What's Uptin?

When Changpeng “CZ” Zhao built Binance in 2017, it quickly became the biggest crypto exchange in the world.  At one point it was processing $65 billion in daily trades and making CZ the richest person in crypto.

But in November 2023, everything changed: the U.S. Department of Justice hit Binance with a record-breaking $4.3 billion settlement for anti-money-laundering and sanctions violations. CZ pleaded guilty, stepped down as CEO, and later served four months in U.S. federal prison.

That’s when Richard Teng, a former regulator and seasoned finance executive, stepped in to lead Binance through its toughest chapter yet ... promising a culture shift toward compliance and transparency while keeping the exchange at the center of a rapidly evolving crypto industry.

Uptin sits down with Richard Teng at TOKEN2049 in Singapore to unpack:

- What it was like to take over from one of crypto’s most influential founders.

- How Binance plans to rebuild user trust after the $4.3 B settlement.

- The future of regulation, stablecoins, and crypto ETFs worldwide.

- Why traditional finance giants are suddenly embracing blockchain.

- How global politics could reshape crypto adoption, and why even Trump’s crypto stance matters.

Whether you’re an investor, a builder, or just curious about how the world’s largest exchange is preparing for the next wave of adoption, this is a rare inside look at the new era of Binance.

📈 Uptin & Thomas ... fresh takes on business, money and tech.

Twice a week on YouTube, Spotify and Apple. Link in Bio.

#Binance #RichardTeng #CZ #CryptoNews #Bitcoin #Ethereum #TOKEN2049 #CryptoRegulation

Uptin & Thomas discuss:
- Threads Beats X: Meta’s Threads hits 130.2M daily users, edging past X’s 130.1M for the first time.

• Shift in Power: X once had nearly 2× Threads’ users just a year ago — the tables have turned.
• Spotify’s AI Purge: About 75M spammy & AI-generated tracks removed to protect artists and clean up the catalog.
• EA Goes Private: A $55B all-cash leveraged buyout backed by Saudi PIF, Silver Lake & Affinity Partners.
• MKBHD vs Tesla: Marques Brownlee finally cancels his $50K Roadster reservation after 8 years of waiting.
• Pizza Hut Matcha: Brunei’s bold new Matcha Cheese Stuffed-Crust Pizza sparks curiosity (and debate).

Uptin & Thomas talk:

- Starbucks Massive Overhaul: Closing Stores and laying off 900 Employees.

- Amazon vs FTC: The government’s new lawsuit could reshape how Amazon does business.

- $100K H-1B Visa Fee: Is Trump's new policy, a win for London?

- AI Slop: Why young workers are hopping jobs faster

— How AI is flooding offices with low-quality work.- Why are Gen Z’s “MonkeyBarring”

Uptin & Thomas discuss:

• Trump’s $100,000 H-1B visa fee — panic for tech workers and global companies
• Trump launches his flashy new Gold Card
• Nvidia invests $5B in Intel — what this chip partnership really means
• Buffett sells all of BYD after 17 years — why now?
• Build-a-Bear stock up 2,000% — outpacing Nvidia, Microsoft and Palantir
• Labubu hype fades — Pop Mart’s $6B meltdown

Uptin & Thomas discuss:

• Meta’s new smart glasses – are they the future of wearables or just another gimmick?
• Amex Platinum now $900/year – what’s changing with perks, lounges, and credits?
• Nvidia chips banned in China – how this could reshape the AI race.
• TikTok ban drama – what it means for creators, users, and the global app battle.

👉 All the week’s biggest stories in tech, money, and culture — broken down.

Uptin & Thomas discuss

- The Pope is taking aim at Elon Musk’s proposed $1 trillion Tesla compensation package — and what it says about inequality in today’s economy.

- Big brands like Coca-Cola and McDonald’s are downplaying their “Americanness” overseas. Why are they doing it now?-

- Whirlpool accuses its rivals of dodging U.S. tariffs. Is this just “tariff evasion”?- U.S. and Chinese officials meet in Spain to smooth trade irritants, with TikTok’s looming deadline on the table.

- Plus: Coffee prices hit levels not seen since the 1990s.Uptin & Thomas break it all down with data, context, and what it means for business and culture.

New episodes every Tuesday and Friday.

Uptin & Thomas dive into:

• Zoox’s free robotaxi rides hitting the Vegas Strip
• Tesla’s Austin robotaxi plans revving up

• Chipotle making a bold move into Asia & Mexico
• Microsoft dragging workers back to the office
• Why tips just got tax-free
• And how new tax breaks could boost creators

Apple dropped the iPhone 17 Pro, and the biggest headline is… a new orange color.

Uptin & Thomas break down why that feels a little safe, and what it says about where Apple’s at. They also dive into some of the biggest stories shaping the week:

• Apple bets on Cosmic Orange with the iPhone 17 Pro
• Support for capitalism in America hits a new low
• Two years after NYC’s Airbnb crackdown — did it work?
• Reading is down everywhere, from the U.S. to the U.K.
• The latest on Microsoft backing OpenAI’s push into LinkedIn

Uptin & Thomas dive into some of the biggest moves in tech, business, and culture:

* Google’s lawsuit & Apple’s cut — why Google just dodged massive penalties and why it still pays Apple billions to stay the default on iPhones.

* Erewhon in NYC — the cult health-food chain is now opening in New York, but only if you drop $7,000/month on the membership to access it.

* Starbucks’ new protein drinks — how the coffee giant is trying to win back younger, health-conscious customers.

* Arcades for adults — why “Chuck E. Cheese for grown-ups” could be the next big thing in entertainment.

Uptin & Thomas break down four big stories:

• The 27-year-old founder of Labubu becomes China’s youngest billionaire.
• Trump’s proposed tariffs on India — what it means for trade and geopolitics.
• A $65,000 per year AI school in Virginia that’s redefining education.
• And how a hacker sitting in Starbucks cracked a Tesla case wide open.