Binance founder Changpeng “CZ” Zhao has sparked excitement within the cryptocurrency community by forecasting a Bitcoin supercycle in 2026 during a recent discussion at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. Zhao, while not providing a specific price target, expressed confidence that Bitcoin’s value will be significantly higher in the next five to ten years. His optimism is rooted in the increasingly supportive stance of the U.S. government towards cryptocurrencies and the possibility of other nations adopting similar approaches.
Zhao emphasized his belief that the traditional four-year Bitcoin cycle, which typically sees the asset rise and then fall following its halving, will be disrupted. He stated, “I have very strong feelings it will probably be a supercycle in 2026 for Bitcoin,” indicating that as Bitcoin trends upwards, other cryptocurrencies are likely to follow suit.
Despite not citing specific numbers, Zhao’s comments come in the wake of ambitious predictions from other industry figures, such as Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse and BitMex co-founder Arthur Hayes, who have suggested that Bitcoin could reach prices of $180,000 and $200,000, respectively, by 2026. Zhao remarked, “[On a] 5-10 year horizon, it’s very easy to predict,” adding, “We’re going to go up.”
In the same interview, Zhao addressed inquiries regarding alleged ties between Binance and former President Donald Trump, specifically claims that such connections may have influenced Trump’s decision to grant him a pardon in October. Zhao firmly denied any relationship, stating, “Based on my knowledge, there is really no connection.” He clarified that the only link is that the Trump family is involved in the crypto space and that the administration had a pro-crypto outlook, which he believes benefits the entire industry.
Zhao also touched upon a significant $2 billion investment made by Abu Dhabi investment firm MGX in Binance, which was paid using USD1 stablecoin—launched by World Liberty Financial, a company associated with Trump. He criticized the narrative surrounding this investment as “misconstrued,” explaining that MGX, as the investor, chose to pay in USD1, while his preference was for a cryptocurrency transaction to avoid traditional banking systems.
Furthermore, Zhao stated he has never had direct communication with Trump, noting that the closest he got was being about 30-40 feet away from him at Davos. Expressing gratitude for the pardon, he acknowledged its significance during his time in the industry.
Zhao previously faced legal repercussions, having been sentenced to four months in prison in April 2024 for his company’s involvement in money laundering violations. He completed his sentence in September, two days ahead of schedule.
