Binance Founder CZ Projects Bitcoin Supercycle for 2026, Denies Trump Relationship

In brief

• Binance founder Changpeng “CZ” Zhao called for a Bitcoin supercycle in 2026.
• Though he didn’t provide a specific price target, he said it’s “easy to predict” that prices will be higher in 5-10 years.
• Zhao also denied any relationship between Binance and President Trump that may have influenced his recent pardon.

Binance co-founder Changpeng “CZ” Zhao thinks 2026 will be a supercycle for Bitcoin.  The former Binance CEO cited the United States government’s growing pro-crypto stance and the likelihood of other nations following suit as a reason he suspects that Bitcoin will break the four-year cycle—a historical trend in which BTC rises and then ultimately falls following its quadrennial halving. And as Bitcoin goes, the rest of the crypto market often follows. “I have very strong feelings it will probably be a supercycle in 2026 for Bitcoin,” CZ told CNBC’s Aaron Ross Sorkin at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

Zhao, who said he holds BTC and Binance’s BNB token, did not provide a specific price target for the asset. However, other outspoken crypto execs like Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse and BitMex co-founder Arthur Hayes have been more forthcoming, recently calling for targets of $180,000 and $200,000 respectively for crypto’s top asset in 2026. “[On a] 5-10 year horizon, it’s very easy to predict,” said Zhao. “We’re going to go up.”  During his conversation with Ross Sorkin, Zhao also denied connections to President Donald Trump and his crypto dealings, which some industry critics allege may have swayed the president’s decision in granting Zhao a pardon in October. 

“Based on my knowledge, there is really no connection,” said Zhao. “The only thing is, the Trump family is in crypto. Binance is a large crypto firm and President Trump’s administration is pro-crypto. That helps all the businesses in crypto.”  Last year, Abu Dhabi investment firm MGX invested $2 billion in Binance, paid in the USD1 stablecoin launched by the Trump-connected World Liberty Financial. When pressed about that connection, Zhao said the dealings have been “misconstrued.”  “MGX is the investor. They choose USD1,” Zhao told CNBC. “My request to them was [that] they pay us in crypto. I don’t want to deal with banks, really.” Zhao added that he has never talked to or met President Trump, saying that he’s only gotten as close as 30-40 feet from him at Davos earlier this week.  “I want to extend my appreciation to him, obviously,” said Zhao. “I’m super appreciative of the pardon.”  CZ was sentenced to four months in prison in April 2024 for his firm’s role in money laundering violations. He was released that Sepember, two days early, after completing his sentence.