29-8-2025 – Binance founder Changpeng Zhao declared that decentralized exchanges will eventually surpass centralized platforms in trading volume, speaking at the BNBDay event in Tokyo this week.
Zhao outlined his vision for crypto’s decentralized future, stating he would focus on building “a privacy-preserving, sustainable decentralized exchange and an AI trading agent for simple execution” if starting over today. The former Binance CEO emphasized that “DEX trading volume will one day surpass centralized exchanges” as decentralized finance matures.
His predictions align with recent market developments, particularly Hyperliquid’s success in exceeding daily trading volumes of established exchanges like Coinbase and Bybit. Zhao attributed growing DEX adoption to increasing demand for self-custody solutions and trustless trading systems, though he acknowledged centralized exchanges maintain advantages in fiat integration and regulatory compliance.
Beyond trading infrastructure, Zhao expressed optimism about real-world asset tokenization, describing it as “still in its early stages but has high potential.” He noted that BNB Chain is investing heavily in RWA initiatives despite ongoing regulatory and liquidity challenges. The blockchain executive also praised single-asset treasury models, citing MicroStrategy’s Bitcoin holdings and similar strategies as sustainable approaches.
Zhao characterized his current role with BNB Chain as primarily promotional, describing himself as “more like a cheerleader” encouraging ecosystem development while noting that much of his wealth remains tied to BNB tokens.
