national exposure to cryptocurrencies, with mining operations and sovereign ETF holdings exceeding $1 billion.
Zhao relocated to Dubai in 2021 and has connections to prominent figures in the region, coinciding with a significant expansion of the country's cryptocurrency activity.
The UAE's Bitcoin accumulation took two distinct paths: Abu Dhabi's royal family entered Bitcoin mining through its affiliated firm, Citadel Mining, producing an estimated $453.6 million in BTC.