Binance Founder CZ Predicts Bitcoin All-Time High in 2026

TLDR

• Binance co-founder Changpeng Zhao told CNBC he expects bitcoin to break its typical four-year cycle and reach new all-time highs in 2026 due to pro-crypto policies spreading globally.
• Zhao received a pardon from President Trump in October 2024 after serving four months in prison for Bank Secrecy Act violations related to inadequate anti-money-laundering controls at Binance.
• He is currently advising about a dozen governments on crypto regulation and asset tokenization while working on personal projects including Giggle Academy education platform and YZi Labs investment firm.
• Zhao denied any connection between his pardon and Trump-related crypto ventures, calling the pardon process a “black box” and saying he has never spoken with Trump.
• He rejected being portrayed as central to FTX’s collapse, saying Binance walked away from a potential acquisition after losing confidence in FTX’s financial disclosures.

Binance co-founder Changpeng Zhao spoke publicly about his outlook for cryptocurrency markets in an interview with CNBC at the World Economic Forum in Davos. He told the network he believes bitcoin will break its historical four-year cycle this year.

Zhao predicted bitcoin will reach new all-time highs in 2026. He attributed this forecast to what he described as pro-crypto policies in the United States and other countries.

The next bitcoin halving is not expected until April 2028. Under the typical cycle, a new all-time high would not occur until late 2029.

When asked if he agreed with Ark Invest CEO Cathie Wood’s forecast of bitcoin reaching between $300,000 and $1.5 million by 2030, Zhao said he has “very strong feelings that there will probably be a supercycle this year.” He described himself as a long-term holder rather than an active trader.

Pardon Ends Felony Status

Zhao received a pardon from President Trump in October 2024. The pardon came after he served four months in prison for violations of the Bank Secrecy Act.

He pleaded guilty in 2023 to failing to implement adequate anti-money-laundering controls at Binance. Zhao stepped down as CEO as part of a settlement with U.S. authorities.

Zhao said he did not expect to serve prison time. He pointed to past enforcement actions that typically resulted in deferred prosecution agreements or home confinement.

Zhao said he did not initially seek a pardon after his release. He only asked lawyers to submit a petition months later after media speculation linked his case to the Trump administration.

He described the pardon process as a “black box.” Zhao denied any direct lobbying or personal outreach to Trump or his family.

Government Advisory Work and Projects

Zhao said he is advising about a dozen governments on crypto regulation and asset tokenization. He told CNBC he spends considerable time talking with policymakers about how to regulate crypto and stablecoins.

At a World Economic Forum panel on Thursday, Zhao said he was in talks with roughly a dozen countries about tokenizing their assets. He did not mention specific nations or assets.

The goal is to enable countries to raise funds by offering small portions of state-owned assets to citizens or investors. This approach is similar to how some nations have sold stakes in national oil or telecom firms.

Zhao is working on several personal projects. He mentioned Giggle Academy, a free education platform, and YZi Labs, an investment firm.

He continues to mentor founders in the BNB Chain ecosystem. “We’re minority investors,” Zhao said. “I just mentor them.”

When asked what he would do differently, Zhao said he would have blocked U.S. users from Binance from day one. “If I had known what I know now, I would have just blocked U.S. users and avoided a lot of trouble,” he said.

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