Ex-Binance CEO says he is advising governments on tokenisation

Former Binance chief executive Changpeng Zhao said he is speaking with “probably a dozen governments” about tokenising state assets.

Zhao made the comments during a panel discussion at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

He said tokenisation is a proven part of the crypto industry alongside exchanges and stablecoins.

“I’m talking with probably a dozen governments about tokenising some of their assets,”

Changpeng Zhao said, adding that it could help governments realise financial gains earlier.

Zhao said he has worked with officials in Kyrgyzstan on efforts linked to a som-pegged stablecoin.

Pakistan’s Crypto Council named Zhao as an adviser after its establishment in March 2025.

Malaysian officials have also held discussions with Zhao on a potential crypto regulatory framework.

Zhao highlighted challenges in crypto payments adoption, pointing to overlap with traditional payment systems.

“We’ve tried, but nobody really pays in crypto,”

Changpeng Zhao said.

Zhao served four months in prison in 2024 following a deal with US authorities over Binance’s compliance failures.

He resigned as Binance chief executive as part of the settlement with regulators.

Zhao was pardoned by US President Donald Trump in October, allowing speculation over a potential return to the exchange.

He later said he was retired and had no plans to resume an executive role.