Binance Co-Founder CZ Predicts Bitcoin Could Surpass Gold in Next Bull Market, Stablecoins to Lead AI Integration
TREE NEWS reports: At the Bitcoin Asia 2026 conference, Binance co-founder Changpeng ‘CZ’ Zhao delivered a bold forecast: Bitcoin could surpass gold in market value during the next bull market. He also highlighted stablecoins as the primary bridge for integrating artificial intelligence into the crypto ecosystem.
News Summary
Zhao’s comments come amid a period of renewed optimism in the crypto market. He argued that Bitcoin’s fixed supply, increasing institutional adoption, and growing use as a hedge against fiat debasement position it to overtake gold, which has a market capitalization of over $13 trillion. He also noted that stablecoins are becoming the backbone of crypto-based AI payments and data transfer.
Industry Analysis and Implications
If Bitcoin were to reach gold’s market cap, the price per BTC would be approximately $650,000—a 10x increase from current levels. While ambitious, this scenario is not impossible given historical precedent: Bitcoin has already outperformed gold over the past decade, and the approval of spot ETFs has opened the door for institutional capital.
More intriguing is CZ’s emphasis on stablecoins as the ‘killer app’ for AI integration. Stablecoins offer fast, low-cost, and programmable money, which is ideal for machine-to-machine transactions. As AI agents begin to autonomously execute tasks—such as purchasing computing power or settling data-sharing agreements—stablecoins could become the default settlement layer. This would create massive demand for dollar-pegged assets, potentially reshaping the stablecoin market and its regulatory landscape.
However, challenges remain. Regulatory uncertainty, particularly in the US, could slow stablecoin adoption. Additionally, Bitcoin’s energy consumption and scalability issues are still points of contention for mainstream investors. Yet, CZ’s optimism reflects a broader trend: the convergence of crypto and AI is no longer theoretical.
Forward-Looking Perspective
The next bull market may be driven not just by retail speculation but by fundamental use cases. If stablecoins become the rails for AI commerce, and Bitcoin solidifies its position as digital gold, the crypto market could see unprecedented growth. Investors should watch for regulatory clarity, ETF inflows, and the development of AI-native payment systems. While the timeline remains uncertain, CZ’s vision offers a compelling roadmap for the next phase of digital assets.
