Binance founder Changpeng Zhao (CZ) has predicted that Bitcoin could soon overtake gold in total market value. Speaking at Bitcoin Asia, Zhao argued that the current gap between the two assets is only about tenfold, which could close within the next market cycle if nations continue treating Bitcoin as a reserve asset. According to reports from BeInCrypto, Zhao explained that gold's advantage isn't the metal itself, but the mature custody, valuation, and reserve systems nations have built around it. He noted that shifting a major economy's reserves typically takes years, but expects the shift to happen eventually.
Bitcoin's current market cap sits near $1.6 trillion, while a tenfold gap would imply roughly $16 trillion of gold. As reported by BeInCrypto, this figure is close to the $14 trillion investable-gold estimate from the World Gold Council, which includes bars, coins, ETFs, central bank reserves, and OTC holdings. Matching this figure would put Bitcoin near $697,000 per coin based on a circulating supply of about 20.08 million BTC. However, gold's full above-ground stock, including jewelry and industrial use, is worth roughly $31 trillion according to the World Gold Council, pushing the target toward $1.54 million.
Bitcoin's fixed 21 million supply cap favors the comparison with gold's growing stockpile, which still grows 1% to 2% annually. According to BeInCrypto reports, Zhao identified the main risk to the timeline as a rival digital asset overtaking Bitcoin first, though he called that scenario unlikely for now. The prediction comes as US lawmakers debate a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve proposal and central banks continue adding physical gold at record pace.
Both target scenarios assume that sovereign wallets will continue choosing Bitcoin over gold, which holds only if a rival digital asset doesn't close the gap first. As reported by BeInCrypto, Mexican billionaire Ricardo Salinas Pliego reached a similar gold-parity estimate this week, landing near $1.86 million using different supply assumptions. The prediction reflects growing institutional interest in Bitcoin as a potential reserve asset, though the timeline remains dependent on continued adoption and regulatory support.
