On April 8, 2026, CZ @cz_binance's new book, "Freedom of Money" (The Binance Story), was officially launched, instantly igniting a reading frenzy across the entire crypto community.
The crypto world has never lacked myths of overnight fortunes, but hidden behind the candlestick charts and code is often a more thrilling human drama and power struggle.
If you find yourself wanting more after reading CZ's new book, then the following list covering both "Eastern and Western perspectives" in the crypto world, filled with must-read biographies and in-depth narratives, will definitely allow you to see through this magical decade.
Part One: Western Perspective - From Geek Utopia to Global Wall Street Narrative
Biographies from a Western perspective often focus more on the collision of technological idealism, regulatory gamesmanship, and the madness of the capital market.
1. "Digital Gold" - The "Genesis" of Bitcoin
Key Figures: Satoshi Nakamoto, Winklevoss Twins, Early Geeks
Highlights: If you want to know how it all began, this is a must-read foundational work. Author Nathaniel Popper, through detailed oral history, recounts how Bitcoin evolved from a geeky experiment in a cypherpunk mailing list, gradually attracting dark web Silk Road hackers, Silicon Valley venture capitalists, and eventually re-engagement by the Winklevoss twins.
2. "The Infinite Machine" - The Turbulent Birth of Ethereum
Key Figures: Vitalik Buterin (Vitalik), and Ethereum Co-Founders
Highlights: This book vividly portrays how Vitalik led a group of vastly different geniuses and madmen to establish the Ethereum empire amidst chaos. The book intricately recounts the early DAO hack incident and the subsequent hard fork crisis, showcasing the compromise and perseverance of technological idealism in the face of real-world interests.
3. "Going Infinite" - The Collapse of a Super Bubble
Key Figure: Sam Bankman-Fried (SBF)
Highlight: Written by Michael Lewis, author of "The Big Short," it chronicles FTX founder SBF's absurd journey from "genius billionaire" to a fallen man. Combined with CZ's new book's assessment of SBF, reading both books side by side allows you to more deeply understand how Alameda's fund black hole has swallowed billions of dollars.
4. "Kings of Crypto" - An Exemplar of Embracing Regulatory Compliance
Main Figure: Brian Armstrong (Coinbase CEO)
Highlight: In contrast to Binance's early "roaming" path, Coinbase has taken a tough approach towards U.S. regulatory compliance. This book recounts how Brian Armstrong, starting from scratch, led Coinbase to the Nasdaq under the gaze of the SEC, making it an important reference for understanding the evolution of U.S. crypto power.
II. Chinese Perspective: The Rise of Grassroots, Internal Struggles, and the Underworld of the Dark Web
Compared to the Western tech narrative, the history of the Chinese-speaking crypto community is more like a grassroots biography full of a Jianghu atmosphere. Perhaps due to regulatory sensitivity, formal autobiographies of Chinese crypto tycoons are rare, but those top-notch, in-depth investigative reports are equally exciting.
5. "The Self-Cultivation of Leeks" - Enlightenment and Self-Mockery of Retail Investors
Main Figure: Li Xiaolai
Highlight: As the most controversial "Bitcoin tycoon" in the early Chinese community, Li Xiaolai's book, though not long, straightforwardly reveals the logic of market makers in the crypto world and the fatal mentality of retail investors (leeks). It is a epitome of early Chinese cryptocurrency investment philosophy.
6. Mining Wars: A Deep Dive Into Bitmain's Internal Struggles (In-depth Feature)
Main Figures: Wu Jihan vs. Micree Zhan
Highlight: Hash power was once the most powerful weapon through which the Chinese-speaking crypto community ruled the world. This in-depth series meticulously documents Bitmain's two founders, from fighting side by side to snatching company seals, splitting up, and litigating in a public showdown known as the "Double Wus Split." Understanding this saga unveils the power vacuum and bear market truth in the mining industry.
"Wu Jihan: The Beauty of Hash Power"
https://www.techflowpost.com/en-US/article/10614
"The 'Immortal Beings' of Bitmain Fight, But It's They Who Get Hurt"
https://36kr.com/p/745657888526214
《Bitmain Finally Quiets Down as Micree Zhan Leaves with Love》
https://36kr.com/p/1072430725510278
7. Justin Sun Legend and OK Life (In-depth Documentary Collection)
Key Figures: Justin Sun, Xu Mingxing, Li Lin
Highlights: Whether it's the marketing genius Justin Sun who filmed the Buffett dinner, or Xu Mingxing who led OKEx to rise from a dropout, or Li Lin who sadly sold Huobi. Combined with the deep retrospectives of major media in 2026 and revelations from CZ's new book, the intertwining stories of these three individuals form a complete history of the Chinese CEX (Centralized Exchange) bloody battle over the past decade.
《This World is Both Cruel and Gentle》, Justin Sun @justinsuntron 2026 B.AI Interview
https://www.techflowpost.com/en-US/article/31072
Xu Mingxing @star_okx's《"OK Life"》
https://en.theblockbeats.news/news/61880
8. The Collapse Behind HWang: A Story of Phnom Penh's Underground Finance
Key Figures: Gray Industry Leaders and Money Laundering Network
Highlights: With the comprehensive crackdown by regulators in 2026, the crypto underground empire hidden in Southeast Asia has come to light. This investigative special report reveals the Telegram darknet supermarket, USDT money laundering network, and the operating logic of scam zones, serving as the most authentic warning about understanding the "undercurrent risks" of cryptocurrency.
《The Collapse Behind HWang: A Story of Phnom Penh's Underground Finance》
https://www.theblockbeats.info/news/61958
Conclusion
Over the past decade of cryptocurrency, it has been a gradual process, not just a day's work, and certainly not a simple casino.
While Western biographies have outlined the industry's technological profile and capital logic for you, the in-depth documentaries in the Chinese-speaking world have filled in the flesh and blood of power, desire, and humanity.
From the geeky original intent in "Digital Gold" to the Binance-centric life in "Freedom of Money," and then to the shocking alarm bell in "The Collapse of the Huobi Empire." After reading these texts, you will not only understand the logic behind the candlestick chart, but also see through this crazy world built on "cryptography + human nature."
