Binance He Yi Co-CEO Appointment Marks Historic Leadership Evolution at World’s Largest Crypto Exchange
The cryptocurrency world witnessed a groundbreaking leadership transformation today. Binance announced on stage at Binance Blockchain Week that its co-founder, Yi He, has been appointed Co-CEO. This announcement represents more than a simple leadership change—it signals a new era for the global blockchain ecosystem.
The timing of this appointment couldn’t be more significant. Yi plays a critical role in growing our community and driving product innovation as we work to reach one billion users. As Binance He Yi Co-CEO, she now shares the top leadership role with Richard Teng, creating a dual-leadership structure designed to propel the company through its next phase of exponential growth.
The Strategic Vision Behind the Binance He Yi Co-CEO Appointment
Her innovative and user-focused approach has been instrumental in shaping the company’s vision, culture, and bottom-up business strategy. These words from Richard Teng illuminate why the Binance He Yi Co-CEO promotion represents a natural evolution rather than a surprising shift. She has been the driving force behind many of Binance’s most successful initiatives since the company’s inception.
The new co-leadership structure addresses multiple strategic objectives simultaneously. Binance did not provide details about how the two co-CEOs will divide responsibilities, but it is likely that Teng, a former top regulator in Singapore, will focus on legal and administrative issues. Meanwhile, Yi He, who is known for marketing savvy and working on the front line with customers, will likely handle retail and product operations.
This division leverages each leader’s core strengths. Teng brings decades of regulatory experience from his time in Singapore’s financial sector. Yi He contributes unparalleled marketing expertise and an intimate understanding of user needs. Together, they form a complementary partnership designed to tackle both regulatory compliance and user experience excellence.
Who Is He Yi? The Remarkable Journey to Binance Leadership
Understanding the Binance He Yi Co-CEO appointment requires examining her extraordinary background. A former TV host, Yi He ascended from poverty in China, where she drew water from a well and frequently relied on kerosene for electricity. Her transformation from rural poverty to cryptocurrency billionaire exemplifies the transformative power of determination and strategic thinking.
Her educational foundation proved crucial to her later success. She holds a Master’s degree in Psychology from the Chinese Academy of Sciences. This background in psychology would later prove invaluable in understanding user behavior and developing effective marketing strategies.
Before entering the crypto space, Yi worked as a TV editor for three years, which helped her develop communication and marketing skills. Her television career wasn’t merely a stepping stone—it was foundational training that shaped her approach to public engagement and brand building.
The OKCoin Era: Building Crypto Industry Expertise
The path to becoming Binance He Yi Co-CEO began with her entry into cryptocurrency in 2014. Yi He is a longtime veteran of the crypto scene in Asia, working at the exchange OKX (then OKCoin) in 2014, where she recruited Zhao to be the company’s chief technology officer. This detail reveals her talent for identifying exceptional leadership potential.
Her OKCoin experience provided essential cryptocurrency industry knowledge. During this period, she developed deep expertise in exchange operations, user acquisition strategies, and the complex regulatory landscape surrounding digital assets. These skills would prove instrumental when she later co-founded Binance.
Interestingly, the professional relationship between Yi He and CZ began with her recruiting him, not the other way around. This demonstrates her early ability to spot talent and build winning teams—qualities that continue to serve her well as Binance He Yi Co-CEO.
Founding Binance: From Startup to Global Dominance
Zhao in turn recruited Yi He when he started Binance in 2017, helping to build the company into the world’s largest exchange in a little over a year. The reciprocal nature of their professional relationship laid the foundation for a partnership built on mutual respect and complementary skills.
The decision to join Binance represented a significant risk for Yi He. She agreed to offer her services for free. This willingness to work without immediate compensation demonstrates her confidence in the Binance vision and her commitment to building something revolutionary.
The rise of Binance has been meteoric. In five short years the firm has ballooned into a global behemoth with 5,000 employees and 90m users. Her role in this extraordinary growth cannot be overstated.
Overcoming Industry Challenges and Personal Scrutiny
The journey to Binance He Yi Co-CEO status hasn’t been without obstacles. The new C-suite arrangement is the latest twist in a tumultuous few years for Binance. The company has navigated regulatory challenges, leadership changes, and intense scrutiny from authorities worldwide.
In 2023, Zhao agreed to plead guilty to U.S. charges that he failed to implement proper anti-money laundering controls, while Binance agreed to pay a record $4 billion fine. During this challenging period, Yi He’s leadership became even more crucial to maintaining company stability and user confidence.
Personal scrutiny has also been a challenge. Yi He’s appointment as co-CEO may, though, also give rise to scrutiny as she has children with Zhao, who is currently barred by a U.S. legal settlement from having an active role at the company. However, she has addressed these concerns directly.
My personal life is independent from my professional life. My achievements and capabilities as co-founder are often overlooked with my personal life in question. This statement reflects her determination to be judged on professional merit rather than personal relationships.
Revolutionary Leadership in a Male-Dominated Industry
The Binance He Yi Co-CEO appointment carries special significance for gender representation in cryptocurrency. Yi He’s appointment is notable as a rare woman to lead a cryptocurrency company. Her elevation to co-CEO status breaks important barriers in an industry that remains heavily male-dominated.
Today, she is a multi-billionaire thanks to owning an estimated 10% of Binance. This substantial ownership stake reflects both her foundational role in the company and the value she has created through her leadership.
Her success serves as inspiration for other women in technology and finance. The visibility of her role as Binance He Yi Co-CEO demonstrates that women can achieve the highest levels of leadership in the cryptocurrency industry.
