Binance founder CZ Donates $2 Million to Prison Professors for U.S. Prison Education Programs

• Changpeng Zhao (CZ) disclosed that he has donated a total of $2 million to Prison Professors over the past two years.
• The donations were made through four separate $500,000 contributions every six months.
• Prison Professors provides free educational resources, mentorship, and reentry support for incarcerated individuals and their families.
• The disclosure comes as CZ continues expanding his focus on education and philanthropy following his release from U.S. custody in September 2024.

CZ Reveals Two-Year, $2 Million Commitment to Prison Education

Binance founder Changpeng Zhao, widely known as CZ, announced that he has donated a total of $2 million to the U.S.-based nonprofit organization Prison Professors over the past two years.

In a post shared on X on June 18, CZ said the donations were made through four separate contributions of $500,000 each, distributed every six months. According to the organization, the latest contribution marks the fourth donation received from the former Binance chief executive.

Michael Santos, founder of Prison Professors, acknowledged the latest contribution and stated that CZ has now donated $2 million in total to further the organization’s mission of expanding educational opportunities for people in federal prisons.

CZ also indicated that he had not previously publicized the donations, making this the first time the full scale of the two-year funding commitment has been disclosed publicly.

Donation Reflects CZ’s Education-Focused Efforts After Prison Release

The donation carries added significance given Zhao’s personal connection to the U.S. prison system. In April 2024, he was sentenced to four months in prison after pleading guilty to anti-money laundering violations and stepped down as Binance CEO as part of a settlement with U.S. authorities.

After his release in September 2024, Zhao increasingly focused on education and social-impact initiatives. The newly disclosed donations to Prison Professors align with that broader effort, alongside projects such as Giggle Academy, a nonprofit initiative aimed at expanding access to free education.

Prison Professors Supports Education and Reentry Programs

Prison Professors provides educational resources, mentorship, and reentry support for incarcerated individuals and their families. The nonprofit aims to help participants prepare for successful reintegration after release.

CZ’s disclosure shines a spotlight on the organization’s mission and its efforts to expand access to educational opportunities within the U.S. prison system.

The disclosure follows several public engagements by Zhao this year, including an April social media exchange with OKX founder Star Xu that drew attention across the crypto industry. More recently, CZ commented on Hyperliquid’s rapid growth, underscoring his continued influence in crypto discussions even after stepping down as Binance CEO.