Changpeng “CZ” Zhao, the founder of cryptocurrency exchange Binance who resigned as CEO in November in a settlement on federal money laundering charges, announced plans Monday to launch a new nonprofit online education platform called Giggle Academy .
“Let’s make K-12 education accessible and entertaining for kids around the world,” he wrote on Twitter, noting that Project Giggle is hiring and one of the benefits is the chance to work directly with him.
“Free primary education (grades 1-12) for all, zero revenue, gamified, adaptive,” he explained, linking to Project Giggle’s concept document and website.
My next project. @GiggleAcademy (No logo yet)
Free primary education (grade 1-12) for everyone.
No income.
Gamified.
Custom.Read the concept paper at https://t.co/knqmZF0sQ8
We are renting. Small team, working directly with CZ.
— CZ 🔶BNB (@cz_binance) March 19, 2024
The announcement comes as Zhao awaits sentencing on charges of failing to maintain an effective anti-money laundering program at Binance. In November, Zhao pleaded guilty and agreed to resign as part of a settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice. Binance was ordered to pay $4.3 billion in fines and “completely exit” the US market.
Zhao faces between 10 and 18 months in prison under federal sentencing guidelines, with sentencing postponed until April 30. As part of his plea deal, Zhao has paid $50 million in fines and is currently free on $175 million bond. A federal judge imposed travel restrictions, preventing him from leaving the U.S. because he deemed him a flight risk.
Despite his legal troubles, Zhao seems enthusiastic and optimistic about Project Giggle and its underlying cause. The concept document outlines an ambitious vision to “make primary education around the world freely accessible, addictive and adaptive for the children who do not have access to it today.”
The paper cites statistics showing that “more than 75% of the world’s 781 million illiterate adults are found in South Asia, West Asia and sub-Saharan Africa, and women make up almost two-thirds of all illiterate adults worldwide represent.” Giggle Academy aims to offer free online courses for grades 1 to 12 on core topics and topics such as emotional intelligence, finance and blockchain.
The no-cost, no-revenue initiative will generate support and interest through gamification to drive student engagement, an adaptive curriculum that encourages subject specialization, and a system of blockchain-based “soul-bound tokens” to certify student performance.
Crypto Twitter certainly had thoughts.
Great man who gives the world free education after donating [Crypto Twitter] the start of the biggest super cycle ever,” replied a retired trader. “Respect.”
Great man who gives the world free education after giving CT the start of the greatest super cycle ever seen
Respect.
— Feyronn (@feyronn) March 19, 2024
“Very good initiative CZ – the only way to bring about change in this world is through education.” added Kashif Raza, founder of Bitcoin education platform Bitinning. “Satoshi 9-page curriculum changed the world forever.”
Yet another follower quickly launched a Solana memecoin, although it appears there are now more than a dozen in existence that riff on the Giggle brand.
“Building a high-quality and solid education platform that is completely free and accessible to everyone is the most impactful thing I can do for the next chapter of my life,” Zhao said in a quote on the Giggle Academy website, which There is also a list of vacancies for a Senior Game Developer and Gamification Product Manager.