TLDR
- Changpeng Zhao predicts that decentralized exchanges will eventually surpass centralized exchanges in trading volume.
- CZ believes artificial intelligence will play a key role in enhancing decentralized finance and crypto trading.
- The success of Hyperliquid, a decentralized exchange, has demonstrated the growing potential of DEXs.
- Zhao sees significant potential in real-world assets, especially in sectors like commodities and securities.
- Binance continues to invest in real-world asset initiatives and collaborate with developers in the space.
Binance founder Changpeng Zhao, known as CZ, shared his bullish outlook on decentralized exchanges (DEXs) at the recent BNBDay event in Tokyo. He predicted that DEXs, driven by the growth of decentralized finance (DeFi), will one day surpass centralized exchanges (CEXs) in volume. The founder also highlighted the increasing integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in crypto trading, particularly in AI-driven trading agents.
Hyperliquid Success Signals DEX Growth Potential
Changpeng Zhao emphasized his belief that DEXs are poised to take over the crypto trading landscape. He said,
“I believe DEX trading volume will one day surpass centralized exchanges. DeFi is the future.”
Zhao further revealed that if he were younger, he would focus on building a privacy-preserving, AI-powered perpetual DEX. This aligns with the success of Hyperliquid, a decentralized exchange that has gained significant traction in daily trading volume, even surpassing major players like Coinbase and Bybit.
The rise of platforms like Hyperliquid proves that DEXs can handle substantial trading volumes and are growing in popularity. Zhao also sees potential for AI integration in crypto trading. An AI-powered trading agent, he suggested, would offer a simple, efficient execution for DeFi traders. The integration of AI with DEXs could streamline crypto trading and help them compete with traditional CEXs in terms of liquidity and performance.
Real-World Assets and Binance’s RWA Initiatives
In addition to DEXs, CZ discussed the future of real-world assets (RWAs) in the crypto space. He highlighted the potential of RWAs, particularly in commodities, securities, and treasuries.
“RWA is still in its early stages but has high potential,” Zhao noted, pointing out that these assets could become key components of the crypto ecosystem.
東京站 #BNBDay 與 @cz_binance 爐邊談話重點摘要🇯🇵
🔶 關於CZ在BNB鏈中的角色：
"BNB Chain主要由社區驅動。我做得並不多，主要是發推和鼓勵人們BUILD。我更像是一個啦啦隊長。（笑）"🔶 關於持有$BNB：
"我持有大量$BNB。我相當大一部分財富都與它掛鉤。"🔶 關於如果年輕20歲會選擇BUILD什麼：… pic.twitter.com/AXnZ4TvPwV
— BNB Chain 華語 (@BNBCHAINZH) August 28, 2025
However, he acknowledged that challenges remain in terms of regulation, liquidity, and KYC compliance. Zhao’s statements reflect Binance’s ongoing investments in RWA protocols, especially through the BNB Chain. Binance has been collaborating with builders in the space, positioning itself as a key player in the future of RWAs.
The Role of BNB Chain and Digital Asset Treasuries
CZ also provided insights into the role of BNB Chain and its development. He described BNB Chain as a “community-driven” project, with his involvement largely focused on motivating the community to build. He stated,
“I don’t do much, mostly tweeting and encouraging people to BUILD.”
Zhao also touched on the emerging concept of digital asset treasury (DAT) companies, which make crypto investments more accessible to the public. He believes that companies using single-asset treasury models, like MicroStrategy’s Bitcoin holdings or CEA’s BNB strategy, are the easiest to implement.
