I just came across a story and want to share it with everyone. A Sichuan girl born in 1986, who lost her father at age 9, dropped out of school at 16 to work, but ultimately took control of the world's largest cryptocurrency trading platform. Her name is He Yi.

How outrageous is this story? She spent 900k yuan on a coin years ago, which is now worth 150 million USD. Even more incredible is that she holds not just money, but actual control over top global exchanges.

He Yi's life started off very difficult. A "prodigy" who started elementary school at age 5, yet her family did homework by kerosene lamp. Her father suddenly passed away when she was 9, and her mother raised her alone through hardship. But these hardships instead fueled her resilience—she helped her mother farm, took care of the family, yet still ranked first in her class.

At 16, He Yi made a surprising decision: drop out and work. "Knowledge in books will eventually be finished, but the big book of society is endless." She sat on a long-distance bus to Chengdu with a torn bag.

When selling drinks at the supermarket entrance, she quickly learned the tricks—mornings focused on health for the elderly, afternoons on fashion for students, evenings on creating romance for couples. By 18, she became a store manager. This experience was very important later because she realized doing business is really about understanding people's hearts.

In 2006, after four years in the business world, He Yi made an unexpected decision: go to Beijing for a master's in psychology. "I found that the hardest part of doing business isn't finding customers, but understanding them." She lived in a basement, took buses, worked part-time to make a living, but studied very diligently.

Later, she worked as a host and built a large network in the media industry. During the Spring Festival of 2014, a phone call changed her life—someone invited her to help promote a Bitcoin red envelope event. He Yi knew nothing about Bitcoin then, but the more she looked, the more she was shocked. Decentralization, global circulation, 24-hour trading... this was the "perfect product" she had dreamed of.

Soon after, she joined a well-known exchange and formed the famous "Iron Triangle" with a tech expert and a founder. He Yi used media resources and marketing skills to turn this exchange into a star platform. But later, due to strategic disagreements, she chose to leave. She didn't break her non-compete agreement but instead moved into short videos, even signing a Korean celebrity.

In June 2017, the tech expert invited He Yi to dinner and presented a white paper for a new project. She carefully reviewed it, her eyes brightening. "Isn't this the global trading platform I've always dreamed of?" She raised some sharp questions, confirmed everything, and decided on the spot: "I'm in!"

After the new exchange launched, the platform's token dropped from $1 to $0.50. Everyone advised He Yi to turn back, but she made a shocking decision: buy all her remaining 900k RMB worth of coins into this token. "If I don't believe in this project myself, how can I expect users to believe?"

In September 2017, Chinese regulators banned ICOs. The entire crypto world was in chaos, but He Yi saw an opportunity. She called her team overnight: "Crisis is an opportunity! Domestic exchanges are shutting down, but users still need a place to trade." She launched strategies like conscience refunds and global marketing. Three months after the 94 incident, the exchange's user base exploded, becoming the largest in the world. The platform token soared from $0.50 to $20, turning her 900k RMB into 36 million USD.

In 2018, the exchange was hacked. He Yi didn't sleep for 72 hours straight. "I guarantee with my integrity that users' funds are safe!" The company announced full compensation, once again earning trust.

As internationalization accelerated, He Yi made a wise decision: step back behind the scenes, letting a tech expert with Canadian background take the front. But stepping back didn't mean losing influence—she controlled core user operations, community management, and crisis PR. She called herself "Chief Customer Service," online 24/7. When a college student accidentally transferred $500 incorrectly, she personally followed up and helped recover the funds.

In November 2023, the tech expert was sentenced to prison for violating anti-money laundering laws, and the exchange was fined $4.3 billion. When news broke, BNB plummeted 30%, $3 billion in funds flowed out, and staff panicked. While caring for her three children, He Yi sent internal emails to stabilize morale: "Binance's foundation is solid. I will stand with everyone through this." She personally spoke with key employees, reassured users on social media, and actively cooperated with regulators. After several months, the exchange stabilized and even grew against the trend.

In December 2025, the exchange announced He Yi as Co-CEO. From behind the scenes to the front, from co-founder to Co-CEO, He Yi finally stepped into the spotlight.

Although her net worth exceeds $10 billion, her lifestyle remains surprisingly low-key. No mansions, no flaunting luxury goods—her social media posts are all about work. She spends her time on three things: spending time with her children, managing the company, and learning English. Yes, this industry female leader still insists on studying English every day.

He Yi's story teaches us several lessons: origin does not determine destiny; choices do. The 94 incident was a crisis, but she saw opportunity; her tech expert's imprisonment was a blow, but she turned danger into opportunity. In a male-dominated crypto industry, He Yi proved that women can also become leaders.

She has traveled 38 years from a coal oil lamp in a Sichuan mountain village to the top office of a global leading exchange. Not because of luck, but because of strength. Every step reflects her wisdom and choices.

Life has no wasted steps; every step counts. He Yi proves this with her story.