- CZ expects Bitcoin to hit $500K–$1M, citing continued momentum in the current market cycle.
- Crypto market may reach $5 trillion in 2025, with BTC and BNB leading global adoption.
- CZ shifts focus post-Binance, mentoring startups and promoting blockchain use in regions like Kyrgyzstan.
Changpeng Zhao ”CZ” offered a fresh perspective on Bitcoin’s trajectory, suggesting its price might climb anywhere from $500,000 up to $1 million in the ongoing market phase. Speaking on a recent podcast, Zhao expressed confidence in the continued growth of digital assets, though he avoided tying his prediction to an exact timeline.
At press time, Bitcoin price was trading close to $94,779, after reaching a peak of over $108,000 in January 2025. Zhao has previously made forward-looking estimates, some of which have played out. In 2020, he spoke of Bitcoin eventually crossing $100,000 — a mark it finally broke in late 2024.
During the same discussion, Zhao added that he sees the overall cryptocurrency market reaching a combined value of $5 trillion within this year. The market’s total capitalization is currently around $3 trillion, according to Coingecko data.
Changing Crypto Landscape
During the conversation, Zhao touched on current trends in the crypto world. He mentioned that while memecoins are attracting attention, their future remains uncertain. According to him, most of these coins lack purpose and may not stay relevant for long.
He also brought up new technologies that could shape the next phase of crypto. Zhao said that AI and blockchain are starting to overlap in new ways. He believes the connection between the two will grow stronger over time. He also mentioned decentralized science as a promising space, where crypto can help support global research by offering new funding models.
Zhao discussed how trading platforms are evolving. He believes decentralized exchanges will play a bigger role going forward, even if centralized exchanges continue to serve a major portion of users for now. “People want options. Some will go for simplicity, others for control,” he explained, suggesting that both models can coexist in the long term.
Focus Shifts After Serving Sentence
After stepping down from Binance and serving a short prison term in 2024, Zhao has shifted his priorities.
“That period forced me to step back and think differently. Now, I focus more on my personal well-being and time with family,” he shared during the interview.
He described the experience as emotionally difficult due to the uncertainty surrounding it. Zhao confirmed that he will not return to lead Binance or any new company.
“I’m not going back to being a CEO,” he said.
He now prefers to support entrepreneurs through mentoring. While he admitted he would welcome a pardon in the future, he stressed that his current efforts are focused on advising younger players in the blockchain space.
Encouraging Crypto Adoption in Kyrgyzstan
During a recent visit to Kyrgyzstan, Zhao proposed that the country consider holding Bitcoin and BNB as the starting assets in its national digital reserves. As we reported, this suggestion came after Binance entered an agreement with the Kyrgyz government to improve access to crypto-related education and services.
Zhao shared his idea publicly, saying, “If a country wants to get started with crypto reserves, BTC and BNB make sense as the first picks.” He also referenced a car with a BNB-themed license plate he saw during the trip, describing it as a small but symbolic sign of local interest in blockchain.
