Binance founder Changpeng Zhao said he expects Bitcoin to enter a “super cycle” in 2026, potentially breaking the cryptocurrency’s historic four-year price peak and crash pattern.
The executive, who was recently pardoned by the U.S. president, spoke on CNBC’s “Squawk Box” program on January 23, 2026, explaining that the U.S.’s shift in pro-cryptocurrency policy could disrupt Bitcoin’s established market rhythms. Zhao, commonly known as CZ, said the changing regulatory environment represents a fundamental departure from previous cycles that have controlled Bitcoin’s price since its inception.
Historically, Bitcoin follows a four-year cycle associated with “halving” events that reduce mining rewards and new supply. These cycles often produce new all-time highs followed by large price corrections.
However, Zhao believes that 2026 will be an exception. “I think this year, given that the U.S. is so supportive of cryptocurrencies and every other country is following suit, I do think we’re going to see that. We might break the four-year cycle,” Zhao said in an interview.
Before making his final statement, Zhao emphasized the importance of time frames when asked about price predictions. “If you look at the ten-year, five-year, ten-year outlook, it’s easy to predict. We’re going to go up,” he said, declining to make short-term predictions.
Zhao confirmed that he will not actively trade Bitcoin, but instead hold it long-term alongside Binance’s native BNB token.
As of this writing, Bitcoin has retreated from its peak of $97,000 to $98,000 earlier this month and is currently trading around $90,866. The technical picture looks bearish, with BTC trading below the Ichimoku cloud and key EMA lines, suggesting sellers have taken control.
Currently, the key level to watch is $88,000 – staying above this level will keep bulls in the game and allow for a potential rebound. If the current support is broken near $90,000 to $91,000, we could see the price drop towards $88,000 or even $85,000.
On the upside, Bitcoin needs to regain $93,000 and move back above the short-term moving averages to shift momentum in the favor of buyers. Currently, it is expected to trade sideways in the $88,000 to $91,000 range until the market chooses a clear direction.
Read original story by José Rafael Peña Gholam on Coinspeaker.com CZ Predicts Bitcoin ‘Super Cycle’ in 2026, Breaking Historical Patterns
