Solana Opens Shanghai Office; CZ Says BNB Chain Hasn't Managed It in China

Solana (SOL) has set up a Shanghai office and put its name on the city skyline. Binance founder Changpeng “CZ” Zhao says his BNB Chain has yet to achieve that kind of China presence.

Crypto trading has been prohibited in mainland China since 2021. Even so, an overseas blockchain foundation is running public advertising and keeping a local office in Shanghai, the country’s financial center.

What Drew CZ’s Eye to Solana’s Shanghai Office

Rachel Conlan, the Solana Foundation’s chief strategy officer, posted photos from Shanghai that included the new workspace. Her update also showed the Solana brand glowing across the city’s skyline.

What a Day 1 in Shanghai.

From visiting the new office to seeing Solana light up the Shanghai skyline.
Quite a way to kick off the week!

Incredible energy from the community here.
— Rachel Conlan (@RachelConlan), October 14, 2026

Conlan came to the foundation in September, after a prior role as chief marketing officer at Binance.

Zhao shared Conlan’s post on X as a quote, welcoming the milestone and observing that BNB Chain—the network incubated by Binance—hasn’t matched it yet.

It's amazing to see that Solana was able to advertise and even get an office in China. 👏@BNBChain was not able to do this, so far. 🤣

Hopefully, what's good for one industry player is also good for the rest. https://t.co/fNRRWnAGpt
— CZ 🔶 BNB (@cz_binance), October 15, 2026

The Shanghai office is also a hub for a broader Solana campaign in China this month. A page on the foundation’s site lists Solana Accelerate China, a series of events in Shanghai, Hangzhou, Shenzhen and Beijing.

Zhao’s own ties to China run deep. His memoir, Freedom of Money, follows his route from rural China to founding Binance.

Binance started out in China in 2017, but before long Beijing’s crackdown on token sales forced it offshore.

Does Beijing’s Crypto Ban Leave Space for More Foreign Players?

The prohibition targets crypto trading, token sales and exchange services, while leaving blockchain technology itself untouched.

On paper, the ban remains in force. In February, authorities widened their crackdown to cover stablecoin issuance and real-world asset (RWA) tokenization.

In parallel, Beijing is actively supporting the underlying technology. The national blockchain network it is planning leaves Bitcoin out entirely.

That split may be why Solana has gained a foothold in China. The foundation is pitching its tour to developers, executives, and more than 100 fintech and technology companies.

Zhao nevertheless described Solana’s China access as a potential precedent. After an X user said he was treating rivals too kindly, he pushed back, saying any player who expands the industry benefits everyone.

It's not a competition. Whoever helps to expand the industry benefits the entire industry. You don't have to do everything yourself. 😂
— CZ 🔶 BNB (@cz_binance), October 15, 2026

Zhao’s wording itself leaves the door open. BNB Chain, he said, has not caught up to Solana “so far.”

The longevity of Solana’s China office, along with any BNB Chain follow-up, will make clear how much room the ban gives foreign blockchains.