Changpeng "CZ" Zhao, founder of Binance, said that the mission of Giggle Academy is to provide completely free and accessible education to children worldwide, helping them gain skills and future opportunities. This statement was made in a blog post.
"I'm approaching 50. Not that young, not that old. I still have energy. So I asked myself: what's my next journey? I want to do something that can make a difference to the world," said Zhao. "For young kids, if content is animated well and music is fun, the kids' attention are naturally drawn in it. It is wonderful if a child is to give back later, but if not, it is fine too. The app is, and always will be, completely free."
Giggle Academy is an online education platform launched by Zhao with the goal of offering accessible, adaptive, and engaging learning experiences to underprivileged children globally, particularly in developing countries. The platform targets children who lack access to traditional education systems by offering comprehensive courses from grades 1 to 12. It employs gamification and adaptive learning strategies to make education more engaging and personalized. The initiative aligns with the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goal 4, which aims to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.
According to a 2023 UNICEF global report, only 4% of the poorest children in 97 countries have access to children's books at home, and just 46% have toys for early learning. This highlights stark disparities in early childhood education resources worldwide. The report emphasizes that free digital learning platforms are crucial for bridging these gaps, especially in low-resource settings where traditional materials are unavailable. UNICEF underscores that digital initiatives can help deliver quality early education to underserved populations.
A 2023 UNICEF analysis found that more than two-thirds of school-age children globally lacked access to online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic due to insufficient connectivity, devices, or affordable data, especially in Africa and parts of Asia. The report notes that children using digital platforms in connected regions had higher educational attainment, while those in offline areas experienced larger learning losses, widening existing disparities. As said by UNICEF, these digital divides pose significant barriers to equitable education.
Changpeng Zhao is also known as CZ and is the founder of YZi Labs. He previously founded Binance, where he built one of the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchanges and led major blockchain innovation efforts. According to BSC News, Zhao's career spans technology, entrepreneurship, and investment. His recent work with Giggle Academy marks a shift toward using technology for education and social good. He is recognized for his vision in making digital resources accessible globally.