Binance co-founders Changpeng Zhao (CZ) and Yi He utilized the cartoon-inspired aliases "Homer" and "Marge" as internal pseudonyms to manage corporate communications and maintain organizational privacy. These names, taken from the iconic American sitcom The Simpsons, were used to identify the two most powerful figures in the company during a period of aggressive global expansion. While CZ has recently completed a prison sentence and stepped away from day-to-day operations, his co-founder Yi He continues to use the "Marge" alias in current high-level meetings and chats, according to internal sources.
The use of these aliases highlights the unconventional corporate culture that defined Binance during its rise to becoming the world's largest cryptocurrency exchange. In the early years, the firm operated without a formal headquarters, relying on decentralized teams and encrypted messaging apps to conduct business. While pseudonyms are common in the tech and crypto sectors to prevent information leaks, the specific use of Homer and Marge has drawn attention as a symbol of the tight-knit, almost familial control the founders maintained over the platform.
From a regulatory perspective, these communication habits have previously been a point of interest for U.S. authorities, including the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). During the investigations that led to Binance's multi-billion dollar settlement in late 2023, the exchange's internal messaging practices were heavily scrutinized. The persistence of these aliases suggests that despite the appointment of Richard Teng as CEO and the installation of U.S.-mandated compliance monitors, elements of the original leadership culture remain intact.
For investors and U.S. users, the continued influence of Yi He and the legacy of these internal monikers serve as a reminder of the exchange's ongoing transition period. While the exchange is working to adopt a more traditional and transparent corporate structure, the "Homer and Marge" era represents the foundational DNA of the company. Market participants should watch how the U.S. monitors react to these remaining legacy practices as they evaluate Binance's long-term compliance with federal transparency standards.