Binance Appoints Co-Founder Yi He as Co-CEO

The world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange, Binance, has announced the appointment of its co-founder, Yi He, as Co-CEO, alongside Richard Teng. The disclosure was made on December 3, 2025, during the ongoing Binance Blockchain Week event.

The move marks one of the highest-profile female appointments in crypto history and establishes a dual-CEO structure. The decision highlights Binance’s intent to blend regulatory expertise with crypto-native vision amid substantial legal and compliance challenges. The exchange currently serves nearly 300 million users worldwide.

Yi He’s Journey to the Top

Yi He began her career as a TV host in China before entering the crypto field in 2013. She worked at OKCoin as vice president of marketing before co-founding Binance in 2017. From the start, she has significantly contributed to Binance’s focus on its users and fast product development. 

Under her leadership, Binance Labs, the company’s venture arm, has backed over 200 Web3 projects. She also played a key role in creating Binance Smart Chain (now BNB Chain), which has become one of the top five blockchains. Her efforts in community engagement helped Binance grow from 100 million users in 2021 to nearly 300 million today. 

Her ability to understand retail demand is recognised by colleagues, and she has led successful products such as Launchpad and Earn. Although she maintains a low public profile, Yi He has been a driving force behind Binance’s success. Her inspiring story from modest beginnings to co-leading a company once worth over $100 billion motivates many women in a male-dominated field. 

New Leadership to Navigate Regulatory Challenges

Richard Teng, who became the sole CEO in November 2023 after Changpeng Zhao’s resignation, sees the co-CEO model as a natural step forward. He brings 30 years of experience in traditional finance and regulation from roles at the Monetary Authority of Singapore and Abu Dhabi Global Market. Yi He complements him with her deep understanding of the crypto space. 

Zhao, Binance’s former CEO, took to his official X page to express excitement regarding the appointment. The duo will now work to strengthen Binance’s compliance programs while driving Web3 innovation through Binance Labs and wallet services. Their leadership comes at a critical time, as Binance faces increasing global regulatory scrutiny following past significant settlements.

The appointment signals stability and a long-term commitment to responsible growth. The co-CEO structure positions Binance well for future market changes with balanced leadership. The announcement has since received positive responses on social media, highlighting a renewed focus on diversity in leadership at Binance.

Get Trending Crypto News as It Happens. Follow CoinTab News on X (Twitter) Now