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Changpeng “CZ” Zhao has stirred fresh talk that he may be stepping back into a bigger public role at Binance after a sudden change to his X profile and a string of developments around the exchange.
Market moves and reports about talks with US law enforcement have fed the chatter, but legal limits remain a central part of the story.
Profile Change Sparks Speculation
Based on reports, CZ updated his X profile from “ex-@binance” back to “@binance,” a small public tweak that many traders and observers took as a hint he might reengage with the company he founded.
The market reacted quickly. BNB, Binance’s native token, climbed and in some feeds was shown near $962.29 on September 17, 2025, as traders pushed prices higher amid the rumors.
Binance In Talks With US Justice Department
Reports say Binance is in discussions with the US Justice Department about whether to end the three-year compliance monitor that formed part of its 2023 settlement. If those talks succeed, the monitor could be removed earlier than planned.
That 2023 deal included a roughly $4.3 billion settlement and conditions meant to strengthen Binance’s controls. Ending oversight sooner would not automatically mean CZ can resume a top executive job, but it would remove one major obstacle cited by industry watchers.
Legal Limits Still In Place
According to earlier reporting, CZ’s legal agreements tied to the settlement include limits on his ability to run or manage the exchange for a given period.
Those restrictions are a hard constraint until they are changed by a court or by an enforcement agency.
Because of that, a full operational comeback as chief executive looks unlikely unless formal legal steps are taken to alter the terms. That point has been made repeatedly by legal analysts in the crypto press.
Public Moves And Treasury Plans
Based on reports, CZ has been talking publicly about building the BNB ecosystem and has floated plans tied to a BNB Treasury effort.
Those moves are fueling the sense he is preparing to take on a bigger public role, even if it is not the same as running day-to-day operations.
Some market watchers say the profile change could be symbolic — meant to reassure traders and investors — rather than the start of a formal return.
Featured image from Unsplash, chart from TradingView
