- Binance Coin (BNB) has surpassed Ripple’s XRP to become the third-largest cryptocurrency, hitting a record high of $1,268 amid a broader crypto rally driven by global economic uncertainty.
- Investor enthusiasm remains strong, with BNB’s surge boosting Binance founder Changpeng Zhao’s fortune and fueling speculation about further gains, even as analysts caution on profit-taking.
Binance Coin (BNB) has officially overtaken Ripple’s XRP to become the third-largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization, marking a historic milestone for the native token of the world’s largest crypto exchange.
With a market value now surpassing $178 billion, BNB has eclipsed the total market value of major global corporations such as Boeing, Deutsche Telekom, and Sony, highlighting the growing influence of crypto in mainstream finance.
This remarkable surge comes amid a broader rally in the cryptocurrency markets, fueled by global economic uncertainty and investor appetite for alternative assets. Bitcoin also reached a new all-time high of $126,000 on Monday, briefly correcting to below $124,000 the next day, as traders navigated volatility in the wake of government turmoil and a US federal shutdown.
These macro events have sent investors seeking safe-haven alternatives, driving capital into leading digital assets like BTC and BNB.
BNB itself hit a record high of $1,268 on Tuesday, an achievement that significantly boosted the net worth of Binance founder Changpeng Zhao, popularly known as CZ. Forbes estimated his fortune at $89.7 billion, making him one of the wealthiest individuals globally.
Zhao, however, publicly downplayed the figure, stating on X that it was “way too high” and emphasizing that his focus remains on helping people and improving the world rather than personal wealth accumulation.
Investor sentiment around BNB remains highly bullish, though opinions on future price trajectories vary. Crypto influencer BitBull predicted an ambitious rise to $2,000 during this cycle, reflecting optimism around BNB’s continued institutional adoption and network utility. Others, like analyst LAXMAN, urged caution, suggesting that profit-taking may be prudent and that a $5,000 price point is highly unlikely in the near term.
The token’s rally also coincides with heightened activity in the Chinese crypto community, where interest in digital assets has grown amid reconsideration of stablecoins and other blockchain applications.
Although reactions on mainland social media were relatively muted, Chinese traders celebrated Bitcoin’s highs on international platforms like X, envisioning an unprecedented bull run for the crypto markets. Offshore yuan stablecoins, in particular, have emerged as a potential tool for enhancing the Chinese currency’s global competitiveness, further intertwining macroeconomic developments with crypto market dynamics.
BNB’s rise past XRP underscores the broader shift in investor preference toward high-liquidity exchange tokens and assets with robust utility. As the market continues to digest recent gains, the coming weeks will likely test BNB’s staying power against other top cryptocurrencies.
With global economic uncertainty showing no immediate signs of easing, the flight to crypto may continue, positioning BNB as a key beneficiary of the market’s ongoing momentum.
At the time of writing, BNB continues to trade near its all-time high, leaving investors closely watching whether this milestone signals the start of an even larger crypto bull cycle or a temporary plateau in one of the most closely followed tokens in the market.