Bitcoin and BNB see gains of up to 3% as CZ posts first post-release tweet

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Bitcoin and Binance Coin (BNB) prices rose as much as 3% with the arrival of Changpeng Zhao’s first tweet after serving his four-month sentence. The return of the former Binance CEO to social media has sparked renewed interest in the crypto market.

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– CZ 🔶BNB (@cz_binance) September 28, 2024

Changpeng Zhao, widely known as CZ, marked his return to social media on September 27 after serving a four-month sentence for failing to maintain an effective anti-money laundering (AML) program at Binance. His brief tweet coincided with a notable rise in the prices of cryptocurrencies, particularly Bitcoin and BNB, according to data from CoinMarketCap.

Bitcoin, the leading cryptocurrency by market capitalization, saw its value rise to $65,000, an increase of 3.2% in the last 24 hours. Meanwhile, Binance’s native token BNB saw a similar surge, rising 3.1% to $610. This coordinated price movement highlights the continued influence of key industry figures on market sentiment.

Analysts at 10x Research predict a strong bull rally in Q4 2024, citing Bitcoin’s recent rise above the $65,000 level and increased attention to altcoin speculation. According to Capriole Investment’s Altcoin Speculation Index, last month saw a 13% rise, with Sei, Wormhole and Shiba Inu leading the gains. Potential rate cuts from the Federal Reserve could further fuel interest in high-beta altcoins, with several analysts forecasting significant growth in the altcoin market over the coming months.

CZ’s incarceration stems from a $4.3 billion settlement between Binance and US authorities in November 2023. The deal led to CZ resigning as CEO and accepting a personal fine of $50 million. dollars. Despite his departure from operational roles, CZ remains a significant shareholder of Binance, owning approximately 64% of the total BNB supply.

Richard Teng, who assumed the role of CEO of Binance after CZ’s departure, maintained that CZ’s shareholder status remains unchanged. However, the plea agreement explicitly prohibits CZ from any involvement in operating or managing the cryptocurrency exchange.

The reaction from the crypto community to CZ’s return to social media has been swift and positive. His tweet garnered substantial engagement within hours, reflecting the industry’s continued interest in his views and future plans. This response suggests that despite legal challenges, CZ retains significant influence in the cryptocurrency industry.

Market analysts view the price rise as a testament to the crypto community’s enduring confidence in CZ’s vision and leadership. The positive price action seen in both BTC and BNB reflects how optimism is retained, even though CZ would now be contributing to the industry from a non-operational capacity.

Before his sentencing, CZ hinted at future interests in decentralized finance (DeFi), blockchain, Web3, artificial intelligence and biotechnology.

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