A fresh media clash is building around Binance founder Changpeng Zhao (CZ). After a report revealed details from an early draft of his memoir. The New York Times said it reviewed a roughly 300-page preliminary version of Freedom of Money. That describes CZ’s tense 2023 plea negotiations, legal fears and short prison stay.
The report quickly spread across crypto circles. However, Zhao pushed back within hours. On February 28, he posted on X that the coverage was simply a “free” promotion for his upcoming book. He stressed the newspaper relied on an outdated and unauthorized draft.
CZ and Lawyer Push Back on Draft Accuracy
CZ didn’t sound worried. Instead, he leaned into the moment with humor. He wrote that the New York Times was “advertising my upcoming book already, for free 😂.” While noting the outlet only had a very early version without permission.
NYT is advertising my up coming book already, for free 😂, even though they only had a copy of a very early draft, without permission.@teresagoody summed it up.
“We’re thrilled The New York Times is so interested in CZ’s personal memoir, ‘Freedom of Money,’ which is one of the…
— CZ 🔶 BNB (@cz_binance) February 28, 2026
His lawyer, Teresa Goody Guillén, also responded firmly. She said the team was pleased to see strong interest in what she called one of the year’s most anticipated crypto books. However, she emphasized the article relied on material that is “neither in CZ’s book nor in his words.” She added that readers should wait for the finalized version. Zhao also reminded followers that editing is still ongoing and each revision takes weeks.
What the Draft Reveals About Binance’s Legal Saga
Even so, the reported draft offers a rare window into CZ’s perspective during Binance’s legal crisis. The report includes the manuscript recounting his 2023 guilty plea. Which is tied to anti-money laundering violations. With the massive multibillion-dollar settlement with U.S. authorities. It also describes his consultations with numerous lawyers, each offering different advice.
The draft reportedly includes personal reflections on his four-month prison term. It also adds the emotional impact of stepping down as Binance CEO. Still, it is important to note this is an early and unauthorized version. The final book may differ significantly after multiple edits and revisions.
Crypto Community Buzz and Meme Activity
Meanwhile, the crypto community reacted instantly. Social media is filled with jokes, speculation and renewed debate about Binance’s regulatory battles. In true crypto fashion, opportunistic traders even launched meme tokens themed around the book’s title. The sudden attention shows how closely the industry still watches CZ’s moves. His legal saga remains one of crypto’s most dramatic chapters. As a result, any new detail, even from a draft, tends to travel fast across markets and online forums.
Anticipation Builds for Official Release
For now, Changpeng Zhao appears comfortable letting the hype build. He continues to tease that the book is coming soon. However, no firm release date exists yet. Interest is clearly rising. Ultimately, the final published version of Freedom of Money will determine the real impact. Until then, the leaked draft has already achieved one thing: CZ openly welcomes everyone talking about his story again.