The cryptocurrency space is no stranger to influencers leveraging their clout to spark speculative frenzies. The latest to be caught in this storm is former Binance CEO Changpeng “CZ” Zhao, who now faces criticism for allegedly exploiting his followers for personal gain.
Over the past few days, CZ stirred excitement within the crypto community by teasing the idea of revealing his dog’s name and picture, encouraging the creation of a memecoin inspired by it. While this move was reportedly in response to community requests, the fallout has been chaotic. Critics now accuse CZ of orchestrating a marketing stunt to drive activity on the BNB Chain, reigniting concerns over ethical practices in the crypto industry.
A vocal detractor, an X user known as “Crypto Zen Master,” lashed out at CZ’s actions, describing them as self-serving. A translated excerpt of the critique read: “CZ’s starting point is selfish. He will do anything to achieve his goal. He stepped on everyone’s bones to revitalize BSC, and the bricks and tiles of the Build were made with everyone’s corpses.”
Congrats @cz_binance, you managed to outdone yourself. This is beyond stupid. pic.twitter.com/HhKqFuXpCG
— Kevin Lee (@kevinlee_gate) February 13, 2025
The controversy escalated when CZ finally unveiled his Belgian Malinois, named Broccoli. Within moments, a flood of broccoli-themed memecoins appeared on memecoin launch platforms such as Solana’s pump.fun and BNB’s four.meme. Predictably, many of these projects turned out to be short-lived, with most collapsing in what appeared to be rug pulls.
“Zero Experience”
In response to the backlash, CZ acknowledged the criticism, admitting that he aimed to boost BNB network activity but insisting that he had “zero experience” in launching memecoins. When challenged further, he quipped, “So, memes are not purely community-driven?”—a remark that only fueled further debate.
Also Read: BNB Coin Price Reclaims $700: Will Binance Lead the Altcoin Market Rally This Month?
As yet another memecoin controversy unfolds, it raises pressing questions about accountability in the crypto space. Will influencers continue to capitalize on their massive followings with impunity, or will the market eventually push back against these recurring speculative schemes? For now, the cycle of hype and disillusionment in the memecoin sector shows no sign of slowing down.
Disclaimer: The information in this article is for general purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. The author’s views are personal and may not reflect the views of Chain Affairs. Before making any investment decisions, you should always conduct your own research. Chain Affairs is not responsible for any financial losses.
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