Strategic Focus Areas for the New Co-CEO Structure
As Binance He Yi Co-CEO, her focus areas align with the company’s ambitious growth objectives. He also added that the co-CEO model strengthens Binance’s long-term governance as it continues scaling in regulated markets while targeting 1 Billion users.
User experience remains a central priority. User protection remains the company’s “central priority,” Teng said, announcing that Binance prevented almost $7 billion in potential scams in 2025, safeguarding an estimated 9 million users. This commitment to user safety reflects the values that both co-CEOs bring to their leadership roles.
Innovation continues to drive the company forward. Teng also outlined new AI-driven initiatives aimed at simplifying trading and improving user experience, and unveiled Binance Junior, a supervised app designed for users aged 6–17 to learn digital finance responsibly. These initiatives demonstrate how the co-CEO structure enables Binance to pursue multiple strategic priorities simultaneously.
Building Trust Through Transparent Leadership
The Binance He Yi Co-CEO structure emphasizes transparency and collaborative decision-making. I am honored to build alongside Richard, who brings decades of experience in regulated financial markets and was among the first to regulate crypto in its early days. This statement reflects her respect for Teng’s expertise and their shared commitment to responsible growth.
Together, we bring diverse perspectives and are confident in leading the future of the industry during this pivotal time, as we responsibly expand our global presence and drive sustainable innovation with our users always at the center. This vision statement encapsulates their joint leadership philosophy.
Global Expansion and Regulatory Compliance
During Teng’s tenure as CEO, Binance has sought to implement tougher compliance measures and secured numerous key licenses around the world. The Binance He Yi Co-CEO structure builds on this foundation while adding her expertise in user engagement and market development.
Together with Teng, “Yi will guide Binance through its next phase of development as we strengthen our global regulatory foundations and continue building a trusted, transparent, and responsible platform for digital assets”. This commitment to regulatory compliance represents a mature approach to sustainable growth.
Market Position and Competitive Advantages
Despite the tumult, Binance has maintained its role as the dominant cryptocurrency platform in the world, and has continued to expand both its global footprint and its product line. The Binance He Yi Co-CEO appointment comes from a position of strength rather than crisis management.
The company’s market dominance provides a solid foundation for future growth. Binance has nearly 300 million users who trust us for upholding our core values; looking after their interests, protections and security. This massive user base represents both an achievement and a responsibility.
Looking Toward the Future
The Binance He Yi Co-CEO appointment signals ambitious plans for the future. Together, the pair transformed Binance from a small startup in China into a global exchange with nearly 300 million users worldwide. Their track record suggests they can successfully navigate the challenges ahead.
The co-leadership model provides stability during a period of rapid industry evolution. With regulatory frameworks still developing and new technologies emerging constantly, having two experienced leaders with complementary skills positions Binance well for continued success.
The appointment also reflects Binance’s commitment to sustainable growth. Rather than focusing solely on short-term metrics, the co-CEO structure enables long-term strategic planning that considers regulatory requirements, user needs, and technological innovation.
Conclusion: A New Chapter in Cryptocurrency Leadership
The Binance He Yi Co-CEO appointment represents more than a corporate restructuring—it marks the beginning of a new chapter in cryptocurrency leadership. Her journey from rural poverty to co-leading the world’s largest crypto exchange demonstrates the transformative potential of the digital asset revolution.
As she assumes her new role, the entire cryptocurrency industry will be watching. Her success as Binance He Yi Co-CEO could inspire a new generation of women to pursue leadership roles in blockchain technology and digital finance.
The co-leadership structure with Richard Teng creates a powerful combination of regulatory expertise and user-focused innovation. Together, they are positioned to guide Binance through whatever challenges and opportunities lie ahead in the rapidly evolving world of digital assets.
This appointment comes at a pivotal moment for both Binance and the broader cryptocurrency industry. With regulatory clarity increasing and institutional adoption accelerating, the timing couldn’t be better for experienced leadership to guide the company’s next phase of growth.
The Binance He Yi Co-CEO story is far from over—it’s just beginning a new and potentially transformative chapter.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Yi He and why was she appointed as Binance Co-CEO?
Yi He is Binance’s co-founder who has been instrumental in the company’s growth since 2017. She was appointed Co-CEO due to her extensive experience in marketing, user engagement, and strategic leadership that helped build Binance into the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange.
How will responsibilities be divided between the two Binance Co-CEOs?
Richard Teng will likely focus on regulatory compliance and legal matters given his background as a former Singapore regulator, while Yi He will handle user operations, marketing, and product innovation based on her expertise in these areas.
What is Yi He’s background before joining the cryptocurrency industry?
Yi He has a Master’s degree in Psychology and worked as a TV host and editor before entering crypto in 2014 at OKCoin (now OKX). She grew up in rural China and overcame significant financial hardships to achieve success.
What challenges has Binance faced recently that led to this leadership change?
Binance paid a $4 billion fine to U.S. authorities in 2023, and former CEO CZ stepped down after pleading guilty to anti-money laundering violations. The co-CEO structure aims to strengthen governance and regulatory compliance.
How does Yi He’s appointment impact women’s representation in cryptocurrency?
Her appointment as Binance Co-CEO is significant as she becomes one of the few women leading a major cryptocurrency company, potentially inspiring more women to pursue leadership roles in the blockchain industry.
What are Binance’s goals under the new co-CEO structure?
The co-CEO structure aims to help Binance reach one billion users while strengthening regulatory compliance, expanding globally, and continuing innovation in cryptocurrency and blockchain technology.
What is Yi He’s ownership stake in Binance?
Yi He reportedly owns at least 10% of Binance, making her a multi-billionaire and reflecting her significant role as a co-founder in building the company’s value over time.
