Binance vs KuCoin: Founders, CEOs and History
Binance was founded in 2017 by Changpeng Zhao (CZ), Yi He and is led by Richard Teng. KuCoin was founded in 2017 by Michael Gan, Eric Tang, Johnny Lyu and is led by BC Wong.
Company facts
Founders
Binance
Changpeng Zhao (CZ)
Changpeng Zhao founded Binance in 2017 after a BNB token sale that raised about $15 million.
Yi He
Yi He co-founded Binance with Changpeng Zhao in 2017 and became co-CEO alongside Richard Teng on December 3, 2025.
KuCoin
Michael Gan
Chun 'Michael' Gan co-founded KuCoin in 2017 and was its first CEO before becoming KuGroup chairman in 2020. Under a January 2025 deferred prosecution agreement with US prosecutors he forfeited $2.7 million and stepped away from KuCoin's management.
Eric Tang
Ke 'Eric' Tang co-founded KuCoin in 2017. He was charged with Gan in 2024 and in January 2025 signed a deferred prosecution agreement, forfeiting $2.7 million and leaving KuCoin's management.
Johnny Lyu
Johnny Lyu co-founded KuCoin and served as CEO of KuCoin Global from March 2020 until BC Wong's appointment in January 2025, steering the exchange through the 2020 hack and the 2022 $10 billion funding round.
CEOs and their tenures
Binance
- Changpeng Zhao2017–2023
Founder & CEO
Zhao studied computer science at McGill University and built trading systems for the Tokyo Stock Exchange and Bloomberg Tradebook before crypto. He served four months in a US prison in 2024 and was pardoned on October 23, 2025.
Source - Richard Teng2023–present
CEO (Co-CEO since December 2025)
Teng spent three decades in financial regulation, including as CEO of the Financial Services Regulatory Authority at Abu Dhabi Global Market, chief regulatory officer of Singapore Exchange and a director at the Monetary Authority of Singapore.
Source - Yi He2025–present
Co-Founder & Co-CEO
Before Binance she was a television host and a vice president at OKCoin, where she hired Changpeng Zhao as CTO in 2014.
Source
KuCoin
- Michael Gan2017–2020
Co-founder & CEO
Built the founding team and exchange; left management in January 2025 under a deferred prosecution agreement.
Source - Johnny Lyu2020–2025
CEO, KuCoin Global
Public face of KuCoin through its fastest growth and its early regulatory troubles.
Source - BC Wong2025–present
CEO
Repositioned KuCoin around licensing and compliance.
Source
Timeline: Binance and KuCoin side by side
2013Binance
Changpeng Zhao is introduced to Bitcoin in Shanghai and joins Blockchain.info's early team.
2014Binance
CZ sells his Shanghai apartment to buy Bitcoin and becomes CTO of OKCoin, hired by Yi He.
2017Binance
Binance raises about $15 million in a BNB token sale and launches on July 14; China's September ban pushes it offshore.
2017KuCoin
KuCoin launches in September after a token sale that raised about 5,500 BTC (around $27.5 million).
2018Binance
Binance becomes the largest crypto exchange by volume in January and acquires Trust Wallet in July.
2018KuCoin
Raises a $20 million Series A led by IDG Capital, Matrix Partners and NEO Global Capital; invests $3 million in Bitcoin Australia.
2019Binance
Hackers steal 7,000 BTC in May, covered by the SAFU fund; Binance Futures and the separate Binance.US launch in September.
2020Binance
Binance buys CoinMarketCap for a reported $400 million and launches Binance Smart Chain, now BNB Chain.
2020KuCoin
KuGroup formed with Michael Gan as chairman and Johnny Lyu as KuCoin Global CEO; September hack drains about $281 million.
2021Binance
Binance handles about $7.7 trillion of trading as BNB passes $600; the UK FCA orders it to halt regulated activity.
2022Binance
Binance walks away from rescuing FTX, publishes Merkle-tree proof of reserves and buys Japan's Sakura Exchange BitCoin.
2022KuCoin
Raises $150 million Series B led by Jump Crypto at a $10 billion valuation; publishes Merkle-tree proof of reserves after FTX collapses.
2023Binance
Binance pleads guilty in the US and agrees to pay about $4.3 billion; CZ steps down and Richard Teng becomes CEO.
2023KuCoin
Pays $22 million to settle with the New York Attorney General and exits New York.
2024Binance
CZ serves a four-month US prison sentence; Binance ends the year with about 250 million registered users.
2024KuCoin
US prosecutors indict KuCoin and co-founders Chun Gan and Ke Tang in March.
2025Binance
MGX invests $2 billion (March), the SEC drops its case (May), Trump pardons CZ (October) and Yi He becomes co-CEO as users pass 300 million (December).
2025KuCoin
BC Wong becomes CEO (January); Peken Global pleads guilty and agrees to pay about $297 million; KuCoin Thailand launches; FINTRAC fines ~$14 million (C$19.5 million); MiCA licence in Austria and AUSTR…
2026Binance
The main platform starts operating under ADGM supervision (January), US stock trading launches (June) and most EU services are suspended after the MiCA deadline (July).
2026KuCoin
Austria's FMA restricts new KuCoin EU business (February); CFTC settlement makes the US ban permanent (March); admitted to Nigeria SEC's ARIP (July).
Acquisitions
Binance
- Sakura Exchange BitCoin (SEBC)2022Undisclosed
- CoinMarketCap2020$400M
- Swipe2020Undisclosed
- Trust Wallet2018Undisclosed
KuCoin
No verified acquisitions are listed.
Questions about Binance vs KuCoin
Who is the CEO of Binance and KuCoin?
Binance is led by Richard Teng and KuCoin is led by BC Wong. Both serve as the top executive responsible for the company's strategy, operations, and financial performance.
When was Binance founded vs KuCoin?
Both Binance and KuCoin were founded in 2017, making them the same age.
How many employees does Binance have compared to KuCoin?
Binance employs approximately 5,000 people. A verified employee count for KuCoin is not currently available.
Where are Binance and KuCoin headquartered?
Binance is headquartered in Cayman Islands and KuCoin is headquartered in Seychelles. Their different home markets mean they may face different regulatory frameworks, tax regimes, and currency exposure.
Who founded Binance and KuCoin?
Binance was founded by Changpeng Zhao (CZ), Yi He. KuCoin was founded by Michael Gan, Eric Tang, Johnny Lyu.
Which company has a longer operating history — Binance or KuCoin?
Binance has been operating for approximately 9 years, making it the more established of the two companies. KuCoin has been in operation for around 9 years. A longer operating history often signals greater institutional resilience and brand recognition, though it can also mean slower adaptation to new market conditions.
Figures come from each company's filings and the sources linked beside them. Amounts reported in another currency are shown in US dollars at an approximate rate and marked with ~. Back to the Binance vs KuCoin overview