Crisis-hit Binance founder Changpeng Zhao launches ‘Giggle Academy’

Changpeng “CZ” Zhao, founder of cryptocurrency exchange Binance, who stepped down as CEO in November to settle federal money laundering charges, launched a new non-profit online education platform called Giggle Academy on Monday. announced plans to do so.

“Let’s make basic education accessible and fun for children around the world,” he wrote on Twitter, noting that Project Giggle is hiring and one of the benefits will be the opportunity to work with him directly.

“Free basic (grades 1-12) education for all, no revenue, gamified, adaptive,” he explained, providing a link to the Project Giggle concept document and website.

The announcement comes as Zhao awaits sentencing on charges of failing to maintain an effective anti-money laundering program at Binance. Last November, Zhao pleaded guilty and agreed to resign as part of a settlement with the U.S. Justice Department. Binance was ordered to pay a $4.3 billion fine and “completely exit” the U.S. market.

Zhao faces 10 to 18 months in prison under federal sentencing guidelines, with sentencing postponed until April 30. As part of his plea agreement, Zhao paid a $50 million fine and is currently free on $175 million bail. A federal judge deemed him a flight risk and imposed travel restrictions preventing him from leaving the United States.

Despite the legal issues, Zhao appears passionate and optimistic about Project Giggle and its root cause. The concept document outlines an ambitious vision to “make basic education accessible, addictive and adaptable to children who currently lack access to it around the world.”

The paper cites statistics showing that “more than 75% of the world’s 781 million illiterate adults are in South Asia, West Asia, and sub-Saharan Africa, and women make up nearly two-thirds of illiterate adults worldwide.” Giggle Academy aims to provide free online courses for grades 1 to 12 across core subjects, as well as topics such as emotional intelligence, finance and blockchain.

This cost-free, zero-profit initiative will attract support and attention through gamification to drive student engagement, an adaptive curriculum to encourage subject specialization, and a blockchain-based “soul-bound token” system to certify student achievement. .

Crypto Twitter certainly had an idea.

A big man who gifted the world with free education after gifting him with the start of the greatest supercycle of all time (Crypto Twitter),” answered the self-proclaimed retired trader. “respect.”

“This is a great initiative CZ. The only way to bring change to this world is through education.” Kashif Raza, founder of Bitcoin education platform Bitinning, added: “The nine-page Satoshi Curriculum changed the world forever.”

Another follower quickly launched the Solana memecoin. There are currently more than a dozen in existence. That riff on the Giggle brand.

“Building a high-quality, sticky education platform that is completely free and accessible to everyone is the most impactful thing I can do in the next chapter of my life,” Zhao said in a quote featured on the Giggle Academy website. Job openings for Senior Game Developer and Gamification Product Manager.