Binance co-founder Changpeng “CZ” Zhao has stepped in to quash rumors of a romance swirling around his brief interaction with a female KOL at Binance Blockchain Week in Dubai.

The speculation traces back to December 4, when CZ faced off against gold advocate Peter Schiff in a much-anticipated debate. During the session, Tintin—a crypto influencer affiliated with the Aster project—walked onstage.

CZ Claps Back

She handed CZ a “magic box” containing a heavy gold item. This moment was captured on video and later amplified when Tintin tweeted that the box was “real f**king heavy.” The moment has since become the most replayed segment of the debate’s YouTube video.

What started as a lighthearted promotional stunt quickly morphed into gossip fodder across Chinese-speaking crypto communities. Some users began spinning tales of a romantic connection between the two.

还有瓜和我有关系？行情太淡，大家没事干了？🤣

看了一下，和Tintin所有的互动：发过3条信息来回，见面聊了10分钟。

和Peter辩论前，见了几个KOL，包括Tintin。刚好想有人递给我盒子更好。就临时决定的。之前没有安排。

大家关心其他人吧。听说那个谁和谁。。。 😂 https://t.co/Y4k9zqI1jC

— CZ 🔶 BNB (@cz_binance) December 14, 2025

CZ, never one to let rumors fester, addressed the speculation head-on in a post on X.

“There’s gossip about me now? The market must be really slow—everyone’s got nothing better to do,” he quipped.

He then laid out the facts: his entire interaction with Tintin consisted of exchanging three messages and meeting for about 10 minutes before the debate. The decision to have someone hand him the box onstage was made on the spot—there was no prior arrangement.

“Go pay attention to someone else. I heard somebody and somebody…” he added, deflecting with a hint of sarcasm.

Timing Raises Eyebrows

The rumors emerged just days after Yi He, CZ’s long-term partner and the mother of his three children, was elevated to co-CEO of Binance on December 3. The appointment, announced by CEO Richard Teng at Binance Blockchain Week, marked the exchange’s most significant leadership shake-up since CZ stepped down in 2023.

When asked about potential conflicts between her personal and professional roles, Yi He drew a clear boundary.

“My personal life is independent from my professional life,” she told reporters in Dubai. “My achievements and capabilities as co-founder are often overlooked with my personal life in question.”

Meanwhile, CZ Keeps Busy in Pakistan

Romance rumors aside, CZ has been focused on expanding Binance’s global footprint. On December 12, he visited Pakistan alongside Binance CEO Richard Teng and Tron founder Justin Sun for meetings with Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb.

The visit coincided with a major regulatory milestone: Pakistan’s Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (PVARA) issued no-objection certificates to both Binance and HTX, clearing the path for the exchanges to pursue full licensing in the country.

In the car, my roaming didn’t work, so I borrowed Justin’s hotspot, bought an eSIM, PAID IN CRYPTO. He said he learned something new. https://t.co/DwYW8c5jRO

— CZ 🔶 BNB (@cz_binance) December 12, 2025

“A meaningful milestone for Binance in Pakistan,” Teng said on X, noting that the exchange has obtained AML registration from PVARA. “Looking forward to building a safe, transparent, and future-ready digital-asset ecosystem together.”

CZ has served as an adviser to the Pakistan Crypto Council since April 2024, and the South Asian nation appears eager to position itself as a crypto-friendly jurisdiction in the region.

As for the Tintin rumors? It seems CZ has already moved on—even if the crypto gossip mill hasn’t.

The post CZ Denies Romance Rumors With KOL: “3 Messages, 10 Minutes—That’s All” appeared first on BeInCrypto.

JP Morgan has successfully arranged one of the first-ever debt issuances on a public blockchain, executing a US Commercial Paper offering for Galaxy Digital Holdings LP on the Solana network.

The transaction, announced December 11, was purchased by Coinbase and Franklin Templeton, with all settlement conducted in Circle’s USDC stablecoin—a first for the commercial paper market.

Wall Street No Longer Experimenting

The deal represents a significant departure from JP Morgan’s previous blockchain strategy, which relied primarily on its private Onyx network and JPM Coin. By choosing Solana’s public infrastructure, the Wall Street giant has effectively validated the network’s capability to handle institutional-grade financial products.

“This issuance is a clear example of how public blockchains can improve the way capital markets operate,” said Jason Urban, Global Head of Trading at Galaxy. Franklin Templeton’s Head of Innovation Sandy Kaul added that institutions are no longer just experimenting with blockchain—they’re “transacting on it in a big way.”

