Speaking during an exclusive interview in Taiwan to mark Binance’s eighth anniversary, CEO Richard Teng reflected on the platform’s explosive growth, shifting regulatory landscape, and the rising tide of institutional crypto adoption.
Founded in 2017, Binance has grown into the world’s largest crypto exchange with a user base nearing 300 million and lifetime trading volume surpassing $125 trillion.
Daily trades now average $91 billion. Teng credited the post-2024 surge in adoption to a broader acceptance of digital assets, calling the past year “the history of crypto’s mainstreaming.” User growth jumped by over 100 million in just twelve months.
Teng pointed to the approval of the first spot Bitcoin ETF as a pivotal moment that turned institutional heads, opening the door to participation from government funds, family offices, and major foundations.
He noted that IPOs are no longer just a Silicon Valley milestone, but a natural evolution for maturing crypto firms. While Binance has not updated its stance on launching an IPO or returning to the U.S. market, he acknowledged the impact of a $2 billion investment from institutional players like MGX as a sign of growing legitimacy.
On the topic of regulation, Teng pushed back on the notion that oversight stifles progress. He likened the current landscape to the early internet era, arguing that supportive regulation can coexist with innovation. “What we need is balance,” he said, emphasizing that thoughtful frameworks can protect consumers without holding back emerging technology.
