CZ: Early Departure from the OKCoin System due to Cultural and Value Misalignment, Only 8 Months in Position

BlockBeats News, February 11th, Binance founder CZ shared his early career experience with Chamath Palihapitiya on the All-In podcast, involving his work at Blockchain.info (now Blockchain.com) and OKCoin, as well as his deep understanding of the Bitcoin industry and value choices in the early days.

Joining Blockchain.info: CZ mentioned that the team was only three people at the time, with him serving as VP of Technology. The team later expanded to 18 people, but a CFO-led management restructuring led to a change in corporate culture, prompting several developers, including CZ, to leave voluntarily. He emphasized that at Blockchain.info, he learned about remote work, the concept of being paid in Bitcoin, and how to achieve rapid user growth to around 2 million through "guerrilla" marketing tactics (such as a 150-page post on BitcoinTalk.org).

Joining OKCoin: After leaving Blockchain.info, CZ was approached by He Yi to join OKCoin. The initial offer was for a 5% equity stake, but BTC China offered 10%, which led OKCoin to match the offer within three hours. CZ ultimately chose to join OKCoin in Beijing as the CTO, taking on greater business responsibilities.

Reasons for leaving OKCoin: CZ revealed that the main reason was a lack of cultural and values alignment, stating, "Mainly, it is a misalignment in culture and values. Some practices I could not agree with. For a simple example: when they conduct activities or promote fee discounts, the advertisements make it seem like everyone can enjoy them, but, in reality, you have to actively apply to benefit, and it doesn't take effect automatically. Details like this made me uncomfortable." CZ decided to leave in early 2015.

The interview highlights CZ's deep observations of the Bitcoin industry during his early career stages, as well as his emphasis on corporate culture and user experience, laying the foundation for the values that later defined Binance.