Bitcoin Magazine

Peter Schiff Says Bitcoin Won’t Become the World’s Reserve Currency in Tucker Carlson Interview

Gold advocate and longtime Bitcoin critic Peter Schiff renewed his attacks on Bitcoin during a recent interview with Tucker Carlson, arguing that the cryptocurrency industry is seeking government regulation and a government bailout not to restrain itself, but to gain legitimacy in the eyes of the public.

Schiff said that calls for regulatory “clarity” in crypto amount to an attempt to secure government endorsement. According to Schiff, regulation would allow Bitcoin proponents to claim official approval, encouraging new investors to enter the market under the belief that the asset has been validated by the state.

“The government now endorses it. The government is supporting it,” he said, adding that political support for Bitcoin has been driven by financial incentives rather than monetary fundamentals.

Schiff alleged that early Bitcoin holders who profited from later inflows of capital used their gains to influence politicians, including President Donald Trump, to publicly support the asset. 

He pointed to proposals for a U.S. Bitcoin strategic reserve as an example, characterizing them as a potential “Bitcoin bailout fund” that would use taxpayer money to support the market. 

Schiff did not present evidence for claims that politicians were “paid off,” framing them instead as his interpretation of political incentives surrounding crypto policy.

Carlson pushed back by arguing that the declining purchasing power of the U.S. dollar and its use as a geopolitical tool suggest the need for a new global reserve asset. He asked why Bitcoin or stablecoins like Tether could not fill that role.

In response, Schiff reiterated his long-held distinction between money and currency, arguing that gold is money while fiat currencies and Bitcoin are substitutes that depend on confidence rather than intrinsic value. He said Bitcoin’s value rests on speculation that it can be sold later for more dollars, rather than on its usefulness as a stable store of value.

“Most people who are buying Bitcoin are buying it to get more dollars,” Schiff said. “If they wanted a safe store of value, they’d buy gold.”

Schiff: Bitcoin is a fad

Schiff argued that Bitcoin is unsuitable as a reserve asset for central banks, claiming its volatility would make it impossible to hold at scale without destabilizing markets. He said that while some sovereign wealth funds and governments have gained limited exposure to Bitcoin-related assets, such allocations are small and driven by performance pressure rather than conviction.

He predicted that institutional interest would fade and warned that recent buyers could face losses. Schiff noted that Bitcoin remains well below its peak when measured in gold terms, claiming it has declined roughly 40% relative to gold over the past four years.

Schiff also rejected overall comparisons between Bitcoin and gold, arguing that Bitcoin is a speculative asset rather than a form of sound money. 

He likened bitcoin and crypto to past manias like tulips and ‘Beanie Babies,’ saying it lacks intrinsic value and would fall alongside stocks in a major financial crisis. 

This post Peter Schiff Says Bitcoin Won’t Become the World’s Reserve Currency in Tucker Carlson Interview first appeared on Bitcoin Magazine and is written by Micah Zimmerman.

Binance founder Changpeng Zhao (CZ) believes that the Bitcoin price could still reach $200,000. This bullish prediction comes after the cryptocurrency has seen years of strong performance, climbing past $126,000 and setting a new all-time high in 2025. With ETFs driving demand, whales accumulating, and global adoption steadily rising, a surge to $200,000 seems inevitable for the crypto founder. 

Binance Founder Predicts Bitcoin Price Could Hit $200,000

Bitcoin spent the past few years in a major uptrend, reaching multiple ATHs after the launch of Spot Bitcoin ETFs in January 2024. Following this, adoption and demand for the cryptocurrency skyrocketed, and for months, its price continued to appreciate with minimal pullbacks. 

In 2025, Bitcoin hit a peak above $126,000. While many anticipated this achievement, some raised doubts, especially critics like Peter Schiff. Against this backdrop, the recent statement by CZ foresees another significant milestone for BTC that some analysts still believe won’t happen, at least not for another couple of years. 

Although Bitcoin has since shed a significant portion of its gains since its peak, the Binance founder has boldly stated that BTC reaching $200,000 is “the most obvious thing in the world.” He emphasized that it was only a matter of time before the Bitcoin price rises to this level, representing almost double its current ATH. While CZ acknowledged that the exact timing of the projected rally remains uncertain, his confidence in Bitcoin’s long-term outlook remains unwavering.

Notably, CZ’s bullish prediction for Bitcoin comes as the US regulatory landscape continues to evolve, aiming to create a safer, potentially bullish environment for digital assets. With bills like the CLARITY Act under consideration, the crypto market could benefit from clearer guidelines, increased institutional adoption, and greater investor confidence. Although the bill was initially scheduled for a vote by the US Senate Banking Committee on January 15, the decision was ultimately delayed, leaving the timeline for regulatory clarity uncertain.

Related Reading: Why The $2.9 Billion Bitcoin Whale Buy Could Spell Doom For The Market

In addition to his bullish Bitcoin forecast, CZ has also predicted that a crypto “Super Cycle” could be approaching. The Binance founder pointed to recent developments involving the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) as a key factor behind his optimism. He highlighted a report on X, revealing that the SEC had officially removed crypto from its 2026 priority risk list, a move that could provide the industry with greater regulatory relief and create more room for future bullish growth. 

Analyst Forecasts $200,000 BTC In 2026

Sharing a similar outlook to CZ, a popular crypto analyst, Rekt Fencer, who has over 336,000 followers on X, has also predicted that Bitcoin could surge to $200,000. Despite the broader crypto market still recovering from a prolonged bear market, the analyst remains confident in BTC’s near-term prospects, noting that the cryptocurrency could replicate its explosive growth seen during the 2020 bull cycle. 

Unlike CZ, who has not provided a specific timeline for his $200,000 forecast, Rekt Fencer believes that BTC could hit this level before the end of 2026. His price chart even points to a potential target of $240,000, which he suggests Bitcoin could reach without major dumps.