Binance founder Changpeng “CZ” Zhao predicts that 2026 will bring a supercycle for Bitcoin, potentially ending the cryptocurrency’s traditional four-year cycle.
Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Zhao cited the U.S. government’s pro-crypto stance and growing international adoption as reasons he believes Bitcoin could rise sharply this year.
“I have very strong feelings it will probably be a supercycle in 2026 for Bitcoin,” CZ told CNBC, while holding both BTC and Binance’s BNB token. He did not provide a specific price target but said it is “easy to predict” that prices will be higher over a 5-10 year horizon.
Zhao also denied any special relationship between Binance and President Donald Trump, which some critics suggested may have influenced Trump’s decision to pardon him in October 2025.
“Based on my knowledge, there is really no connection,” Zhao said. “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.”
He addressed investment dealings with Abu Dhabi firm MGX, which paid Binance $2 billion in the USD1 stablecoin linked to Trump-connected World Liberty Financial. Zhao clarified that he simply accepted crypto payments to avoid banks.
CZ was sentenced to four months in prison in April 2024 for Binance’s role in money laundering violations and was released early in September 2024. He expressed gratitude for the pardon but emphasized he has never personally met Trump.
