Binance founder Changpeng @CZ Zhao recently shared optimistic views on Bitcoin's future during interviews at the World Economic Forum in Davos, predicting a shift away from the cryptocurrency's traditional four-year halving cycles.
He expressed strong confidence in a "supercycle" for Bitcoin in 2026, driven by the U.S. government's increasingly pro-crypto policies under President Trump and potential broader adoption by other countries.
"I have very strong feelings it will probably be a supercycle in 2026 for Bitcoin," Zhao stated, adding that over a 5-10 year horizon, "it’s very easy to predict... We’re going to go up."
While he didn't provide a specific price target, Zhao noted his personal holdings in BTC and BNB, contrasting with predictions from others like Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse ($180,000) and BitMEX co-founder Arthur Hayes ($200,000) for $BTC by the end of 2026.
He attributed the potential supercycle in part to expectations of increased liquidity from Trump-era policies.
In the same discussions, Zhao firmly denied any personal or business ties to President Trump or his family, addressing speculation fueled by his recent pardon.
"There’s no business relationships whatsoever," he told CNBC, emphasizing that he has never spoken to or met Trump, though they were once about 30-40 feet apart at Davos.
The controversy stems from a $2 billion investment in Binance by Abu Dhabi's state-owned MGX in March 2025, which was paid using USD1—a stablecoin issued by World Liberty Financial, a crypto firm run by the Trump family.
Zhao clarified that MGX chose USD1 independently, and his only request was for payment in crypto to avoid banking hassles, calling the perceived link "misconstrued."
He added, "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."
World Liberty Financial also denied any role in the pardon process.
The pardon itself came from Trump in October 2025, following Zhao's guilty plea in 2023 to charges related to enabling money laundering at Binance, which resulted in a $4.3 billion settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice.
Zhao served four months in prison and was released in September 2024, stepping down as CEO but remaining a major shareholder.
$TRUMP has publicly stated he did not know Zhao personally and viewed him as a "victim" of the previous Biden administration.
Binance had hired lobbyists to push for executive relief, but Zhao insisted no deals were made for the pardon.
As of the latest reports, the crypto market remains stable with minor movements: Bitcoin down about 0.21%, while BNB and $XRP show slight gains.
Zhao's comments reflect a broader sentiment of optimism in the industry amid regulatory shifts.


