Binance founder Changpeng Zhao said most of the first draft of his 374-page autobiography, "Binance Life," was written while he was in prison. Computer access was limited to 15 minutes per session, with copying and pasting unavailable, so he wrote during fragmented periods after waiting in line for a device. Zhao also recalled that Binance paid a $4.3 billion penalty in November 2023 for violating the U.S. Bank Secrecy Act (law targeting financial crime), while he personally received a $150 million fine and resigned as CEO. He said accepting responsibility was worthwhile because refusing to do so could have exposed Binance and the wider industry to greater harm. Zhao described uncertainty as the most difficult part of his imprisonment, saying the fine and sentence changed over time and that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (agency handling immigration enforcement) issued three detention orders. He said the experience showed him that freedom is not absolute, while strengthening his belief in financial freedom.