CZ Rules Out Binance Return Despite Trump Pardon, Predicts Bitcoin Supercycle in 2026
Binance co-founder Changpeng Zhao has definitively ruled out returning to lead the cryptocurrency exchange, even though a presidential pardon from Donald Trump has technically lifted restrictions that previously barred him from the role.
Speaking on CNBC’s Squawk Box on Sunday, Zhao confirmed that his understanding of the pardon means former restrictions are “completely lifted.” However, he dismissed any possibility of going back to active involvement at Binance.
“I haven’t really needed to go back. I didn’t really want to,” Zhao said. “I thought it was a pretty good way for me to step down, away from Binance after seven years. At the time, it was very painful. I didn’t like it. But after, you get used to it.”
Zhao pleaded guilty in November 2023 to failing to maintain an effective Anti-Money Laundering program at Binance. He was subsequently sentenced to four months in prison and received a lifetime ban from working at the exchange. Trump granted him a presidential pardon in October.
The pardon drew criticism from some U.S. lawmakers concerned about Binance’s connections to Trump-linked cryptocurrency ventures, though Trump stated he was unfamiliar with Zhao.
Binance Thriving Under Current Leadership
Zhao emphasized that Binance does not require his involvement, noting that the exchange is performing well under current management. “Binance doesn’t need a backseat driver today,” he stated. “I’m still a shareholder, but just a pretty passive shareholder, and today when I want to give them advice, I just write it on Twitter.”
Richard Teng and Yi He, Zhao’s long-term partner, currently serve as co-CEOs of Binance. In a December letter, the leadership announced that the platform’s user base had grown to over 300 million, with annual trading volume reaching $34 trillion.
Zhao highlighted that several key metrics have increased since his departure, demonstrating the exchange’s continued growth and market position.
Bitcoin Supercycle Expected in 2026
Shifting focus to market outlook, Zhao predicted that Bitcoin could enter a supercycle during 2026, potentially breaking from its traditional four-year market cycle pattern.
“Normally, Bitcoin follows four-year cycles. If you look at historic data, every four years there’s an all-time high, and then there’s a drop,” Zhao explained. “But I think this year, given the US being so pro crypto and every other country is kind of following, I do think we will see this. We will probably break the four-year cycle.”
In economic terms, a supercycle represents an extended period of outsized growth, typically indicating a major fundamental shift sustained over many years. Zhao attributes potential Bitcoin supercycle conditions to increased cryptocurrency-friendly policies in the United States.
His prediction contrasts with recent market sentiment, as cryptocurrency prices and investor confidence have declined heading into 2026. However, Zhao’s optimism aligns with broader industry speculation about whether Bitcoin’s traditional cyclical patterns may be shifting.
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