Changpeng Zhao (CZ), founder and former CEO of Binance, shared his perspective on the long-running debate between Bitcoin and gold during a recent AMA session on Binance Square, following his public discussion with gold advocate Peter Schiff.
CZ said he believes Bitcoin is ultimately superior to gold from a technological standpoint, but acknowledged that adoption remains a major factor limiting its role as a global safe-haven asset today.
“I think Bitcoin is better than gold,” CZ said, “but we have to understand that Bitcoin is still new.”
Bitcoin Adoption Remains Early Compared With Gold
According to CZ, one of the key differences between Bitcoin and gold lies in adoption scale. While gold has been trusted globally for thousands of years, Bitcoin’s adoption rate remains relatively low by comparison.
He noted that Bitcoin adoption still has significant room to grow, suggesting that broader participation could increase by multiples over time as more institutions, governments, and individuals gain exposure.
“Adoption is still very low compared to gold, which is probably 10X BTC,” CZ explained, adding that Bitcoin’s user base has the potential to expand significantly as awareness increases.
Global Volatility Drives Investors Toward Gold
CZ also pointed to global instability as a major reason investors continue to favor gold during periods of uncertainty. In volatile environments, capital often flows toward assets with long-established reputations as stores of value.
“We live in a globally volatile world,” he said. “People want to move their money into safe havens, so they go to gold.”
This behavior, he noted, reflects familiarity and historical trust rather than technological superiority.
Time Needed for Bitcoin to Gain Safe-Haven Recognition
While emphasizing Bitcoin’s strengths — including transparency, portability, and fixed supply — CZ said recognition as a true global safe-haven asset requires time.
“Bitcoin is a great technology,” he said, “but there is a time aspect for it to be recognized.”