CZ Praises Hyperliquid but Says He Would Never Do It That Way

Changpeng Zhao, better known as CZ and founder of Binance, speaks highly of Hyperliquid. In an upcoming episode of the Galaxy Brains podcast, he calls the platform thoroughly impressive, but immediately adds a critical note: he would never run it in the same way himself.

CZ: Hyperliquid fills a niche that Binance cannot capture

According to CZ, Hyperliquid does something that Binance simply cannot. The platform requires no KYC, positions itself as decentralised, and thereby operates in a segment where a centralised exchange like Binance cannot compete.

“Hyperliquid’s invention is actually great,” says CZ. “They occupy a niche that Binance cannot keep up with.”

That praise is striking, especially given the background of the man who makes it. CZ led the world’s largest crypto exchange for years before running into US regulators. That experience clearly colours his perspective on Hyperliquid’s model, which has now seen ETFs approaching $900 million in trading volume after the first month.

Good lawyers and a personal lesson

Despite his admiration, CZ is clear about his own limits. “Based on what I have been through, I would never do what they do,” he states. And with a touch of humour, he adds: “I assume they have good lawyers.” The remark is a direct reference to the legal troubles he himself went through following US authorities’ investigations into Binance.

CZ’s comments come at a time when Binance risks losing its EU licence after a potential rejection of its MiCA application. Hyperliquid itself is trading at $72.44 at the time of writing, down 1.8% over the past 24 hours. For more background on the platform, read the Hyperliquid review.