Bitcoin and BNB see gains up to 3% as CZ makes first tweet post-release

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Bitcoin and Binance Coin (BNB) prices increased by up to 3% as Changpeng Zhao’s first tweet after completing his four-month sentence came in. The former Binance CEO’s return to social media has sparked renewed interest in the crypto market.

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— CZ 🔶 BNB (@cz_binance) September 28, 2024

Changpeng Zhao, widely known as CZ, marked his return to social media on September 27 after serving a four-month sentence for failing to maintain an effective Anti-Money Laundering (AML) program at Binance. His brief tweet coincided with a notable uptick in cryptocurrency prices, particularly Bitcoin and BNB, according to data from CoinMarketCap.

Bitcoin, the leading cryptocurrency by market capitalization, saw its value climb to $65,000, representing a 3.2% increase over the past 24 hours. Concurrently, Binance’s native token, BNB, experienced a similar surge, rising 3.1% to reach $610. This coordinated price movement underscores the continued influence of key industry figures on market sentiment.

Analysts from 10x Research predict a strong bull rally in Q4 2024, citing Bitcoin’s recent surge above the $65K level, and the increased attention to altcoin speculation. According to Capriole Investment’s Altcoin Speculation Index, the past month has seen a 13% uptick, with Sei, Wormhole, and Shiba Inu leading gains. Potential Federal Reserve rate cuts could further fuel interest in high-beta altcoins, with several analysts anticipating significant growth in the altcoin market over the coming months.

CZ’s incarceration stemmed from a $4.3 billion settlement between Binance and US authorities in November 2023. The agreement resulted in CZ stepping down as CEO and accepting a personal fine of $50 million. Despite his departure from operational roles, CZ remains a significant shareholder in Binance, holding approximately 64% of the total BNB supply.

Richard Teng, who assumed the role of Binance CEO following CZ’s departure, has maintained that CZ’s shareholder status remains unchanged. However, the plea agreement explicitly prohibits CZ from any involvement in operating or managing the cryptocurrency exchange.

The crypto community’s reaction to CZ’s social media return was swift and positive. His tweet garnered substantial engagement within hours, reflecting the industry’s continued interest in his perspective and future endeavors. This response suggests that despite legal challenges, CZ retains significant influence in the cryptocurrency sector.

Market analysts view the price rally as a testament to the crypto community’s enduring confidence in CZ’s vision and leadership. The positive price action seen in both BTC and BNB reflect how the optimism is retained, even if CZ would now contribute to the industry from a non-operational capacity.

Prior to his sentence, CZ hinted at future interests in decentralized finance (DeFi), blockchain, Web3, artificial intelligence, and biotechnology.

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This article first appeared at Crypto Briefing