JP Morgan served as Arranger, creating the on-chain USCP token and facilitating delivery-versus-payment (DVP) settlement. The DVP model eliminates counterparty risk by ensuring that assets and payments are exchanged simultaneously—a critical feature for institutional adoption. Galaxy Digital Partners LLC acted as the Structuring Agent, marking Galaxy’s first-ever commercial paper issuance.

Coinbase played dual roles as both an investor and an infrastructure provider, offering private-key custody, wallet services, and USDC on- and off-ramp capabilities. The collaboration between traditional finance and crypto-native firms signals a maturing ecosystem ready for mainstream adoption.

Why Solana and USDC

Solana’s selection reflects its technical advantages: speed, scalability, and low transaction costs. The network’s ability to process thousands of transactions per second made it well-suited for institutional operations requiring efficiency and reliability. While Ethereum remains prominent in the tokenization landscape, Solana’s cost efficiency positions it for high-frequency, cost-sensitive financial applications.

Circle’s USDC stablecoin played an equally pivotal role. According to Circle’s official reports, USDC has enabled over $850 billion in value transfers globally, supporting real-time settlement for compliant financial operations. Its use as settlement currency for traditional debt instruments represents a breakthrough for stablecoin utility.

Strong Financials Back the Deal

The transaction strengthens Galaxy’s short-term funding capabilities amid robust financial performance. The company reported $629 million in adjusted EBITDA for Q3 2025—a record quarter. As of June 30, 2025, Galaxy held $2.6 billion in equity and $1.2 billion in cash and stablecoins, positioning it well to expand blockchain-based funding channels.

JP Morgan‘s involvement adds significant credibility. JP Morgan holds $40.1 trillion in assets under custody, $1.11 trillion in deposits, and operations spanning more than 100 countries. The bank’s endorsement of public blockchain infrastructure carries substantial weight for institutional observers.

SOL Unmoved Despite Historic News

Despite the landmark nature of the transaction, Solana’s native token, SOL, has shown a limited price reaction. As of December 12, SOL trades at approximately $136, down 2.25% over the past week. The token briefly spiked above $145 on December 9-10 before retreating to current levels.

The muted response may reflect the market’s forward-looking nature—institutional adoption has long been anticipated. Broader market conditions and profit-taking following recent gains could also be overshadowing the positive news.

The post JP Morgan Brings Commercial Paper to Solana in Historic First appeared first on BeInCrypto.

Texas has become the first US state to purchase Bitcoin for its treasury, making a $10 million acquisition as part of a broader strategic initiative. The move comes during a market pullback that some view as a favorable entry point. 

This decision positions Texas as an early leader in state-level digital asset adoption and may influence how other states approach cryptocurrency in the future.

Texas Starts With ETF Access

State officials said Texas executed the transaction through BlackRock’s spot Bitcoin ETF as a regulated and practical entry point. The purchase was presented as a step toward integrating Bitcoin into long-term treasury planning and improving diversification.

Texas Blockchain Council President Lee Bratcher later confirmed the move, noting that treasury teams had monitored market conditions closely and executed the purchase on November 20, when Bitcoin briefly dipped to $87,000. Officials added that direct self-custody remains the goal, but the ETF offers a compliant solution while the state builds its custody framework.

TEXAS BOUGHT THE DIP!
Texas becomes the FIRST state to purchase Bitcoin with a $10M investment on Nov. 20th at an approximately $87k basis!
Congratulations to Comptroller @KHancock4TX and the dedicated investments team at Texas Treasury who have been watching this market… pic.twitter.com/wsMqI9HrPD

— Lee ₿ratcher (@lee_bratcher) November 25, 2025

The acquisition marks the beginning of a broader reserve strategy focused on developing infrastructure, oversight, and digital asset controls. This initial allocation will help test workflows, risk management, and governance processes before any future expansion.

More broadly, Texas’s move comes as institutional interest in Bitcoin grows, supported by strong ETF inflows and wider participation from major financial firms.

A Symbolic First Step

While $10 million is a small share of state reserves, the symbolic impact is significant. It marks the first instance of a US state treating Bitcoin as a treasury-level asset.

Analysts say this early government involvement could shape how other states approach digital asset exposure. It may spark debates on reserve diversification, tech competitiveness, and long-term fiscal planning.

If more states follow, Texas could become the catalyst for a new phase of public-sector engagement with cryptocurrency.

The post Texas Becomes the First State to Buy Bitcoin — What Happens Next? appeared first on BeInCrypto.