Binance’s CZ in talks with Sam Altman to explore AI investments

Binance founder Changpeng Zhao appears to be eyeing investments in data centers focused on AI as part of his exploration into new investment opportunities.

Ex-Binance boss Changpeng Zhao (CZ) reportedly engaged in multiple discussions with OpenAI CEO Sam Altman as he explores new ventures, despite the potential of facing three years in prison for allegedly permitting various money-laundering schemes on his exchange, the New York Times has learned, citing people familiar with the matter.

The details of Zhao’s talks with Altman remain slim, with the sources only saying that the former Binance head is particularly interested in artificial intelligence. According to the report, Zhao first met Altman in 2023, before stepping down as a chief executive at Binance. After changes in leadership at OpenAI in late November, the people said Zhao and Altman held another round of talks.

In December 2023, Zhao confirmed during a meeting with Ronghui Gu, a computer science professor at Columbia University, that he had communicated with Altman. In an interview with the New York Times, Gu said that Zhao and Altman both “believe that A.I. is going to help a lot in actualizing the development of technology and human knowledge.”

Gu also added that the Binance founder mentioned that he was “looking for opportunities” to invest in the large data centers that power AI applications, though Zhao’s preferred investment target — OpenAI or its rivals — remains unclear.

In an X post in November, Zhao publicly talked about his plans after his legal issues, mentioning his interest in investing in web3, decentralized finance, and artificial intelligence.

“After that, my current thinking is I will probably do some passive investing, being a minority token/shareholder in startups in areas of blockchain/Web3/DeFi, AI and biotech.”

Changpeng Zhao

Meanwhile, U.S. prosecutors seek a 36-month prison sentence for Zhao, citing the severity of his alleged crimes. They argue that such a punishment would deter Zhao and others from flouting U.S. laws for financial gain. Zhao, who pleaded guilty to violating the Bank Secrecy Act in November 2023, currently awaits sentencing, scheduled for Apr. 30. Despite being free on a $175 million bond, his request to travel to Dubai was denied by a U.S. judge due to concerns about his substantial wealth and potential flight risk.