Binance founder and former CEO Changpeng Zhao shared his views on the long-term prospects of the leading cryptocurrency compared to traditional safe-haven assets. Speaking at the Bitcoin Asia 2026 industry conference, he argued that digital gold could become more significant for the global financial architecture than physical precious metal. The speaker supported his position by citing the fundamental properties of the blockchain asset.
According to Zhao, the key advantages of the leading cryptocurrency over gold are its strictly limited supply, fully digital nature, and the ability to transfer value instantly to any point on the planet without intermediaries. These characteristics, the former Binance CEO believes, allow Bitcoin to gradually capture some of the functions that gold has traditionally performed as a global store of value. The speaker suggested that as the asset becomes more widely adopted, its role in the financial reserves of both private investors and sovereign entities will steadily grow.
Changpeng Zhao also addressed the question of forming strategic digital asset reserves at the state level. He noted that a significant number of countries do not yet hold cryptocurrency reserves, and expressed the view that establishing such reserves could play a meaningful role in long-term economic planning. At the same time, the speaker emphasized that the future of the leading cryptocurrency should not be assessed solely through the lens of price appreciation.
Regarding price targets, Zhao stated his belief that Bitcoin will reach $1 million per unit. He also expressed disagreement with conservative forecasts that assign 25 years to such a rise. "I think it would be great if Bitcoin reached $1,000,000. And it will happen. I don't think it will take us 25 years. I think it will happen much faster," industry publications quoted the speaker as saying.
In the closing part of his address, Changpeng Zhao emphasized the need to expand the practical use of the leading cryptocurrency beyond its investment dimension. He pointed to the importance of deeper integration of the blockchain asset into payment infrastructure and expressed hope that it will eventually be viewed as one of the core components of pension fund reserves. Such statements reflect the personal perspective of one of the most influential figures in the crypto industry on the evolving role of digital assets in the global economy.
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This material is prepared for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice or a recommendation.