CZ denies his post caused removal of Solana’s Shanghai ad

Changpeng Zhao wants one thing on the record: he did not get Solana’s Shanghai ad pulled. The Binance founder said on X that the advertisement on the city’s Bund came down within 10 minutes of appearing. He says that happened before he had even seen it. His post praising Solana followed later. A celebration, then a crackdown On October 15, 2026, CZ publicly applauded Solana’s new Shanghai office and its skyline advertising in the city. He framed the move as a meaningful step forward for the blockchain industry as a whole. He also set it against what BNB Chain had accomplished, a notable gesture of goodwill toward a rival ecosystem. On October 16, 2026, Solana’s Accelerate China event at the Shangri-La hotel in Shanghai was postponed after police showed up. Attendees reported being kept outside the venue for more than an hour. Organizers attributed the delay to “last-minute logistical considerations.” They did not elaborate on what, if anything, had passed between them and the authorities. Speculation filled the gap. The theory making the rounds was simple: CZ’s high-profile praise had drawn the attention of regulators. In that telling, his post triggered scrutiny that led to the ad...