Indian blockchain firm 5ireChain has landed in hot water with Binance co-founder Changpeng Zhao (CZ) after sharing a photo of CZ and 5ireChain CEO Pratik Gauri. The photo, taken at an event, showed the two smiling for the camera with the caption “What’s cooking?” and a handshake emoji, suggesting a possible collaboration.
The post however was met with a swift response from Zhao, who dismissed any such implications. “This is exactly how NOT to use a selfie with me. Nothing is cooking. Didn’t even have a chat. Just a selfie at an event,” he wrote in a reply, setting the record straight about the nature of the encounter.
5ireChain quickly removed the post after CZ’s reaction and replaced it with a new one clarifying their intentions. The updated caption stated:
“Note: This post is not intended to imply any collaboration or partnership between our Founder & CEO Pratik Gauri and Changpeng Zhao. It is purely an appreciation post from our founder to recognize CZ’s unparalleled contributions to the blockchain and crypto industry. Truly a legend.”
Despite the clarification, CZ issued a warning to the broader blockchain community about using such photos for promotional purposes without permission. “You should be alarmed if a person/project uses a selfie with someone else as promotional material. Posting selfies when I meet someone I like/admire is normal. But I would never use that to promote my project, unless with explicit permission,” he cautioned.
The incident has ignited conversations about marketing ethics in the blockchain industry, highlighting the importance of transparency and consent in promotional activities.
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