Binance co-founders CZ and Yi He adopted Simpsons cartoon aliases ‘Homer’ and ‘Marge’ in company meetings

The internal culture of early cryptocurrency giants often blended extreme operational security with playful pop culture references. At Binance, the world's largest digital asset exchange, co-founders Changpeng Zhao and Yi He adopted the identities of television's most famous cartoon couple. The two executives utilized internal aliases inspired by The Simpsons to communicate securely. Zhao, widely known in the industry as CZ, operated under the pseudonym Homer within the company's messaging channels. His co-founder and current co-CEO, Yi He, took on the moniker of Marge. These cartoon personas allowed the leadership duo to coordinate high-level decisions while maintaining a layer of anonymity during the exchange's rapid, chaotic formative years. While Zhao has stepped back from active management following his legal settlements with United States regulators, his co-founder reportedly maintains the tradition. Internal communications reviewed by journalists indicate that Yi He still utilizes the Marge handle in active company chats. The persistence of the alias highlights how deeply embedded early startup habits remain at the firm. The revelation of these Simpsons aliases offers a rare glimpse into the private operations of a company historically known for its decentralized, secretive structure. For years, Binance operated without a formal physical headquarters, relying on encrypted messaging apps to manage global operations. Using fictional characters helped shield executive identities from lower-level staff and potential external intruders. As regulatory scrutiny intensifies across the global digital asset market, the transition from informal startup culture to institutional compliance remains a challenge. Yet, even as Binance implements stricter corporate governance under new leadership, some eccentricities of its founding era persist. The ongoing use of these cartoon handles serves as a living artifact of the exchange's unorthodox history.