What To Know:
- CZ said the crypto sector has entered a phase of maturity, with centralized exchanges and stablecoins now functioning as core financial rails rather than experimental products.
- He said that placing real-world assets such as equities, bonds, and real estate on blockchain networks can improve settlement speed, transparency, and market access.
- CZ added that integrated crypto payments and AI-driven autonomous agents will play a major role in the next financial cycle, with stablecoins and blockchain forming the underlying settlement layer.
Binance founder Changpeng Zhao (aka CZ) said that tokenization, payment infrastructure, and artificial intelligence are the strongest forces shaping the next stage of the crypto industry, during his appearance at the World Economic Forum in Davos.
CZ: Tokenization, AI, Payments To Lead Next Financial Cycle
Speaking on the “New Age of Finance” panel, CZ said the digital asset market has entered a phase of consolidation and maturity. According to him, two sectors have already achieved large-scale validation i.e., centralized exchanges and stablecoins.
At @wef, @cz_binance made a clear point: tokenization, payments, and AI agents all depend on programmable, permissionless money.
As software starts executing real economic actions, traditional rails fall short.
That’s why onchain infrastructure like BNB Chain matters. https://t.co/OqYh6T3J8w
— BNB Chain (@BNBCHAIN) January 22, 2026
Both now operate as core financial rails rather than experimental tools.
Looking ahead, CZ identified three areas that could define the coming decade. At the center of that vision stood tokenization.
He described asset tokenization as a practical mechanism for governments and institutions seeking faster settlement, improved transparency, and broader market participation. He added that by placing real-world assets on blockchain networks, public and private entities can issue, trade, and manage value in a more streamlined way.
Tokenized assets offer a way for equities, bonds, funds, and real estate to flow and circulate digitally and also remain compliant with existing financial structures. This type of approach can reduce friction across markets and encourage the development of new trading ecosystems, Zhao said.
Payments formed the second pillar of his outlook.
Early crypto payment systems struggled to achieve widespread usage. Consumer adoption remained limited despite growing awareness. Zhao said the current momentum lies in integration taking place beneath the surface of traditional finance.
Under this model, users continue paying with familiar tools such as Visa or Mastercard. Merchants receive fiat currency. Settlement and liquidity movement occur quietly through stablecoins and blockchain networks in the background.
This structure is already being implemented in several regions. Zhao said it reflects how digital assets are becoming part of existing payment architecture rather than replacing it entirely.
Artificial intelligence represented the third long-term direction.
CZ said AI systems will eventually function as autonomous agents capable of executing economic activity. Once that stage arrives, cryptocurrency will naturally serve as their settlement layer. Blockchain technology already supports programmable payments, global transfers, and machine-readable transactions.
Current AI models remain assistive rather than autonomous. They analyze and respond but cannot yet transact independently. Zhao believes that when AI systems gain the ability to purchase services, manage subscriptions, or execute trades, digital currencies will align directly with their operational needs.
Beyond technology, Zhao addressed regulation as one of the industry’s most complex challenges.
He noted that countries maintain differing priorities, political frameworks, and risk assessments. These differences complicate efforts to create a single global regulatory authority. Still, Zhao said cooperation remains essential.
Cryptocurrency operates identically across borders, without country-specific variants. That uniformity supports the idea that a broadly applicable regulatory framework could exist, even if implemented locally.
Zhao said he continues working with governments to help shape policy models that allow innovation while maintaining oversight.
His remarks aligned closely with the wider discussions taking place in Davos.
World Economic Forum publications have increasingly described 2026 as a critical moment for digital assets. Blockchain technology has moved beyond limited testing environments and into live production systems across finance, payments, and capital markets.
Panels throughout the forum focused on deployment rather than theory. Sessions examined infrastructure readiness, institutional demand, and scalability.
Executives including Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse and Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong joined central bank officials and financial institutions in discussions centered on tokenized markets and stablecoin settlement.
Participants highlighted the ability of tokenization to convert illiquid assets into digitally tradable instruments. Fractional ownership, faster settlement, and reduced cross-border friction featured prominently in those conversations.
New figures shared during the forum underscored the scale of adoption. Total value locked in tokenized real-world assets has surpassed $21 billion, supported by growth across bonds, credit, and fund products.
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump told WEF attendees that his administration aims to keep the US positioned as the global center for cryptocurrency development.
Also Read: CZ Denies Trump Family Ties, Says He’s Ready to Help Make US Crypto Hub
