Binance founder Changpeng Zhao made his return to the crypto scene during Binance Blockchain Week in Dubai on Thursday. He addressed a large crowd in his first public appearance since his release from a US prison last month.

Zhaowho served a four-month sentence after pleading guilty to violating the Bank Secrecy Act, received a standing ovation as he took the stage, and many in attendance captured the moment on their phones.

With over 4,000 attendees at the Dubai event and 1 million more online, Zhao’s return and his ideas on the future of crypto have attracted attention.

The session started on a light note with Altcoin Daily founder Austin Arnold asking, “How was your summer?” Zhao’s response turned serious as he reflected on the impact of his time in prison, describing it as a restrictive experience that gave him “a lot of time to think.”

Despite his release, Zhao said he had no plans to return to China. run a crypto exchangeciting the tension and complexity of his sentencing process. He noted that he was the first to serve prison time for violating the Bank Secrecy Act, a unique outcome compared to recent settlements with financial institutions that did not include individual charges.

During his speech, Zhao discussed the changing political climate in the United States, with both presidential candidates Donald Trump and Kamala Harris now openly discussing crypto on the campaign trail. Reflecting on his experience in prison, Zhao joked, “I’m just sitting in prison and wondering, ‘What happened?’ What if I wait two months?’

Looking ahead, Zhao shared his focus on Laughter Academyan educational platform it introduced last year. The project aims to reach underserved communities around the world, particularly the 700 to 800 million illiterate adults, including 300 to 500 million children who do not have access to formal schooling. “Education projects usually target areas with existing education systems,” he said.

Beyond education, Zhao said he is actively investing in sectors such as artificial intelligence, biotechnology and blockchain. Meanwhile, his successor, Binance CEO Richard Teng, touted “momentum” as a theme for the year ahead, pointing to regulatory advancements such as the approval of spot Bitcoin ETFs as signs of growth. positive growth in the sector.