Realistic AI videos spark crypto community concerns
AI-generated deepfake videos featuring former Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao and co-founder Yi He have been spreading across Crypto Twitter this week. The clips show remarkably realistic avatars of both figures, complete with lifelike voices and facial expressions that mimic real human emotion.
I think what’s striking about these videos is how they’re styled as dramatic mini-series about “internal affairs” at Binance. They don’t seem to be trying to pass as real news, but the quality has genuinely surprised people. Several users noted that the production values now approach professional studio work, which is both impressive and concerning.
The blurring line between satire and deception
Most of the videos circulating have been clearly labeled as AI-generated satire. They play on the known professional and personal relationship between Zhao and Yi He, who founded Binance together in 2017. The content focuses on imagined corporate tensions rather than actual events.
Neither Zhao nor Yi He has commented publicly about these videos. But their silence might speak volumes about how common this type of content is becoming. Perhaps they see it as harmless entertainment, or maybe they’re just waiting to see how far it goes.
What worries me is that while these particular videos appear designed for entertainment, the same technology could easily be used for less benign purposes. The tools are getting better every month, and the barrier to creating convincing fakes keeps dropping.
Crypto’s deepfake problem keeps growing
This isn’t an isolated incident. Crypto has become the most targeted industry for deepfake impersonation according to recent research. Scammers are using AI-generated videos, voice cloning, and synthetic avatars to impersonate founders, executives, and influencers.
Chainalysis reported that AI-generated impersonation scams surged by more than 1,400% in 2025. That’s a staggering increase, and it shows how quickly this problem is escalating. Law enforcement agencies have warned that distinguishing between satire, misinformation, and outright fraud is becoming increasingly difficult as generative AI improves.
What this means for the industry
These Binance videos serve as a cultural flashpoint. They’re entertaining, sure, but they also highlight a serious vulnerability. If people can create such convincing fake videos of high-profile crypto figures for fun, what’s stopping malicious actors from doing the same to manipulate markets or commit fraud?
The crypto industry faces growing pressure to improve user education around verification and digital literacy. As deepfake technology becomes cheaper and more accessible, the responsibility falls on platforms, projects, and communities to help users distinguish between real and synthetic content.
I keep thinking about how we verify information in this new reality. Traditional methods might not be enough anymore. Maybe we need new verification standards, or better tools for detecting AI-generated content. Or perhaps we just need to be more skeptical about everything we see online.
The videos themselves are fascinating from a technical perspective. They show how far AI has come in replicating human appearance and speech. But they also serve as a warning about where this technology could lead if we’re not careful. It’s a reminder that in crypto, where trust and verification are already challenging, AI adds another layer of complexity we need to navigate.
