Nouriel Roubini slams Binance boss CZ as a 'walking time bomb' and says crypto is totally corrupt

• Nouriel Roubini called Binance founder Changpeng Zhao a "walking time bomb" on Wednesday.
• The economist called crypto "totally corrupt" at a CNBC event in Abu Dhabi.
• Roubini also slammed Shark Tank investor Kevin O'Leary, who he called "a paid hack for FTX".

Nouriel Roubini described Binance boss Changpeng Zhao as a "walking time bomb" Wednesday in a passionate rant about corruption in the crypto industry.

The economist—who's been dubbed "Doctor Doom" for his grim predictions—said that the recent collapse of major exchange FTX shows that crypto needs to be wary of bad actors, and included Zhao, better known by his initials CZ, within that group.

"There are seven Cs of crypto," Roubini told CNBC Middle East Wednesday. "Concealed, corrupt, crooks, criminals, con men, carnival barkers and finally, CZ."

"Unfortunately this is an ecosystem that is totally corrupt," Roubini added. "Unfortunately it is and I think the lesson of the last few weeks is that these people should be out of here."

Speaking at the Abu Dhabi Finance Week, Roubini questioned why Binance is allowed to operate in the United Arab Emirates.

The exchange was banned from the UK by the Financial Conduct Authority last year, and is also under investigation by US authorities over claims it helped Iranian firms to launder money.

"I can't believe that CZ and Binance has a license to operate in the UAE," Roubini said. "The regulators should be thinking carefully," he added. "That's a walking time bomb."

Roubini also criticized "Shark Tank" investor and frequent CNBC guest Kevin O'Leary, who was a spokesperson and early investor for the now-bankrupt exchange.

"Kevin O'Leary is a paid hack for FTX," he said. "I hope that CNBC is going to get rid of him."

Neither Binance nor Kevin O'Leary immediately responded to Insider's requests for comment.

Roubini is a longtime crypto critic who has repeatedly slammed the industry, including after FTX announced it was exploring a rescue deal with Binance after suffering a solvency crisis last week.

"First FTX bails out collapsing crypto Ponzi scams. Now FTX is collapsing & being bailed out by Binance," Roubini said in a November 9 tweet.

"But who will bail out Binance when that crappy house of cards collapses? Crypto is Mother Of All Ponzi Schemes!" he added.

Read more: 'Dr Doom' economist Nouriel Roubini suggests FTX's rescue deal shows how crypto is a Ponzi scheme: 'Who will bail out Binance?'