MOSCOW – The line for selfies with Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao seemed endless, even though it was the second photo op of the night.

The cryptocurrency exchange mogul, known as CZ, had already taken photos with Russian fans before the meetup started, and he kept smiling at cameras and shaking hands for half an hour after it ended.

It was CZ’s first visit to Russia, and the turnout showed his popularity with the local crypto scene. The concert hall of the Radisson hotel in central Moscow could hardly fit the roughly 700 people registered for the Oct. 21 event.

The warm feelings were mutual.

“We are always looking for partners in any community, especially in Russia,” CZ told CoinDesk before his talk. “Russia is our key market, one of the most activeapproval of the state Dream Act because it will help her pay for school.

“I think that the United States, in itself, was built upon the foundations of equality and opportunity, and the Dream Act in California enforces this idea because it’s telling you that regardless of documentation, you still have that opportunity to be successful.

Neil Nisperos has been a reporter covering everything from business to education, courts, politics, city government, features, arts and entertainment since 1999. On social media, he has a combined following of about 25,300 people over various apps and platforms. He's passionate about the cinema, science, philosophy, poetry, art, photography, culture, literature and history. He feels fortunate to be in the profession that keeps power in check, memorializes people's stories for posterity and helps people