On April 8, 2026, Binance founder Zhao Changpeng (CZ)'s new book "Freedom of Money" officially launched, instantly igniting a reading frenzy throughout the crypto community.

The crypto world has never lacked myths of overnight wealth, but hidden behind the candlesticks and code are often more thrilling human struggles and power clashes.

If you finish CZ's new book and still feel unsatisfied, then this must-read book list and in-depth documentation covering "Chinese and foreign perspectives" on the crypto world will definitely help you see through this magical decade.

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

Biographies from a Western perspective often focus more on the collision of technological idealism, compliance battles, and the madness of capital markets.

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 foundational work is a must-read. Author Nathaniel Popper documents how Bitcoin evolved from a geek experiment in a cypherpunk mailing list to attracting dark web hackers from Silk Road, Silicon Valley venture capitalists, and ultimately leading the Winklevoss twins to make a significant investment.

1. "The Infinite Machine" - The Chaotic Birth of Ethereum

• Key Figures: Vitalik Buterin and Ethereum co-founders

• Highlights: This book vividly portrays how Vitalik and a group of diverse geniuses and madmen built the Ethereum empire amidst chaos. It details the early DAO hacking incident and the subsequent hard fork crisis, showcasing the compromises and steadfastness of technological idealism in the face of real-world interests.

1. "Going Infinite" - The Collapse of the Super Bubble

• Key Figures: Sam Bankman-Fried (SBF)

• Highlights: Written by Michael Lewis, author of "The Big Short," this book chronicles the absurd journey of FTX founder SBF from "genius billionaire" to prisoner. By combining this with CZ's evaluation of SBF in his new book, you can gain a deeper understanding of how Alameda's funding black hole consumed billions in wealth.

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

• Key Figures: Brian Armstrong (Coinbase CEO)

• Highlights: Unlike Binance's early "wandering" approach, Coinbase has taken a strict compliance path with U.S. regulations. This book documents how Brian Armstrong rose from grassroots entrepreneurship to take Coinbase public on Nasdaq under the scrutiny of the SEC, serving as an important reference for understanding the evolution of power in the U.S. crypto space.

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

Compared to the Western technological narrative, the history of the Chinese crypto world resembles a legendary tale filled with the spirit of the underworld. Due to regulatory sensitivities, formal autobiographies from Chinese leaders are rare, but top-notch in-depth feature articles are equally brilliant.

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

• Key Figures: Li Xiaolai

• Highlights: As one of the most controversial "Bitcoin billionaires" in the early Chinese circle, Li Xiaolai's book, though short, straightforwardly reveals the logic of market makers and the fatal mindset of retail investors (often referred to as "韭菜" or "chives"). It is a microcosm of early Chinese crypto investment philosophy.

5. "Mining Wars: A Documentary of Bitmain's Infighting" (In-Depth Feature)

• Key Figures: Wu Jihan vs. Zhan Ketuan

• Highlights: Computing power was once the strongest weapon for the Chinese crypto world to dominate globally. This series of in-depth documentaries details the "Wu-Wu Split" drama between the two founders of Bitmain, from fighting side by side to seizing seals and going to court. Understanding this will help you grasp the power vacuum and bear market truths in the mining sector.

"Wu Jihan: The Beauty of Computing Power" https://www.techflowpost.com/en-US/article/10614

"Bitmain's 'Immortal' Fight, but the Injured Are Them" https://36kr.com/p/745657888526214

"Bitmain Finally Calmed Down, Wu Jihan Left with Love" https://36kr.com/p/1072430725510278

7. The Biography of Sun Yuchen and the Life of OK (In-Depth Documentary Collection)

• Key Figures: Sun Yuchen, Xu Mingxing, Li Lin

• Highlights: Whether it's the marketing genius Sun Yuchen who filmed Buffett's dinner, Xu Mingxing who led OKX through school dropout and rights protection turmoil, or Li Lin who reluctantly sold Huobi. Combined with in-depth reviews from major media in 2026 and revelations from CZ's new book, the intertwined stories of these three individuals form a complete ten-year blood battle history of Chinese centralized exchanges (CEX).

"This World Is Both Cruel and Gentle," Sun Yuchen 2026 B.AI Interview https://www.techflowpost.com/en-US/article/31072

Xu Mingxing's "Life of OK" https://en.theblockbeats.news/news/61880

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

• Key Figures: Grey industry giants and money laundering networks

• Highlights: With the comprehensive regulatory crackdown in 2026, the hidden crypto black industry empire in Southeast Asia surfaced. This series of investigative features reveals the operational logic of Telegram dark web markets, USDT money laundering networks, and scam parks, serving as the most authentic warning about the "dark river risks" of cryptocurrencies.

"The Collapse of the Huiwang Empire: A 24 Billion Underground River" https://www.odaily.news/en/post/5210095

Conclusion

The past decade or so of cryptocurrencies has not been a simple casino. Western biographies outline the technological contours and capital logic of the industry, while in-depth Chinese narratives fill in the flesh and blood of power, desire, and human nature.

From the geek origins in "Digital Gold," to the reflections behind bars in "Freedom of Money," and the shocking alarm in "The Collapse of the Huiwang Empire." After reading these texts, you will not only understand the logic behind candlestick charts but also see through this crazy world built on "cryptography + human nature."