CZ Memoir “Freedom of Money” Set for April 8 Release

Pre-Release Hype

The full title is “Freedom of Money: A Memoir of Protecting Users, Resilience, and the Founding of Binance.” Both the English and Traditional Chinese e-books are now live for pre-order on Amazon, with the Kindle edition priced at $9.99.

The English physical edition launches on April 8 as well. Regional language editions will follow in the coming months. According to CZ, all proceeds from book sales go to charity rather than personal profit.

The book already ranks #1 in new Bitcoin and Cryptocurrencies eBooks on Amazon ahead of its official release. CZ joked about possibly signing copies for early buyers one day and said he may share snippets before launch day.

What the CZ Memoir Covers

The 457-page book runs approximately 110,000 words. It reads as part memoir and part manifesto, covering CZ’s life from childhood to the present day.

CZ grew up in rural China in a home with dirt floors and no running water. He immigrated to Canada as a teenager and built a career in high-speed trading systems. That work included roles at Bloomberg Tradebook and the Tokyo Stock Exchange.

He entered crypto in 2013 and founded Binance in 2017 with a small team. The exchange grew rapidly from a startup to the world’s largest crypto platform. It now serves 300 million users and carries an estimated valuation of around $100 billion.

The memoir also tackles some of crypto’s most controversial chapters. CZ addresses the FTX and Sam Bankman-Fried implosion directly. He covers the high-stakes decisions, geopolitical pressures, and talent challenges behind Binance’s explosive growth.

A core theme of the book is “freedom of money,” which traces back to Binance’s original mission statement. CZ frames crypto as a tool for expanding financial access, especially in developing countries without traditional banking.

Prison, the DOJ Case, and the $4.3B Fine

A significant portion of the CZ memoir deals with his 2023 U.S. legal case. In November 2023, CZ pleaded guilty to a single Bank Secrecy Act violation. The charge related to early compliance failures at Binance, not fraud or money laundering.

Binance paid a $4.3 billion fine as part of the settlement. That figure made it the largest fine ever in a crypto enforcement action. CZ paid an additional $150 million personal fine on top of the corporate penalty.

CZ then served a four-month prison sentence at a federal facility. He wrote most of the memoir during that time. He has called it his first comprehensive, first-person account of building Binance and navigating crypto’s regulatory battles.

The book also covers a post-release run-in with DHS/ICE over a visa overstay issue. CZ addresses the DOJ negotiations in detail, offering his side of events that the New York Times first reported on in February 2026.

Road to Release for “Freedom of Money”

CZ first teased the memoir on January 25, 2026. He described a 110,000-word book initially planned for late February or early March. Editing delays pushed the timeline back, as each round took two to three weeks, according to Yahoo Finance reporting.

In February, the New York Times obtained an early draft of nearly 300 pages. The paper reported on secret DOJ negotiations, CZ’s experience as reportedly the wealthiest inmate at his facility, and his rivalry with SBF. CZ called the coverage “free advertising” and noted the draft was not final.

By March 23, CZ confirmed the manuscript was complete on the Binance blog. He revealed the final English title at that point. The Chinese title is 币安人生 (“Binance Life”), which originated from a meme coin that fit the book’s theme.

CZ self-published the book through the Freedom of Money Foundation. An official site at freedomofmoneybook.com promotes the release with a focus on protecting users and Binance’s 2017-to-present journey. Earlier in 2025, fake “CZ autobiographies” circulated as scams, which CZ warned the public about at the time, according to Cryptopolitan.

CZ’s Post-Prison Chapter

This memoir marks CZ’s first major public project since leaving prison. He remains active across the crypto industry through BNB Chain and his venture arm YZi Labs. He also runs Giggle Academy, an educational initiative, and focuses on philanthropy.

The announcement sparked some meme coin activity around “Freedom of Money” themes. CZ has not endorsed any related tokens. The unendorsed activity highlights the cultural weight CZ still carries in crypto markets.

For context, CZ stepped down as Binance CEO as part of his plea deal. Richard Teng currently leads the exchange. CZ’s influence on the broader industry persists through his personal brand, his BNB holdings, and projects like YZi Labs.

The April 8 launch could reignite public discussion around Binance’s regulatory history and CZ’s role in shaping the crypto industry. Readers can pre-order the Kindle edition now on Amazon for $9.99.