Binance co-founder Changpeng Zhao has firmly ruled out any return to the crypto exchange, even after receiving a presidential pardon that removed the legal barriers preventing him from doing so. Zhao said the pardon issued by US President Donald Trump lifted all previous restrictions that had stopped him from holding a position at the company. Despite that, he made it clear that returning to Binance was never part of his future plans. “I haven’t really needed to go back. I didn’t really want to. I thought it was a pretty good way for me to step down, away from Binance after seven years,” he said. Zhao explained that while the separation from the company was painful at the time, it eventually became something he accepted. “At the time, it was very painful. I didn’t like it. But after, you get used to it. I don’t think it’s good for me to go back. I think we should leave room for other strong leaders to grow,” Zhao added. His comments reflected a broader view that leadership transitions should be respected rather than reversed. Zhao pleaded guilty in November 2023 to failing to maintain an effective Anti–Money Laundering program at Binance. He was later sentenced to four months in prison and barred from working at the exchange. Trump’s decision to pardon Zhao in October sparked controversy among US lawmakers. Some questioned Binance’s alleged connections to Trump-linked crypto ventures. Trump denied knowing who Zhao was when asked about the decision. Zhao has consistently maintained that Binance has flourished since his departure. He described the company as stable and progressing under its new leadership. “Two capable CEOs” are now guiding the exchange forward, according to Zhao. He said Binance had experienced growth across several important metrics. These included increases in users, trading volume, and overall market share. In a December open letter, Binance executives revealed the platform had surpassed 300 million users. The company also reported total annual trading volume of $34 trillion. Zhao described himself as a passive shareholder rather than an active executive. “I just thought, look; they don’t need a backseat driver today. I’m still a shareholder,” Zhao said. He added that his involvement was limited to offering advice through social media. “I’m just a pretty passive shareholder, and today when I want to give them advice, I just write it on Twitter,” he said. Zhao’s withdrawal from daily operations has allowed him to focus on broader crypto industry trends. One of his most notable predictions involves Bitcoin’s future market behavior. He believes the traditional four-year Bitcoin cycle could be nearing its end. Bitcoin has historically followed a pattern of sharp rises followed by steep corrections. This pattern has repeated roughly every four years since its creation. Zhao suggested that a new market environment may disrupt that structure. “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,” he added. He believes Bitcoin could be entering what economists describe as a super cycle. A super cycle represents a prolonged period of exceptional growth driven by strong fundamentals. Such cycles often mark structural changes in markets rather than temporary rallies. Zhao sees growing institutional adoption as a key driver of this potential shift. He also pointed to regulatory clarity in the United States as a major catalyst. The approval of Bitcoin ETFs has accelerated mainstream acceptance of digital assets. Institutional capital is now flowing into crypto at unprecedented levels. This has changed Bitcoin’s role from speculative asset to financial infrastructure. Zhao said government support could transform crypto from a niche market into a global standard. He suggested that international governments are closely watching US policy direction. Many countries are now adjusting their regulatory frameworks accordingly. Despite recent market weakness, Zhao remains optimistic about Bitcoin’s long-term outlook. Crypto prices and sentiment have dipped at the start of the year. Zhao described the downturn as temporary rather than structural. He believes the foundations of the industry are stronger than ever. Bitcoin’s supply structure and growing demand form a powerful economic equation. The limited supply of Bitcoin makes it uniquely positioned in an inflationary environment. Zhao said these conditions could support sustained upward price movement. If a super cycle does emerge, it would mark a historic turning point for crypto markets. It would reshape how investors interpret Bitcoin price behavior. The traditional boom-and-bust model may no longer apply. Zhao’s views reflect growing confidence among crypto industry leaders. While he has stepped away from Binance leadership, his influence remains significant. His commentary continues to shape market sentiment and long-term strategy discussions. Zhao’s departure from Binance now appears final and deliberate. He has positioned himself as a strategic observer rather than an executive decision-maker. The industry, he believes, is stronger when leadership evolves naturally. His focus has shifted from building exchanges to shaping ideas. Bitcoin’s future, in Zhao’s view, is only just beginning.