AI-generated deepfake videos portraying former Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao and Yi He have flooded Crypto Twitter. This has sparked debate over how far artificial intelligence has advanced in replicating real crypto figures.
The short videos, styled as dramatic “internal affairs” mini-series, use highly realistic AI avatars modeled on Zhao and Yi He, complete with lifelike voices, facial expressions, and emotional delivery.
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While many users have clearly labeled the videos as AI-generated satire, the quality of the videos has shocked parts of the crypto community. Several clips circulated widely across X throughout the day, with users noting that the visuals and dialogue now rival professional studio productions.
Deepfakes and Crypto’s Growing Problem
Zhao and Yi He, who co-founded Binance in 2017, have long been known to share both a close professional partnership and a personal relationship.
The videos lightly reference that dynamic but focus primarily on imagined corporate tensions rather than real-world events.
Neither Zhao nor Yi He has publicly commented on the videos.
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The viral clips arrive amid a broader surge in AI-driven deepfake content across the crypto sector.
In recent months, researchers have warned that crypto remains the most targeted industry for deepfake impersonation.
AI-generated videos, voice cloning, and synthetic avatars are increasingly used in scams impersonating founders, executives, and influencers.
According to Chainalysis, AI-generated impersonation scams surged by more than 1,400% in 2025. Law enforcement agencies have also warned that the line between satire, misinformation, and outright fraud is becoming harder to detect as generative AI improves.
A New Cultural Flashpoint
In this case, the Binance videos appear designed for entertainment rather than deception. However, their realism underscores how easily similar tools could be weaponized for market manipulation or investment fraud.
As deepfake technology becomes cheaper and more accessible, the crypto industry faces growing pressure to educate users on verification and digital literacy.