In July 2017, Sun Zhengcai was suddenly investigated and expelled from the CCP. He and Hu Chunhua were once seen as candidates for the sixth-generation leadership; his downfall marked a turning point for the succession plans Hu Jintao had left for himself.
The South China Morning Post published an investigative report by financial columnist Shirley Yam regarding the relationship between Cai Huabo and a close aide to Xi Jinping, but it was subsequently retracted due to "unverifiable insinuations."
As Next Magazine began tracking his whereabouts and launching an investigation, Cai Huabo suddenly resigned from his top position at Taiho Holdings.
After Binance launched, China began to regulate the digital currency industry, and Changpeng Zhao led his team to shift the business overseas.