Binance founder Changpeng Zhao declared a crypto "super cycle" is approaching after the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission omitted digital assets from its 2026 priority inspection list, a regulatory shift that comes amid growing institutional demand and ultra-bullish price forecasts from major asset managers.
What Happened: CZ Responds to SEC Shift
Zhao, known as CZ, posted on X on Jan. 11 that a super cycle was incoming for Bitcoin and the broader crypto market. He was responding to a post by BladeDefi highlighting the SEC's decision.
A super cycle refers to an extended period of sustained price appreciation that surpasses typical market cycles.
Unlike standard bull runs that last months, super cycles can span years and are driven by fundamental shifts in adoption, institutional participation and macroeconomic conditions.
The SEC's latest statement omitted its regular section on cryptocurrency oversight, according to BitcoinSistemi. The agency's Division of Examinations said it will continue monitoring registered entities offering crypto-related services when necessary.
CZ also noted that U.S. banks have been accumulating Bitcoin while retail investors sold.
Wells Fargo disclosed a purchase of $383 million in Bitcoin ETF shares. Morgan Stanley filed for a Bitcoin ETF this week, a move that Bloomberg analyst Eric Balchunas attributed to demand from wealth clients.
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Why It Matters: Bold Price Targets
CZ might be too bullish about the super cycle, but other experts and analysts also look optimistic.
Cardano co-founder Charles Hoskinson predicted Bitcoin could reach $250,000 in 2026. He outlined how non-custodial credit systems might finally allow altcoins to decouple from Bitcoin's price movements.
Cryptocurrency analyst ShieldedMonk, a known Zcash early contributor, published a framework predicting BTC could reach $175,000 to $200,000 by mid-2026 if capital rotates from precious metals into digital assets.
Digital asset manager Grayscale expects Bitcoin to reach new all-time highs in the first half of 2026, marking the end of cryptocurrency's traditional four-year market cycle.
Crypto ETF issuer VanEck projected Bitcoin could reach $2.9 million as a base case by 2050, with analysts Matthew Sigel and Patrick Bush outlining scenarios ranging from $130,000 to $53.4 million.
The bull case assumes Bitcoin captures 20% of international trade and 10% of domestic GDP.
VanEck noted this "hyper-bitcoinization" scenario would require Bitcoin to achieve parity with, or surpass, gold as a primary global reserve asset.
The bear case of $130,000 is based on the possibility that Bitcoin's utility is already priced in.
Nation-state adoption could further fuel growth.
Ark Invest's Cathie Wood said the U.S. could begin purchasing Bitcoin for a strategic reserve this year.
Whether CZ's super cycle prediction proves accurate remains uncertain, but the combination of regulatory shifts, institutional accumulation and long-term price targets from firms like VanEck suggests growing confidence in Bitcoin's trajectory.
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