CZ Zhao Calls Out Europe and Rolls Out Global Education Plan

Changpeng “CZ” Zhao, co-founder of Binance and one of the most influential figures in the crypto industry, outlined an ambitious global education initiative while speaking at Token2049 in Dubai. Alongside expressing concern over Europe’s lackluster crypto adoption, Zhao introduced Giggle Academy, a free online education platform designed to reach hundreds of millions of students globally. Combining gamified learning with generative AI, the platform aims to offer K–12 and entrepreneurial education to children worldwide, reflecting Zhao’s post-Binance pivot toward philanthropic and technological innovation. CZ Zhao Calls Out Europe’s Crypto Inaction Amid Rising Global Digital Asset Strategies Changpeng “CZ” Zhao , the former CEO of Binance and one of the most influential voices in the crypto industry, issued sharp criticism of Europe’s sluggish pace in adopting digital currencies during his appearance at the Token2049 conference in Dubai on April 30. Speaking to a packed audience of blockchain enthusiasts, investors, and policymakers, Zhao contrasted the proactive approach of countries like the United Arab Emirates and Bhutan with what he described as Europe’s “nowhere” trajectory in the digital asset landscape. “I don’t see Europe in this discussion,” said Zhao, emphasizing a glaring absence of serious crypto reserve strategy in most of the continent. While the European Union has made strides in regulatory oversight—most notably with the phased rollout of the Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) framework—Zhao suggested that regulation alone isn’t enough. He argued that Europe’s failure to engage meaningfully in discussions around state-backed crypto reserves, national Bitcoin or Ether stockpiles, and blockchain-driven innovation leaves it behind in the rapidly evolving global race for digital finance leadership. Montenegro: A Lone European Exception Zhao highlighted Montenegro as a rare bright spot, crediting its forward-thinking leadership and active dialogue with crypto firms. “Montenegro is actually quite pro-crypto,” he said, noting that the country’s Prime Minister had engaged directly with him and Binance in past initiatives to establish blockchain hubs and explore central bank digital currency (CBDC) frameworks. Montenegro has long positioned itself as a regional outlier, even proposing pilot projects related to crypto settlements and attracting blockchain startups with tax incentives. In contrast, most of the rest of Europe, said Zhao, remains absent from meaningful crypto adoption strategies—especially those involving crypto reserves or treasury diversification. Zhao praised Dubai and the broader United Arab Emirates for being “extremely pro-business,” attributing the region’s surge in crypto adoption to clear regulatory structures, innovation-friendly governance, and willingness to work directly with the industry. Zhao also pointed to Bhutan as another surprising leader in the space. The Himalayan nation, known for its cautious approach to modernization, has quietly been building reserves of Bitcoin and Ether as part of its sovereign investment strategy. These national holdings, though not officially disclosed in detail, reflect an early understanding of crypto’s role as a treasury diversification asset—a move that many larger economies have yet to embrace. Europe’s Hesitation and the US Influence While Europe has made progress on regulatory clarity, such as MiCA’s ongoing rollout since December 2024, the continent’s central banks and political leadership remain largely resistant to the idea of holding crypto as a reserve asset. In January, the Czech National Bank acknowledged evaluating Bitcoin but cited its “significant volatility” as a primary deterrent. Zhao’s appearance in Dubai marked one of his most high-profile public statements since his resignation from Binance in November 2023, a move that came as part of a plea deal with US authorities following enforcement actions against the crypto exchange. Despite stepping back from the executive spotlight, Zhao remains deeply influential. His voice, as heard at Token2049, continues to shape the dialogue around global crypto adoption and policy. Token2049: A Gathering of Crypto Powerhouses The Token2049 conference in Dubai continues to serve as a focal point for crypto innovation, bringing together top executives, policymakers, and thought leaders. In addition to Zhao, this year’s speaker list includes Binance’s current CEO Richard Teng and Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino. With industry titans sharing the stage and regulatory topics taking center focus, Token2049 has underscored one clear message: regions that fail to engage seriously with digital assets risk being left behind. CZ Zhao Sets Sights on Educating a Billion Children for Free with Giggle Academy In related news, Zhao has also unveiled an ambitious mission to reshape global education: delivering free, gamified learning to as many as a billion children worldwide. Speaking at the Token2049 conference, Zhao laid out his vision for Giggle Academy, an online platform he says could democratize access to foundational and entrepreneurial education using today’s most engaging digital tools. “In a few years, I think, I want to teach 100 million or 1 billion kids for free,” Zhao told the crowd, adding that technological advancements, particularly in gamification and AI, make this goal not only achievable but scalable. Giggle Academy’s core offering is a free K-12 curriculum delivered through a mobile app, with early emphasis on making education as captivating as mobile gaming. By leveraging interactivity and gamified learning mechanics, the platform hopes to ”glue kids to the device” in a way that promotes not just screen time, but productive, skill-building engagement. While the initial phase of Giggle Academy is focused on elementary and high school education, Zhao emphasized that the platform will expand to cover non-traditional subjects often omitted from standard curricula. These include: Entrepreneurship and negotiation Finance and accounting Sales and legal fundamentals Blockchain and artificial intelligence Giggle’s concept paper , released earlier this year, outlines a phased rollout designed to fill the gaps in conventional education systems while catering to the emerging demands of a digital-first generation. Now based in Dubai, Zhao has re-emerged not as a corporate titan, but as a tech philanthropist intent on using his wealth and network to address educational inequality—an issue he believes can be tackled at scale through technology. AI Takes the Lead in Curriculum Development Zhao’s remarks in Dubai echoed a broader trend in education: the growing reliance on generative AI to build and deliver learning content. He revealed that Giggle Academy makes extensive use of AI tools to create course materials, customize learning paths, and even generate interactive narratives for students. This AI-driven approach puts Giggle at the forefront of a fast-expanding educational movement. In Japan, the Ministry of Education approved the use of generative AI tools like ChatGPT in classrooms in 2023. In India, an AI-powered humanoid teacher debuted at the KTCT Higher Secondary School in Kerala in early 2024. Elsewhere, former Tesla and OpenAI executive Andrej Karpathy launched Eureka Labs, a startup dedicated to developing AI-powered teaching assistants capable of delivering expert-level instruction in multiple languages. His vision mirrors Zhao’s, with both aiming to create a future where access to quality education is no longer restricted by borders, wealth, or infrastructure. From Billionaire to Builder of Billions of Minds Zhao’s transition from crypto mogul to educational reformer might seem surprising, but for those familiar with his long-term views, it aligns with his broader belief in freedom through knowledge and technology. Giggle Academy represents a full-circle moment: an effort to harness the tools, capital, and community of the crypto era to empower the next generation—not with tokens, but with transformational learning. If Zhao succeeds in reaching even a fraction of his target, Giggle Academy could become one of the largest-scale educational projects ever undertaken—one born not from government, but from the decentralized ethos of the crypto community.