CZ exposed a long-running fake account using AI-generated images to pose as a Binance supporter before spreading BNB-related FUD.
Changpeng “CZ” Zhao, the founder of Binance, has publicly identified and dismantled a coordinated misinformation campaign against him and the exchange.
CZ exposed a long-running fake account that apparently used AI-generated images to pose as a loyal supporter before posting critical “feedback.”
The Unraveling of a Fake Supporter
The incident began when CZ noticed a post from an account named “Wei 威 BNB” claiming to close a Binance account due to alleged manipulation. The account had 863,000 followers and used imagery from a BNB Chain event, making it appear legitimate.
However, the former Binance CEO said that concerns about the account’s veracity emerged after some close inspection. For starters, the account, which had blocked him, had posted several images purportedly featuring Zhao posing with the user, all of which appeared altered.
One photo showed Zhao wearing a shirt in a color he said he does not own, while another mixed low-resolution images of him and Binance executive Yi He with a sharper image of the account holder. CZ claimed the original photo featured Aster CEO Leonard.
He also claimed the account history suggested it either changed hands or was compromised years ago. The account’s history shows it originally belonged to a woman and posted exclusively female photos until July 2015, when it abruptly switched to crypto-only content without removing earlier material.
“Either a hacked takeover or bought,” CZ wrote.
He criticized the campaign as “lazy” and suggested it was likely orchestrated by a “self-perceived” competitor more focused on Binance than its own business.
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Influencer ShirleyXBT also noted the account’s profile picture was an artificial copy of her own photo.
Community Backing and a Pattern of Scrutiny
The exposure drew some support from the crypto community, with World of Dypians CEO Teki thanking CZ for the clarification and admitting the initial post had briefly seemed believable.
Commentator Vegas offered a broader analysis, suggesting attackers fall into three categories: opportunists farming engagement, genuinely frustrated traders, and organized FUD campaigns. They also claimed to have been offered payment to spread negative sentiment about Binance, implying possible coordination by large market players or direct competitors.
This latest revelation has come amid sustained scrutiny of CZ and Binance. On January 28, the crypto entrepreneur faced backlash for allegedly promoting harmful market behavior after he advocated a buy-and-hold investment strategy, forcing him to clarify that his advice was personal and did not apply to every token.
Furthermore, on January 30, Binance announced it would convert the $1 billion in its SAFU insurance fund from stablecoins back into Bitcoin, a move some commentators viewed as a bullish signal but which also kept focus on the exchange’s financial strategies.
Despite the criticism, Binance’s market position is still quite strong, with data shared by CryptoQuant at the beginning of the year showing the exchange captured 41% of spot trading volume and 42% of Bitcoin perpetual futures volume among top-tier platforms in 2025.
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