Binance’s CZ Says Buy Crypto And Retire in Few Years, as AI Would Make You Jobless

Amid rising fears that AI will trigger widespread job losses, Binance founder Changpeng Zhao (CZ) has positioned crypto as a long-term alternative to traditional work.

The former Binance CEO stated that while AI will cut jobs, crypto ownership could remove the need for salaried work. He suggests that long-term crypto participation offers financial security, in contrast to AI’s impact on jobs. 

Key Points 

• Binance’s CZ argues that cryptocurrency could serve as a long-term alternative to traditional employment. 
• His central claim contrasts AI’s labor-disrupting effects with crypto’s potential to provide financial independence through long-term holding. 
• CZ’s view mirrors Strategy chairman Michael Saylor’s belief that Bitcoin can be used to build generational wealth. 
• Critics argue that crypto’s extreme price swings weaken its credibility as a reliable retirement strategy.

Top Executives Warn AI Will Eliminate Jobs 

CZ’s remarks follow similar warnings from top executives. At the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, leaders such as JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon and Deloitte CEO Joe Ucuzoglu cautioned that AI will displace jobs. CZ echoed this view in a recent tweet, stressing that AI will inevitably reduce employment.

Indeed, AI continues to automate roles across industries, including customer service and finance. JPMorgan, for example, has deployed AI across multiple operations, with Dimon noting it could lead to fewer jobs over the next five years. 

Crypto as an Alternative 

Against this backdrop, CZ presents crypto as a potential hedge. In his view, crypto can enable individuals to build wealth independently, reducing reliance on traditional employment. 

Accordingly, he urged people to buy and hold crypto to retire early, suggesting that long-term ownership can help investors benefit from price appreciation. This view aligns with Michael Saylor, executive chairman of Strategy, who outlined 21 ways to build generational wealth through Bitcoin.

Last year, Saylor predicted Bitcoin could reach $21 million by 2046. At that level, a $1,000 investment today, with BTC trading around $89,725, would grow to $234,048, an amount that could support retirement in many developing economies.  

However, critics strongly disagree with CZ’s assertion. They point to sharp declines across major crypto assets over the past few years. For example, Dogecoin, Cardano, and Shiba Inu remain more than 80% below their 2021 all-time highs. 

Ask those who are holding altcoins from last 3 years & are down by 95-99%?

— Money Ape (@TheMoneyApe) January 22, 2026

As a result, skeptics argue that crypto’s volatility undermines its promise as a retirement strategy. Instead of digital assets replacing work, they stated that it may ultimately increase reliance on traditional jobs.