Bitcoin’s Potential Shift and CZ’s Insights
Bitcoin (BTC) has historically followed a four-year cycle linked to halvings, with the price generally peaking 12 to 18 months post-supply reduction. After that, a notable market correction usually leads into a longer bear market. The next halving is anticipated around April 2028, with hopes for record highs by the end of next year.
Nonetheless, Changpeng “CZ” Zhao, co-founder and former CEO of Binance, predicts that Bitcoin might enter a “supercycle” in 2026, breaking away from its usual four-year boom-and-bust trend post-halving.
Bitcoin Could Experience a Supercycle in 2026, Says CZ
In a recent interview with CNBC, Zhao expressed his belief that Bitcoin is on the verge of breaking its historical cycle this year. He attributes this shift to increasing U.S. government support for cryptocurrencies, noting that other nations may follow suit.
“Typically, Bitcoin follows a four-year cycle, but I think this year will be different. The U.S. is pro-crypto, and other countries are starting to align,” Zhao explained during an interview with Andrew Ross Sorkin at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. He suggested that the leading cryptocurrency could achieve a new all-time high this year.
Despite the upcoming halving scheduled for April 2024, Bitcoin remains down 29% from its peak of $126,080 reached in October 2025.
Sorkin later inquired if Zhao aligned with Cathie Wood, CEO of Ark Investments, who projected Bitcoin might soar to between $300,000 and $1.2 million by 2030. Zhao acknowledged having a strong sense that 2026 could mark a supercycle for Bitcoin.
Zhao confirmed his holdings in Bitcoin and BNB tokens associated with Binance but refrained from setting a specific price target for Bitcoin. He humorously commented, “If you look at today and tomorrow every day, there’s no way to predict. But from a five- or ten-year perspective, it’s quite clear we’ll see growth.”
Personal Insights and Controversies
During the same interview, Zhao also touched upon his experiences in prison.
In 2023, CZ pleaded guilty to not implementing adequate anti-money laundering measures at Binance and subsequently stepped down as CEO as part of a settlement with U.S. authorities. He spent four months in prison and was released in September 2024.
Moreover, he addressed speculation about links between President Donald Trump and cryptocurrency trading, which some suggest might have influenced Trump’s decision to grant him a pardon last October.
Zhao stated, “As far as I know, there is no connection. The Trump family is involved in crypto. Binance, being a major crypto company, aligns with Trump’s pro-crypto stance, which can benefit the industry overall.”
He also mentioned that he has neither spoken to nor met President Trump, only catching a glimpse of him from the audience in Davos earlier this week.
