Yi He becomes Binance Co-CEO as exchange balances growth and compliance

The new structure pairs the company’s long‑time brand and product strategist with Teng, a former regulator who took the helm after Changpeng “CZ” Zhao stepped down.

Teng framed the appointment as formalizing a role Yi has effectively played since launch. “Yi has been an integral part of our executive leadership from day one. Her user‑focused approach has shaped our vision, culture and bottom‑up strategy,” he said, adding that co‑leadership will help the exchange scale while meeting supervisory expectations.

In remarks released alongside the announcement, Yi He said the dual‑CEO model is designed to balance speed and oversight. “I am honored to build alongside Richard, who brings decades of experience in regulated markets. Together we are confident in leading the industry through this pivotal period as we responsibly expand our global presence and drive sustainable innovation with users at the center,” she said.

Portfolio and remit
Yi He has led Binance’s global marketing and brand efforts and has been a key architect of product rollouts and community growth. Under the new setup, she will continue to steer ecosystem strategy, partnerships and consumer products, while Teng focuses on regulatory engagement, risk, and enterprise services. A company spokesperson said the pairing “complements Teng’s steady hand” as Binance works through U.S. enforcement actions and post‑CZ governance changes.

Background
Born in 1988, Yi co‑founded Binance with CZ and quickly became one of crypto’s most influential operators, preferring to work behind the scenes while shaping launches, market entry and communications. Colleagues credit her with sharpening the exchange’s brand voice and accelerating adoption across retail and pro audiences as Binance grew into the world’s largest crypto trading venue by spot volume.

What changes now
Binance says the co‑CEO model is intended to speed decision‑making across regions and product lines while strengthening accountability. The company reiterated goals to “reach one billion users,” invest in Web3 infrastructure, and prioritize consumer protection. Teng summed up the task ahead as scaling responsibly: “This appointment is a natural progression; it positions us to execute at pace while meeting the bar regulators and users expect.”

As GNcrypto wrote previously, on Nov. 24, 2025 families of Oct. 7 victims filed a U.S. lawsuit accusing Binance and founder Changpeng Zhao of enabling more than $50 million in crypto transfers to Hamas and other sanctioned groups. The complaint cites blockchain traces and activity before and after Binance’s $4.3 billion 2023 settlement and monitorship; Zhao later pleaded guilty to AML‑program failures and served a four‑month sentence before receiving a presidential pardon in October. Binance has said it follows sanctions rules and blocked some accounts. The filing arrives alongside separate litigation in New York and fresh scrutiny of the exchange’s compliance posture.