In one of the biggest leadership updates in the crypto world, Binance has officially appointed its co-founder Yi He as Co-CEO, working alongside current CEO Richard Teng.
This announcement was made during Binance Blockchain Week in Dubai, and it marks a major turning point for the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange. The update comes at a time when Binance is close to reaching nearly 300 million users worldwide, and the company continues to strengthen its global presence.
Yi He’s new position highlights her long journey with Binance and her major contribution to shaping the company into what it is today. Her promotion reflects Binance’s focus on innovation, user experience, and responsible growth in a highly competitive and fast-moving crypto industry.
Who Is Yi He The Visionary Behind Binance’s Global Success
Yi He has been a major force behind Binance since its beginning in 2017. She has always preferred to work quietly behind the scenes, but her impact has been powerful.
Before joining Binance, Yi He was already a well-known name in the crypto space. In 2014, she co-founded OKCoin, one of China’s first major crypto-to-fiat exchanges. This early experience helped her understand how crypto businesses scale, how user trust is built, and how global markets behave.
She later worked as Vice President at Yixia Technology, where she oversaw marketing operations for a company valued at nearly 3 billion dollars. Her background in media, technology, and crypto made her a perfect fit when she joined CZ to build Binance.
At Binance, she handled several crucial areas including marketing, branding, customer service, global communication, and the company’s venture division Binance Labs (now known as Yizi Labs). Her strategies helped Binance create a strong identity, build trust among users, and expand into new markets at an impressive speed.
Her journey shows that she has always been more than a co-founder. She has been a vision-builder who understood user needs, market trends, and long-term innovation goals.
Why Binance Chose a Dual CEO Structure
With Yi He now joining the leadership team as Co-CEO, Binance has introduced a dual-CEO model. This structure gives the company both strategic balance and stronger decision-making power.
Richard Teng brings experience in global regulations, compliance, and policy, which are crucial for crypto exchanges.
Yi He brings product knowledge, user experience leadership, marketing power, and a strong understanding of how to build crypto communities.
Together, they form a leadership combination that helps Binance focus on both regulatory trust and innovation.
This move will help the company grow responsibly as the global crypto industry becomes more regulated, competitive, and user-centric.
Leadership Transition and Shared Vision
The dual-CEO structure pairs Yi He with Richard Teng, who became CEO in 2023 following CZ’s resignation amid regulatory challenges in the United States. This leadership combination blends Teng’s extensive experience in regulated financial markets with Yi He’s deep crypto expertise. Together, they aim to build a trusted, compliant exchange while continuing to innovate.
In her first statements as co-CEO, Yi He expressed pride in working alongside Teng, emphasizing their shared vision for sustainable innovation and user empowerment. Together, they plan to expand Binance internationally, enhance compliance, and target one billion users. Their focus will include Web3 development and creating open financial systems, ensuring operational oversight while meeting evolving regulatory requirements.
Binance’s Growth Milestones
Approaching 300 million users, Binance has shown resilience following past challenges, including CZ’s guilty plea on anti-money laundering violations.
The platform remains a leader in trading volume and has expanded into wallets, NFTs, and decentralized finance tools. Yi He’s focus on user engagement has been key to this growth, from early product planning to current community-driven initiatives.
The announcement during Binance Blockchain Week reflects forward momentum. Analysts view this move as a strategic consolidation, combining internal culture with external regulatory expertise to maintain Binance’s competitive edge.
Strategic Implications for the Crypto Industry
Yi He’s rise to co-CEO signals Binance’s evolution from founder-centric leadership to a collaborative model. The dual-CEO structure strengthens credibility for institutional adoption and emphasizes three priorities:
- Regulatory Compliance: Strengthening global standards to become a highly regulated exchange.
- Product Innovation: Developing user-focused tools for Web3 adoption.
- Community Expansion: Scaling toward one billion users with inclusive growth.
- Global Infrastructure: Building open and fair financial systems worldwide.
Conclusion
The appointment of Yi He alongside Richard Teng positions Binance to navigate regulatory changes and market volatility in 2026 and beyond. Their combined skills promise accelerated development in Web3, from decentralized finance to tokenized assets, while maintaining user trust.
As Binance continues to expand globally, including in Dubai and other emerging markets, the focus will include innovation, accessibility, and AI-enhanced trading features. With 300 million users as a foundation, Binance under Yi He and Richard Teng aims to redefine decentralized finance for billions of users. On AlmostSatoshi, you can get the latest updates from the crypto world and explore innovative platforms shaping the future of digital finance.
