Binance founder CZ appeals for US and China aid after $6.3B hack, warns of AI cyber risks
In his first interview following Binance's $6.3 billion breach, founder Changpeng Zhao said he has not spoken to Washington officials, urged the U.S. and China to engage North Korea, and warned that surging AI capabilities threaten both crypto and banking security.
Speaking on Talking Tokens with Jacqueline Melinek in his first interview since Binance suffered a $6.3 billion breach, founder Changpeng Zhao said he has not spoken with President Donald Trump or anyone in Washington about the incident. Zhao noted that he, Binance, and the broader industry would welcome assistance from the U.S. government, suggesting that the United States and China are the parties best positioned to open diplomatic discussions with North Korea regarding the stolen assets.[10][11][13][6][12]
Zhao also issued broader warnings regarding the escalating risk that artificial intelligence poses to the global financial system. Automated tools are lowering the technical barrier for executing complex breaches, Zhao noted, even though investigators found no evidence that AI agents were used to launder the stolen Binance funds. Pointing out that four separate crypto exchange hacks took place on the preceding day alone, Zhao warned that the speed of attacks will accelerate, security systems built prior to AI may prove insufficient, and traditional banks may ultimately be more vulnerable to cyberattacks than cryptocurrency exchanges.[1][7][3][8][9][5][12]
Despite the scale of the theft, Zhao highlighted an unexpected degree of unity across the cryptocurrency sector, stating that competing exchanges set rivalries aside to assist Binance during the breach. While Zhao remarked that most peer platforms are generally friendly, he added that even competitors that have not always had smooth relationships with Binance stepped forward to help when it mattered.[2][4]
Key facts
- Changpeng Zhao said in a Talking Tokens interview that he has not spoken to President Donald Trump or any Washington officials regarding Binance's $6.3 billion hack.
- Zhao stated that the U.S. and China are likely the only parties capable of engaging North Korea to help recover stolen funds.
- Investigators found no evidence that AI agents laundered the stolen Binance funds, but Zhao stressed that automated tools are lowering barriers to complex breaches.
- Zhao warned that AI-driven cyber threats pose risks across the financial system and said banks may be more vulnerable to cyberattacks than crypto exchanges.
- Zhao reported that four crypto exchange hacks occurred on the day preceding the interview and warned attack speeds will increase due to strong AI capabilities.
- Competing crypto exchanges, including some historically unfriendly toward Binance, assisted the company through the breach.
Sources · 9 sources
- CO
CoindeskArticle ·
CZ warns of more AI-driven hacks following Binance’s historic $6.3 billion heist While investigators found no evidence that AI agents laundered the stolen Binance funds, Zhao stressed that automated tools are lowering the barrier for complex breaches.
Open source - CB
Crypto BriefingArticle ·
CZ says rival exchanges helped Binance through its breach The cooperation among rival exchanges highlights the necessity for collective security measures, impacting trust and stability in the crypto market. The post CZ says rival exchanges helped Binance through its breach appeared first on Crypto Briefing .
Open source - WG
Watcher.Guru@WatcherGuruPost on X ·
JUST IN: Binance founder CZ says banks may be more vulnerable to cyberattacks than crypto exchanges.
Open source - CO
CoinDesk@CoinDeskPost on X ·
Crypto’s rivalries took a back seat when it mattered, according to @cz_binance. He says competing exchanges, including some that haven’t always been friendly with @Binance, came to help. https://t.co/OoQSPVMEQ1
Open source - CO
CoinDesk@CoinDeskPost on X ·
INSIGHT: Security systems built before AI may not be enough going forward, says @Binance founder @cz_binance. He says there’s significant work ahead for both Binance and the wider crypto industry. https://t.co/grXh8bTN6K
Open source - KC
Kalshi Crypto@Kalshi_CryptoPost on X ·
JUST IN: Binance Founder CZ says he has not spoken to President Trump about the hack
Open source - *B
*Walter Bloomberg@DeItaonePost on X ·
*CZ WARNS AI-DRIVEN CYBER THREATS POSE RISKS TO GLOBAL FINANCIAL SYSTEM *CZ SAYS BANKS MAY BE MORE VULNERABLE TO CYBERATTACKS THAN CRYPTO EXCHANGES
Open source - KC
Kalshi Crypto@Kalshi_CryptoPost on X ·
JUST IN: Binance Founder CZ says banks are more vulnerable to cyberattacks than crypto exchanges
Open source - CO
CoinDesk@CoinDeskPost on X ·
AI is raising the stakes for banks and crypto alike, claims @cz_binance. He says AI is increasing attack capabilities across the board, effectively merging the two industries’ risk profiles. https://t.co/zS1esIDvth
Open source - CB
Crypto Banter@crypto_banterPost on X ·
🚨CZ: THE U.S. OR CHINA ARE THE ONES WHO CAN TALK TO NORTH KOREA! @cz_binance in his first interview since the Binance hack, on Talking Tokens with @JacqMelinek says he has not spoken to President Trump or anyone in Washington about the hack. He, @binance, and the industry would love help from the U.S. government. If there’s anybody who can talk to North Korea, it’s probably the U.S. or China.
Open source - DN
DEGEN NEWS@DegenerateNewsPost on X ·
NEW: @cz_binance SAYS HE HAS "NOT SPOKEN TO PRESIDENT TRUMP OR ANYONE IN WASHINGTON" ABOUT THE @binance HACK "IF THERE'S ANYBODY WHO CAN TALK TO NORTH KOREA, THAT'S PROBABLY... U.S. AND CHINA" "WE WOULD LOVE TO GET SOME HELP" https://t.co/ili7NPkkoB
Open source - DN
DEGEN NEWS@DegenerateNewsPost on X ·
NEW: @cz_binance SAYS "YESTERDAY THERE WAS FOUR DIFFERENT HACKS, CRYPTO EXCHANGE HACKS" "THE SPEED OF HACKING IS GONNA PICK UP BECAUSE THE AI CAPABILITIES ARE SO STRONG NOW" "THE ONLY WAY TO FIGHT A MONSTER IS TO KIND OF BECOME THAT MONSTER" https://t.co/H3psMUcZOH
Open source - BS
BSCN@BSCNewsPost on X ·
CZ Calls on the US and China to Help Recover Binance’s Stolen Money Former @Binance CEO CZ has asked the United States and China to open diplomatic lines with North Korea to help recover assets stolen in the Binance hack. He denied making any behind-the-scenes contact with President Donald Trump or other American officials about the hack. “If there's anybody who can talk to North Korea, that's probably... the U.S. and China,” Zhao mentioned. This suggests that government-level assistance may be the only practical way to retrieve money from state-supported hackers. “We would love to get some help,” he said.
Open source