BNB Origins: How CZ Persuaded Yi He to Join Binance and Help Write the BNB Whitepaper Before Go-Live

According to COINOTAG News, during the ‘Bonnie Blockchain’ podcast, Changpeng Zhao—the founder and CEO of Binance—described a proactive approach to recruiting Yi He as an advisor ahead of the BNB ICO. Yi He reportedly contributed to edits of the BNB whitepaper, helping refine the token’s technical and governance framework.

Zhao recalled a first outreach where Yi He allegedly declined with a quip: “I’m too expensive, you can’t afford me.” This candid moment underscores the high-stakes negotiations that surrounded Binance’s early leadership lineup and the strategic value placed on BNB‘s foundational documentation.

On the eve of the BNB go-live, Zhao reportedly extended a renewed invitation: “BNB is going live tomorrow. If it rises tenfold after launch, I won’t be able to offer this again—either you take it today or we renegotiate later.” Yi He accepted, joining Binance ahead of launch.