BTC USD price prediction: Why Binance co-founder Changpeng Zhao says Bitcoin will definitely reach $200,000 and why 4-year halving cycle will weaken

Bitcoin price USD prediction: Binance co-founder Changpeng Zhao pointed out that Bitcoin’s long-term outlook remains positive, saying that the cryptocurrency will eventually reach $200,000 as market structures continue to evolve, even though the exact timing is unclear.

BTC USD Price Forecast: Changpeng Zhao Predicts Bitcoin Will Reach $200,000 Over Time

Zhao made the remarks during a voice AMA on Binance Square, where he said Bitcoin will “definitely” hit the $200,000 mark given enough time, as per a report. Rather than focusing on short-term price movements, Zhao pointed to broader shifts in regulation, institutional participation, and overall market behavior as the main forces shaping Bitcoin’s future, as per a Coinedition report.

Binance Co-Founder: Regulatory Shifts in the US Seen Supporting Crypto Growth

He highlighted that the regulatory environment in the United States has become more supportive after the re-election of US president Donald Trump, easing pressure on the crypto sector. Zhao also noted that strong performance in US equity markets has historically helped lift Bitcoin prices by improving overall investor confidence.


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BTC USD: Institutional Adoption Could Weaken Bitcoin’s Four-Year Halving Cycle

According to Zhao, these changes could alter one of Bitcoin’s most closely watched patterns, the four-year halving cycle, as per the Coinedition report. While past bull markets have tended to follow halving events, he suggested that growing involvement from Wall Street and deeper links to global macro markets may reduce the cycle’s influence. In that scenario, Bitcoin may increasingly trade like a global risk asset rather than a market driven primarily by retail investors and predictable cycles.

This view is not unique. Analysts such as Willy Woo and QuintenFrancois have previously said investors should be cautious about relying too heavily on the four-year cycle when evaluating Bitcoin’s market behavior, as per the Coinedition report.

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Bitcoin Price Outlook: Tom Lee Reaffirms $200,000 BTC USD Price Target

Zhao’s comments also echo projections from Fundstrat’s Tom Lee, who reiterated a $200,000 Bitcoin price target during an October 2025 interview with CNBC, when Bitcoin was trading near $111,000. Lee cited expectations of Federal Reserve rate cuts and improving liquidity conditions as key drivers behind his forecast at that time.

Peter Brandt Pushes Back on Conviction-Based Bitcoin Forecasts

However, not everyone shares that optimism. Veteran trader Peter Brandt has pushed back against such projections, saying he has “no faith in any given trade or opinion” and warning against conviction-based price targets, as per the Coinedition report.

Bitcoin Price USD Today: BTC Briefly Tops $97,000 Before Pullback

On Thursday, at the time of writing, Bitcoin was trading at 96,629.08, down 0.32% over the past 24 hours. While the cryptocurrency's price has jumped over $97,000 in early trading.

Short Liquidations and ETF Inflows Drive Recent Bitcoin Rally

CoinSwitch Markets Desk explained that, "BTC surged past $97K to an eight-week high, triggering heavy short covering with over $829M in BTC shorts liquidated in the past 24 hours. The move was reinforced by roughly $750M in net inflows into U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs, marking the largest single-day intake in nearly three months and signaling renewed institutional demand," as per an emailed statement to The Economic Times.

FAQs

What did Changpeng Zhao say about Bitcoin’s price?

He said Bitcoin will “definitely” reach $200,000 over time.

Did Zhao give a timeline for BTC USD hitting $200,000?

No, he said the timing remains uncertain.