Binance's Unsung Hero: Yi He's Rise to Crypto Prominence

Yi He is an unsung hero in the world of cryptocurrency, but her impact on Binance's success cannot be overstated. As Co-CEO, she oversees a third of Binance's workforce, spanning over 2,000 people in HR, marketing, communications, and customer support.

He's personal journey is just as remarkable. Born in rural Sichuan Province, western China, where higher education was out of reach for most families, her parents borrowed money to fund hers. She grew up with high expectations from her father, who not only pushed her academically but also sent her to training school to study ink wash painting.

After studying, she spent weekends promoting soft drinks outside a supermarket, becoming the top promotion leader within two months. Her career then took an unexpected turn when she became a TV presenter, travelling China as a host for nearly two years.

Her entry into crypto came in 2014 with the co-founding of OKCoin, where she grew its market share in China by 60 percent during a bear market. There, she partnered with Changpeng 'CZ' Zhao, who left the company in 2015 but eventually joined her at Binance.

At Binance, Yi took on marketing and growth while CZ focused on technology. She personally trained the team from day one, driving the strategy that led to a staggering $3 billion in trading volume on December 18, 2017, making Binance the world's largest crypto exchange.