TLDR
- Binance founder CZ predicted Bitcoin will surpass gold in importance during the next bull run at Bitcoin Asia 2026 in Hong Kong
- Gold’s market cap is around $32.4 trillion, roughly 10 times Bitcoin’s $1.6 trillion
- CZ recommends governments build crypto reserves with Bitcoin at 50%, plus Ethereum and other top coins
- He expects AI agents to use crypto for transactions, starting with stablecoins before moving to Bitcoin
- CZ believes Bitcoin could hit $1 million sooner than most expect, but says real-world use matters more than price
Binance founder Changpeng Zhao, known as CZ, told attendees at Bitcoin Asia 2026 in Hong Kong that Bitcoin could surpass gold during the next major bull run. He made the prediction during a session called “The Bitcoin Century.”
🔥BOLD: Binance founder CZ says Bitcoin will OVERTAKE gold in importance, potentially as soon as the next bull run.
CZ said governments may take years to shift systems built around valuing and holding bullion toward Bitcoin.
GOLD currently around 10 times larger than $BTC. pic.twitter.com/5M3VsbMI0C
— Coin Bureau (@coinbureau) August 27, 2026
Zhao said the gap between Bitcoin and gold has already closed to about 10 times. Gold holds a market cap of around $32.4 trillion, while Bitcoin sits at roughly $1.6 trillion.
“I think Bitcoin will, for sure, become more important than gold,” Zhao said. He added the shift could happen “pretty soon” and possibly within the next bull cycle.
Gold Still Holds a Big Lead
Zhao was clear that gold’s lead is still large. For Bitcoin to overtake it, the cryptocurrency would need to pull in a massive amount of new money and institutional adoption.
He said the main challenge is not Bitcoin itself, but the systems countries have already built around gold. Governments have spent decades creating ways to value, store, and manage gold as a reserve asset.
“For those countries to shift into Bitcoin will take time, but it will happen,” Zhao said.
Bitcoin gained more than 25% last week. It was trading around $79,700 on Thursday, up 1.5% over 24 hours. Gold also rose, climbing above $4,600.
CZ’s Crypto Reserve Suggestion
Zhao said he often advises governments to build crypto reserves. His suggested breakdown would put Bitcoin at around 50%, Ethereum at 10% to 20%, with other large cryptocurrencies making up the rest.
He acknowledged the plan was “a little bit self-serving” since BNB, the token tied to the exchange he founded, would be included.
Zhao also tied Bitcoin’s future to artificial intelligence. He expects AI agents to begin using crypto for payments, starting with stablecoins.
“Once you can accept stablecoins, adding Bitcoin will be very easy,” he said.
He added that AI will likely enter trading before everyday payments. Zhao estimated AI could make trading up to 10 times more efficient by processing information and reacting to news faster than humans.
Zhao also discussed the rising cost of AI infrastructure. He said one gigawatt of computing capacity can cost between $30 billion and $50 billion, and some companies may want hundreds of gigawatts within a few years.
One idea he mentioned is a “data center token” that could give holders access to computing power or AI models.
On Bitcoin’s price, Zhao said it could reach $1 million sooner than most people expect. But he stressed that price alone is not the goal. He wants to see Bitcoin used in large-scale payments and held in pension and retirement funds.
