Binance co-founders Changpeng "CZ" Zhao and Yi He reportedly relied on codenames borrowed from "The Simpsons" — "Homer" and "Marge" — to refer to themselves during internal company discussions.
The Cartoon Aliases
According to reporting on the crypto exchange's internal culture, Zhao and Yi He adopted the animated aliases as a way to communicate within Binance meetings and chat channels. Zhao, the exchange's founder and longtime public face, took on the name "Homer," while Yi He went by "Marge."
The pairing mirrors the fictional married couple from the long-running television show, though the choice of nicknames offers a rare glimpse into the informal side of one of the crypto industry's most powerful companies.
Behind the world's largest crypto exchange, two of its most influential figures were quietly answering to "Homer" and "Marge."
Yi He's Continued Role
Yi He remains a central figure at Binance, now serving as co-CEO alongside Richard Teng. She has reportedly continued to use the "Marge" alias in meetings and chats even as her formal responsibilities have expanded.
Her enduring role underscores her importance to the exchange's operations, particularly following Zhao's stepping back from the CEO position amid regulatory settlements in the United States. Teng took over the top job while Yi He retained significant influence over the company's direction.
The revelation adds a lighthearted layer to Binance's story, which has otherwise been dominated by regulatory scrutiny, legal settlements and questions about corporate governance. It also highlights how closely intertwined the two co-founders' roles have remained throughout the company's evolution.
- Zhao used the alias "Homer" in internal communications.
- Yi He adopted the name "Marge" and reportedly still uses it.
- Yi He currently serves as co-CEO alongside Richard Teng.