Too many entrepreneurs are focused on compiling a cheat sheet from other people's experiences such that they don't have to make their own. Be careful with that. Ignorance is precious, novelty is enchanting. You don't want to know everything upfront.
This is Michael Singer.
A Yogi who built a $5.4 billion company while meditating in the forest.
He says letting go of control is the secret to his success.
I met him in 2023.
Here's what I learned on how to live a life of freedom and success:
Happy bitcoin halving day!!
For the first time in history, humans have a form of money whose supply increases by less than 1% per year.
This is a big deal because the hardness of our money is a control knob for our time preference: the degree to which we discount the future. The harder the money, the less its supply increases, the better it holds value into the future, the more it allows you to plan and provide for the future, the more you are able to curb your base immediate impulses in favor of rational future orientation.
All human progress and civilization is intertwined with us finding harder moneys. From cattle to salt to seashells to metals to precious metals, we've constantly progressed by moving to the harder money, allowing us more reliable ways for providing for the future, making us more future-oriented. This culminated with gold becoming the whole world's only money by the end of the 19th century, with annual supply growth of ~2%. Everyone on Earth could save in gold without fear of inflation.
A century of human catastrophe followed when governments banned the monetary use of gold & replaced it with their fiat credit, whose supply increases at ~14% per year. Saving became unattainable and the future more uncertain. Time preference rose as people became more present-oriented, and governments had infinite spending power at the expense of their serfs. Wars became longer and more likely with governments able to rob their citizens effortlessly to finance them.
Bitcoin fixes this. Not only does bitcoin allow us a form of money outside government control, it's also the hardest money to ever exist, making it the most advanced form of money ever, better than even gold. No matter what happens, you can be sure your bitcoin will never be diluted by more than 1% per year.
I discuss these ideas in more detail in my books:
The Bitcoin Standard: https://t.co/KxUygWRRHT
And The Fiat Standard:
https://t.co/GYbEWTNqpZ
Today, I stepped down as CEO of Binance. Admittedly, it was not easy to let go emotionally. But I know it is the right thing to do. I made mistakes, and I must take responsibility. This is best for our community, for Binance, and for myself.
Binance is no longer a baby. It is time for me to let it walk and run. I know Binance will continue to grow and excel with the deep bench it has.
I’m pleased to announce that @_RichardTeng, our now former Global Head of Regional Markets, has been named the new CEO of Binance today.
Richard is a highly qualified leader and, with over three decades of financial services and regulatory experience, he will navigate the company through its next period of growth. He will ensure Binance delivers on our next phase of security, transparency, compliance, and growth.
Prior to joining Binance, Richard was CEO of the Financial Services Regulatory Authority at Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM); Chief Regulatory Officer of the Singapore Exchange (SGX); and Director of Corporate Finance in the Monetary Authority of Singapore.
With Richard and the entire team, I’m confident that the best days for @Binance and the crypto industry lay ahead.
As a shareholder and former CEO with historical knowledge of our company, I will remain available to the team to consult as needed, consistent with the framework set out in our U.S. agency resolutions.
What’s next for me?
I will take a break first. I have not had a single day of real (phone off) break for the last 6 and half years.
After that, my current thinking is I will probably do some passive investing, being a minority token/shareholder in startups in areas of blockchain/Web3/DeFi, AI and biotech. I am happy that I will finally have more time to spend looking at DeFi.
I can’t see myself being a CEO driving a startup again. I am content being an one-shot (lucky) entrepreneur. Should there be listeners, I may be open to being a coach/mentor to a small number of upcoming entrepreneurs, privately. If for nothing else, I can at least tell them what not to do.
On that note, I am proud to point out that in our resolutions with the U.S. agencies they:
- do not allege that Binance misappropriated any user funds, and
- do not allege that Binance engaged in any market manipulation.
Funds are SAFU!
With that, I look forward to seeing the new leadership take the reins. Please join me in congratulating Richard on his well-deserved promotion.
Onwards!
CZ
My new book, Broken Money, is now available on Amazon.
Paperback and hardcover versions are currently available, with ebook and audiobook versions on the way. It'll also be available through other distribution partners soon as well:
https://t.co/OgmNgf2M9i