Changpeng Zhao has defended his long standing buy and hold approach after critics accused him of misleading retail investors and encouraging risky behavior in volatile markets.
The former Binance CEO said his comments were misunderstood, stressing that buy and hold is his personal strategy and not advice meant to apply across all cryptocurrencies.
Zhao’s remarks followed backlash to a January 25 post where he said few strategies outperform buy and hold. Critics argued that such messaging ignores how many crypto projects ultimately fail. In response, Zhao clarified on January 28 that the approach clearly does not fit every token and that careful selection is essential.
He compared crypto investing to early tech cycles, noting that while most startups failed, a small number generated outsized returns. According to Zhao, buying everything guarantees poor results, while research and selectivity matter far more than blind accumulation.
Zhao also rejected claims that exchanges should only list projects with near certain success. He argued that future winners cannot be identified in advance and that listing a project does not obligate anyone to invest in it.
The debate reignited old criticisms against Zhao, including social media accusations tied to past market practices and his 2023 US compliance case. Supporters pushed back, pointing to his role in growing crypto adoption, freezing scam funds, and donating to public causes.
The episode underscores a deeper divide in crypto between open access to new projects and demands for stricter quality controls to protect investors.
