Binance Founder Challenges Bitcoin’s Four-Year Cycle at MENA Conference

3 mins mins

Key Points:

Changpeng Zhao discusses institutional influence on Bitcoin cycles at MENA conference.
Zhao suggests a supercycle could replace traditional four-year cycles.
National reserves discussions pushed by Bitcoin’s global significance.

Changpeng Zhao, Binance founder, addressed the Bitcoin MENA 2025 Conference in Abu Dhabi, discussing potential shifts from Bitcoin’s traditional four-year cycle due to increasing institutional involvement.

This shift signals potential changes in Bitcoin market dynamics, as institutional participation grows, possibly impacting Bitcoin’s price behavior away from halving cycles.

Institutional Influence Sparks Bitcoin “Supercycle” Speculation

Changpeng Zhao’s keynote address emphasized the role of institutional and regulatory capital flows over traditional Bitcoin halving events. He remarked, “This cycle… we have seen more institutions come in than… previous cycles. Previous cycles are all mostly retail.” This assertion was made during his address at the Bitcoin Middle East Conference in Abu Dhabi, a major event organized by the ADNEC Group and BTC Inc. Zhao underlined a potential “supercycle” driven by institutional investors rather than the conventional four-year cycle.

Market dynamics are experiencing profound change. Zhao’s address highlighted that institutional participation could eclipse Bitcoin’s retail-driven past cycles. National reserve discussions could gain traction if major economies, like the US, engage in strategic Bitcoin reserves, a move that might encourage others globally to follow suit.

The community and industry leaders took note. Experts pointed out that while Zhao’s predictions align with ongoing trends, the focus on national reserves represents a significant narrative shift. Brandon Green, CEO of BTC Inc, remarked, “The UAE has become a central hub for Bitcoin’s evolution, highlighting Abu Dhabi’s global influence.”

Bitcoin Price and Market Insights: December 2025 Update

Did you know? National discussions on Bitcoin reserves echo historic precedents set by early adopters like El Salvador, whose Bitcoin initiatives have influenced global perceptions of sovereign crypto usage.

Bitcoin (BTC) shows a current price of $92,586.44 and a market cap of $1.85 trillion, as reported by CoinMarketCap. Over the past 24 hours, trading volume reached $65.30 billion, marking a 14.15% increase. Price changes reflect a decrease across 30, 60, and 90-day periods at -12.73%, -17.85%, and -18.91% respectively. As of December 10, 2025, Bitcoin’s market dominance is 58.48% with a circulating supply of 19,960,037 BTC.

bitcoin-daily-chart-4902 — Bitcoin(BTC), daily chart, screenshot on CoinMarketCap at 06:02 UTC on December 10, 2025. *Source: CoinMarketCap*

The Coincu research team notes that institutional participation shifts are historically crucial. Current market movements suggest potential for increased sovereign crypto adoption, altering existing regulatory frameworks and expanding Bitcoin’s role in global financial systems. This adds weight to discussions on Bitcoin’s integration into national reserves.

DISCLAIMER: The information on this website is provided as general market commentary and does not constitute investment advice. We encourage you to do your own research before investing.