Written by: Biteye

On April 8, 2026, the new book "Freedom of Money" by Binance founder Zhao Changpeng (CZ) officially went online, igniting a reading frenzy across the entire cryptocurrency community.

The cryptocurrency world has never lacked myths of becoming rich overnight, but hidden behind the candlestick charts and codes are often more thrilling human games and power struggles.

If after reading CZ's new book you still feel unsatisfied, then the following essential reading list and in-depth documentary covering "Chinese and foreign perspectives" in the cryptocurrency space will surely allow you to see through this magical ten-year Jianghu.

I. Western Perspective: From Geek Utopia to Global Narrative on Wall Street

Biographies from the Western perspective often focus more on the collision of technological idealism, regulatory games, and the madness of capital markets.

1. "Digital Gold" - The Genesis of Bitcoin

• Core Figures: Satoshi Nakamoto, Winklevoss Twins, Early Geeks
• Highlights: If you want to know how it all began, this foundational work is a must-read. Author Nathaniel Popper records how Bitcoin evolved from a geek experiment in the cypherpunk mailing list to capturing the attention of dark web hackers on Silk Road and Silicon Valley venture capitalists, eventually leading the Winklevoss twins to re-enter the scene.

2. "The Infinite Machine" - The Chaos of Ethereum's Birth

• Core Figures: Vitalik Buterin and Ethereum's co-founders
• Highlights: This book vividly portrays how Vitalik and a group of diverse geniuses and madmen established the Ethereum empire amid chaos. It intricately details the early DAO hacking incident and the subsequent hard fork crisis, showcasing the compromises and stances of technological idealism in the face of real-world interests.

3. "Going Infinite" - The Collapse of a Super Bubble

• Core Figure: Sam Bankman-Fried (SBF)
• Highlights: Penned by Michael Lewis, the author of "The Big Short," this book chronicles the absurd journey of FTX founder SBF from "genius billionaire" to prisoner. Combined with CZ's evaluation of SBF in his new book, reading both will deepen your understanding of how Alameda's financial black hole consumed billions in wealth.

4. "Kings of Crypto" - A Compliance Model Embracing Regulation

• Core Figure: Brian Armstrong (Coinbase CEO)
• Highlights: Unlike Binance's early "drifting" route, Coinbase took a tough approach toward compliance with U.S. regulations. This book documents Brian Armstrong's rise from grassroots entrepreneur to getting Coinbase listed on Nasdaq under the watchful eye of the SEC, serving as an important reference for understanding the evolution of power in the U.S. cryptocurrency space.

II. Chinese Perspective: The Rise of Grassroots, Infighting, and the Jianghu of the Dark Web

In contrast to Western technological narratives, the history of the Chinese cryptocurrency scene resembles a legendary account filled with Jianghu spirit. Due to regulatory sensitivities, there are few formal autobiographies from Chinese magnates, but the top deep investigative reports are equally brilliant.

5. "Self-Cultivation of Retail Investors" - The Enlightenment and Self-Mockery of Small Investors

• Core Figure: Li Xiaolai
• Highlights: As one of the most controversial "Bitcoin billionaires" in the early Chinese scene, Li Xiaolai's short book straightforwardly reveals the logic of market manipulators and the fatal mentality of retail investors (often referred to as "leeks"). It is an epitome of early Chinese cryptocurrency investment philosophy.

6. "Mining Wars: The Infighting of Bitmain" (In-depth Special Report)

• Core Figures: Wu Jihan vs. Zhan Ketuan
• Highlights: Computing power was once the strongest weapon for the Chinese cryptocurrency community to dominate globally. This series of in-depth reports details the dramatic "Wu Jihan split," where the two founders of Bitmain transitioned from fighting side by side to fighting over company seals and splitting assets in court. Understanding this will clarify the power vacuum and bear market truths within the mining sector.

《Wu Jihan: The Beauty of Computing Power》

《Bitmain's "Immortals" Clash, Yet It Is Them Who Get Hurt》

《Bitmain Finally Calmed Down, Wu Jihan Leaves with Love》

7. The Biography of Sun Yuchen and His OK Journey (In-depth Report Collection)

• Core Figures: Sun Yuchen, Xu Mingxing, Li Lin
• Highlights: Whether it's the marketing genius Sun Yuchen who snapped up a seat to Buffet's dinner, Xu Mingxing who led OKX through a challenging comeback with the risk of dropping out, or Li Lin who quietly sold Huobi. When combined with the in-depth reviews from various major media in 2026 and the revelations from CZ's new book, the intertwined stories of these three individuals form a complete ten-year blood war history of Chinese CEX (centralized exchanges).

《This World is Both Cruel and Tender》， Sun Yuchen 2026 B.AI Interview

Xu Mingxing's 《"The OK Life"》

8. The Collapse of the Huibang Empire: 24 Billion Underground River (2026 Latest Investigative Report)

• Core Figures: Grey Industry Giants and Money Laundering Networks
• Highlights: With the comprehensive crackdown on regulations in 2026, the hidden cryptocurrency black industry empire in Southeast Asia has surfaced. This series of investigative reports unveils the operational logic of Telegram dark web supermarkets, USDT money laundering networks, and scam parks, offering the most authentic warning about the "dark river risks" of cryptocurrency.

《The Collapse of the Huibang Empire: 24 Billion Underground River》

Conclusion

The past decade or so of cryptocurrencies is neither a short winter nor merely a casino. Western biographies paint the technical outlines and capital logic of the industry for you, while the deep reports from the Chinese sphere supplement the flesh and blood of power, desire, and humanity.

From the geek ideals in "Digital Gold" to the reflections behind bars in "Freedom of Money," and the alarming warnings in "The Collapse of the Huibang Empire." After reading these texts, you will not only grasp the logic behind candlestick charts but also see through this crazy world constructed by "cryptography + humanity."