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Binance co-founder Changpeng “CZ” Zhao said at the Bitcoin Asia 2026 conference in Hong Kong on Aug. 27 that Bitcoin (BTC) could surpass gold in market value as early as the next bull run. Gold’s market cap is currently about 10 times larger than Bitcoin’s, Zhao said, but he argued that gap will close as more investors shift toward digital reserve assets.
“I think Bitcoin will, for sure, become more important than gold,” Zhao toldthe audience during a session titled “The Bitcoin Century.” He described Bitcoin as “just a much better asset than gold” and projected that its rise above gold’s market value would happen “much quicker” than many expect. Bitcoin traded at around $79,700 on Aug. 27, up 1.5% over 24 hours, after gaining more than 25% the prior week. Gold climbed above $4,600 during the same period.
Governments Will Shift, But It Takes Time
Zhao acknowledged that sovereign adoption of Bitcoin as a reserve asset will not happen quickly. Large countries have built complete systems for valuing, holding, and trading gold, and replacing that infrastructure is a years-long process. “A shift to Bitcoin will not happen overnight,” he said. His recommended formula for governmentcrypto reserves is to take the five largest non-stablecoin cryptocurrencies and weight them by market cap, which he noted produces a portfolio that includes roughly 50% Bitcoin, 10% to 20% <a href="https://xpertsstudio.com/ethereum-sellers-disappear-as-1-4m-eth-leaves-exchanges-during-27-rally/” title=”Ethereum Sellers Disappear as 1.4M ETH Leaves Exchanges During 27% Rally”>Ethereum (ETH), and a portion in BNB. He added that his recommendation is “a little bit self-serving,” given that BNB is the native token of the exchange he founded.
Zhao also discussed the convergence of artificial intelligence and crypto. He said AI adoption in the crypto space will likely begin with stablecoins, with Bitcoin integration following naturally once a system can accept stablecoin payments. He also said he has spoken with several major AI companies about token launches, noting that the capital demands of large-scale compute infrastructure can reach trillions of dollars. One model under discussion involves a “data center token” that would later entitle holders to compute access, rewards, or model subscriptions.
Related Article: 3 Ways Bitcoin Price Could Hit $1M, According to BTC Bulls
AI Will Transform Trading Before Payments
Zhao argued that AI-assisted trading will develop before AI-driven payments. Trading requires gathering large volumes of information and reacting quickly, which suits AI systems well. Consumers, by contrast, can already complete payments themselves once an AI agent has identified a deal. He estimated AI could improve trading efficiency by roughly tenfold.
Zhao, who stepped down as Binance CEO in 2023 after pleading guilty to a US money laundering charge, closed on a long-term price outlook. Bitcoin reaching $1 million “would be a good thing, and it will happen,” he said, adding that the timeline would be “much quicker” than 25 years. He said reaching that price level matters less than expanding Bitcoin’s real-worldutility, pointing to payments at scale and inclusion in pension fund reserves as the milestones that would define Bitcoin’s long-term success.
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