**Yi He’s Remarkable Rise to Leadership at Binance**
*Published Oct. 1, 2025, 1:45 a.m. ET*
In late 2023, Binance underwent a significant leadership change amid heightened regulatory scrutiny. Yi He, co-founder of Binance, stepped up to guide the platform’s operations and steer its future direction.
### From Humble Beginnings to Billionaire Status
Yi He’s journey to becoming a billionaire stems from her 10% stake in Binance. Hailing from Sichuan, China, she faced limited opportunities early in life. These humble beginnings profoundly shaped her approach to business and laid the foundation for Binance’s creation in 2017.
Before co-founding Binance, Yi He played a pivotal role in the success of OKCoin (now OKX), one of China’s leading crypto exchanges. By 2015, OKCoin had captured 60% of the Chinese crypto market under her influence. Her prior achievements translated into Binance’s rapid growth. As a one-person marketing team, Yi drove strategy, partnerships, and branding efforts that helped elevate Binance into the top 10 exchanges by 24-hour trading volume within its first year.
### Breaking Barriers in a Male-Dominated Crypto Industry
The crypto industry remains heavily male-dominated, with women holding only 6% of CEO roles, according to recent reports. In this environment, Yi He has carved a unique path and earned the title of “crypto’s most powerful woman,” as named by Bloomberg.
Industry peers often highlight Yi He’s leadership style as stronger and more accountable compared to Binance CEO CZ, who is viewed as more tech-driven and hype-focused. Her presence has brought a fresh perspective and stability to the company’s leadership.
### Shaping Regulation, Not Just Reacting
Binance’s explosive early growth was partly due to its adaptability and relatively loose regulatory environment. However, under Yi He’s guidance, the company’s stance on regulation has evolved significantly. She regards regulation as a “bridge to mainstream adoption,” which has the potential to bring over 1 billion new users to Binance.
Binance has shifted from simply adapting to global regulations to actively working with governments to shape local frameworks. The relocation of its operations to Dubai marked a turning point, transforming Binance’s image from a disruptive outsider to a strategic partner within the region.
Richard Teng, Binance’s current CEO and a former industry regulator, has been instrumental in this evolution. Together, their leadership has bolstered Binance’s global access — the platform now holds over 21 global licenses and is the only cryptocurrency broker with access to the Brazilian market.
### Driving Mass Adoption of the Binance Ecosystem
Yi He’s vision for cryptocurrency adoption emphasizes practical integration within Binance’s expansive ecosystem. She believes cryptocurrency adoption within traditional financial systems will likely expand over the next decade, with stablecoins playing a central role.
The recently passed GENIUS Act, which regulates stablecoins, is expected to accelerate this trend by providing clearer guidelines for institutions and financial entities. Reflecting on regulatory clarity, Yi He commented, “Crypto isn’t just the future of finance — it’s already reshaping the system, one day at a time.”
With over 280 million users, Binance remains the leading cryptocurrency exchange globally, well-positioned to lead the next wave of adoption. As Dubai aims for 90% cashless transactions, Binance supports this transition through services like Binance Pay, which enables seamless cross-border payments and currency conversions.
These initiatives highlight Yi He’s commitment to simplifying cryptocurrency access as Binance continues to serve over 45% market share in emerging markets.
### A Collaborative Vision for the Future of Finance
Through Yi He’s collaborative approach, Binance is poised to redefine the future of finance. By balancing growth with compliance and pairing innovation with stability across its infrastructure, she has reinforced Binance’s commitment to disruptive technology while advancing a customer-first strategy.
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*Investing involves risk, and your investment may lose value. Past performance is no indication of future results. These statements do not constitute and cannot replace investment advice.*
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