August 28 Cryptocurrency: Bitcoin May Surpass Gold's Market Cap, Predicts Binance Founder

The co-founder of major cryptocurrency exchange Binance, Changpeng Zhao, stated on the 27th that Bitcoin could surpass gold's market capitalization in the next bull market.

At the cryptocurrency conference "Bitcoin Asia 2026" held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, Zhao shared his insights on future market trends.

Possibility of Bitcoin Surpassing Gold's Market Cap

He mentioned that in the upcoming bullish cycle, Bitcoin might exceed gold's market capitalization.

Currently, gold's market cap is about ten times larger than that of Bitcoin.

Zhao explained that the narrowing gap in market capitalization does not merely signify a price increase. It reflects a fundamental shift in how investors perceive reserve assets.

The changing perspectives on digital assets among nations and institutional investors are contributing factors.

It is anticipated that the allocation of national reserve assets will eventually tilt towards digital assets, with Bitcoin expected to hold a dominant share in strategic cryptocurrency holdings.

Bitcoin is gaining attention not only as a speculative asset but also as an alternative reserve asset competing with gold. The existing valuation gap suggests that as investor behavior continues to evolve, Bitcoin still has room for growth.

Gradual Transition to Reserve Asset

On the other hand, Zhao emphasized that the transition from gold to Bitcoin will not happen overnight.

Major countries have built systems centered around gold for valuation, reserves, and transactions over many years. These systems are deeply rooted in national and market infrastructure, making change a slow process.

Gold has a long history of serving as a store of value for thousands of years, and its reliability is high. For Bitcoin to threaten that position, continued improvements in price stability and security are required.

This conference focused on themes such as corporate financial strategies, macro finance, and regulation. Zhao's remarks on reserve assets and market structure garnered significant interest among institutional investors and policymakers.

There is a growing belief in the long-term financial history that Bitcoin will ultimately play a more important role than gold.

To establish Bitcoin's position as a national reserve asset, infrastructure development and regulatory clarity are essential.

Rise of Layer 2 Expanding Bitcoin's Potential

As Bitcoin grows as a reserve asset, there is also keen interest in technologies that significantly enhance its practicality.

Currently, the Bitcoin-focused Layer 2 network Bitcoin Hyper (HYPER) is receiving overwhelming support from investors.

This project adopts a groundbreaking approach that combines Bitcoin's robust security with Solana's ultra-fast processing technology.

This will enable the construction of DeFi, NFTs, and smart contracts, which have been challenging until now.

Bitcoin Hyper is currently conducting a cryptocurrency presale and has already successfully raised over $33 million.

The mainnet launch and listing on major exchanges are scheduled for the third quarter of 2026, and it is expected to be a transformative project for the Bitcoin ecosystem.