CZ has publicly responded to a New York Times article by reporter David Yaffe-Bellany that implied his distribution of Binance merchandise constituted bribery. CZ stated the reporter displayed clear skepticism and presented a misleading characterization of his actions, clarifying that gifting branded items was solely intended to convert recipients into "walking billboards" for promotional purposes. Despite criticizing the report's perceived bias, CZ expressed gratitude for the coverage. The response addresses allegations raised in the Times' recent feature examining his current activities and lifestyle in Abu Dhabi.