Binance names co-founder Yi He as co-CEO as user base nears 300 million

(L-R) Yi He, co-CEO with Richard Teng, CEO, Binance

Binance has appointed its co-founder Yi He as Co-CEO, a move announced at Binance Blockchain Week in Dubai on December 3. The leadership change comes at a time when the world’s largest crypto exchange by trading volume and users approaches the 300-million user mark globally.

Yi, one of the most influential figures within the organisation since its inception, will jointly lead the company alongside CEO Richard Teng.

“Yi has been an integral part of the executive leadership team since the launch of Binance. Her innovative and user-focused approach has been instrumental in shaping the company’s vision, culture, and bottom-up business strategy,” Teng said. He added that her elevation was a “natural progression” and would strengthen the company’s long-term roadmap.

Teng reiterated that Binance remains committed to being “the most trusted and regulated exchange in the world,” prioritising user protection as it works towards its next milestone of one billion users. He noted that Yi will play a pivotal role in community growth and product innovation going forward as the company expands its Web3 infrastructure ambitions.

Yi said she was “honoured” to take on the joint leadership role during a crucial phase for the industry. “Richard brings decades of experience in regulated financial markets and was among the first to regulate crypto in its early days,” she said.

“Together, we bring diverse perspectives and are confident in leading the future of the industry during this pivotal time, as we responsibly expand our global presence and drive sustainable innovation with our users always at the center,” she added.

The appointment marks one of Binance’s most significant leadership updates since its early founding years, reflecting its push to reinforce governance and global regulatory engagement as the crypto market enters its next growth cycle.