The cryptocurrency market has seen tremendous growth over the past decade, with new players entering the market every day. However, only a few have been able to sustain their position and grow exponentially. Among them, Binance, one of the largest cryptocurrency exchanges in the world, and its founder Changpeng Zhao (CZ) have managed to carve out a unique position in the industry. In this essay, we will explore the journey of CZ and Binance from their first days till now.

CZ, born in Jiangsu, China, in 1977, had a humble beginning. He moved to Canada with his family when he was a teenager and started his career as a software developer. He worked for several companies, including Bloomberg and Fusion Systems, before he discovered Bitcoin in 2013. CZ was fascinated by the concept of cryptocurrency and blockchain technology and decided to make a career shift. He joined blockchain.info, one of the first Bitcoin wallets, as the third member of their team.

After working for a few years in the cryptocurrency space, CZ founded his own company, Fusion Systems, which provided high-frequency trading systems for brokers. He later sold the company and launched Binance in July 2017. Binance was initially based in China, but after the Chinese government banned cryptocurrency trading, CZ decided to move the company to Japan.

Binance started as a cryptocurrency exchange that offered trading in Bitcoin, Ethereum, and other altcoins. It quickly gained popularity due to its user-friendly interface, low fees, and high-speed trading engine. Within six months of its launch, Binance became the largest cryptocurrency exchange in the world, based on trading volume.

CZ's leadership and vision played a crucial role in Binance's success. He always put the customers first and made sure that the platform was user-friendly and accessible to everyone. He also invested heavily in security measures to ensure that the users' funds were safe from hackers and other cyber threats.

Binance continued to grow at an unprecedented rate, adding new features and services to its platform. It introduced Binance Coin (BNB), a utility token that could be used to pay for trading fees on the platform. BNB became an instant hit, and its market capitalization grew to over $80 billion at its peak in May 2021.

In addition to the cryptocurrency exchange, Binance also launched several other products and services, including Binance Academy, a platform for cryptocurrency education, Binance Launchpad, a platform for launching new blockchain projects, and Binance Labs, a blockchain technology incubator.

However, Binance also faced some challenges along the way. In 2019, the company suffered a security breach that resulted in the loss of 7,000 Bitcoins, worth over $40 million at the time. CZ took immediate action to address the issue and reimbursed the affected users from the company's funds.

Binance also faced regulatory hurdles in several countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, and Japan. The company had to withdraw its services from some of these countries and comply with local regulations to continue operating in others.

Despite these challenges, Binance has continued to grow and expand its services. The company now has a presence in over 180 countries and serves millions of users worldwide. CZ, who was once called the "king of crypto" by Forbes, has become a prominent figure in the cryptocurrency space and a leading advocate for blockchain technology.

In conclusion, CZ and Binance's journey from their first days till now has been nothing short of remarkable. CZ's vision and leadership, combined with Binance's innovative products and services, have made them a force to be reckoned with in the cryptocurrency industry.