**Yi He’s Leadership Fuels Binance’s Evolution Amid Regulatory Challenges**
*Published Oct. 1, 2025, 1:45 a.m. ET*
In late 2023, Binance underwent a significant leadership change amid heightened regulatory scrutiny. Yi He, co-founder of Binance, stepped forward to guide the platform’s operations and steer its future direction.
### Yi He’s Remarkable Rise
Yi He’s rise to prominence is as impressive as it is inspiring. With a 10% stake in Binance, she is now worth billions. However, her journey was far from easy. Growing up in Sichuan, China, she faced limited opportunities, shaping her resilient and pragmatic approach to business.
Before co-founding Binance in 2017, Yi played a pivotal role at OKCoin (now OKX), one of China’s leading crypto exchanges, which captured 60% of the country’s crypto market share by 2015. Her success there laid an important foundation for Binance.
At Binance, Yi initially spearheaded marketing as a one-woman team. She led strategy, partnerships, and branding efforts that helped catapult Binance into the top 10 exchanges globally by 24-hour trading volume in 2017.
### Breaking Barriers in a Male-Dominated Crypto Industry
The cryptocurrency industry remains male-dominated, with women occupying only 6% of CEO roles, highlighting a significant gender gap. Yi He has carved a unique path, earning the title “crypto’s most powerful woman” from Bloomberg.
Industry peers often praise her leadership style, describing it as stronger and more accountable than that of Binance CEO CZ, whose approach is seen as more tech-driven and hype-focused. Yi’s leadership continues to inspire many aspiring women in crypto.
### Shaping Regulation, Not Just Reacting
Binance’s explosive growth in its early days was partly due to regulatory fluidity and adaptability. Under Yi He’s leadership, the company’s stance has shifted significantly; she views regulation not as a barrier but as a “bridge to mainstream adoption” — a pathway that could bring over one billion new users to Binance.
Binance has actively engaged with governments worldwide to help shape local regulatory frameworks. The company’s relocation of operations to Dubai marked a turning point, repositioning Binance from a perceived disruptor to a strategic partner in the region.
Richard Teng, Binance’s active CEO and a former industry regulator, has been instrumental in steering Binance’s evolution from its earlier approach. Yi He’s vision has also driven global expansion, with the platform now holding over 21 licenses worldwide and standing as the only cryptocurrency broker with access to the Brazilian market.
### Mass Adoption of the Binance Ecosystem
Yi He’s vision for cryptocurrency adoption emphasizes practical integration within the Binance ecosystem. She predicts that over the next decade, cryptocurrency adoption within traditional financial systems will accelerate, with stablecoins playing a vital role.
The recently enacted GENIUS Act, which regulates stablecoins, is expected to speed up this process by providing clearer guidelines for institutions and financial entities.
Reflecting on the impact of regulatory clarity, Yi stated, “Crypto isn’t just the future of finance – it’s already reshaping the system, one day at a time.”
Today, Binance stands resilient as the leading cryptocurrency exchange, with more than 280 million users worldwide, well-positioned to lead the next wave of adoption.
As Dubai aims to achieve 90% cashless transactions, Binance is supporting this transition through Binance Pay, which enables seamless cross-border payments and currency conversions. These services embody Yi He’s commitment to simplifying cryptocurrency access as Binance continues to capture over 45% of market share in emerging markets.
### A Collaborative Approach to the Future of Finance
Through her collaborative leadership, Yi He positions Binance at the forefront of redefining the future of finance. By balancing aggressive growth with regulatory compliance and pairing innovation with stability, she reinforces Binance’s commitment to disruptive technology while maintaining a customer-first focus.
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*Investing involves risk and your investment may lose value. Past performance is no indication of future results. This article does not constitute and cannot replace investment advice.*
https://radaronline.com/p/the-woman-behind-binances-industry-leadership-yi-hethe-future-cryptos-biggest-exchange/
