CZ Says U.S. Policy Shift Could Trigger Bitcoin ’Supercycle’ in 2026
Binance founder Changpeng Zhao (CZ) told CNBC at Davos that a more favorable U.S. regulatory stance could spark a Bitcoin “supercycle” as early as 2026. CZ said clear U.S. policy, spot-Bitcoin ETF approvals and pro-innovation regulator signals could prompt synchronized global institutional adoption and break Bitcoin’s historical four-year cadence. He framed the view as structural — not a price target — and tied the timing to post-halving dynamics and broader crypto maturation. CZ also publicly denied any close personal ties with former President Trump, saying perceived alignment is policy-driven. Analysts remain divided: some see parallels with the 2020–21 institutional rally, while skeptics warn parabolic rallies often end in deep corrections. For traders, the key signals to watch are U.S. regulatory announcements, ETF approvals and institutional inflows, on-chain metrics (realized cap, HODLer behavior, BTC dominance), and macro indicators (inflation, interest rates). Short-term volatility may persist due to ongoing regulatory scrutiny of Binance and market uncertainty, but successful U.S. policy clarity and large-scale institutional flows would be bullish for BTC and could alter altcoin cycles and risk models.
Bullish
CZ’s comments reinforce a structural bullish narrative: if U.S. regulators clarify policy and approve spot-BTC ETFs, large-scale institutional flows could materially increase demand for BTC and potentially trigger a multi-year rally centered on the 2026 post-halving period. This prospect is bullish for BTC price over the medium-to-long term because institutional adoption tends to add persistent bid and reduce supply available to retail. Short-term effects are mixed: ongoing regulatory scrutiny of Binance and general market uncertainty increase volatility and raise the risk of sharp corrections. Traders should therefore treat the news as positive for BTC’s long-term trajectory but continue to manage risk—monitor ETF approvals, institutional inflows, on-chain accumulation metrics, macro indicators (rates/inflation), and any negative regulatory developments that could quickly reverse sentiment.