Crypto Leaders Forecast Bitcoin Surge, SWIFT Disruption at Token2049 Dubai.
From a $1 million Bitcoin to AI-driven finance, top crypto industry figures at Token2049 in Dubai laid out bold predictions.
At Token2049 in Dubai this week, industry leaders offered a glimpse into crypto’s future with a number of bold predictions, ranging from a $1 million Bitcoin to the collapse of the SWIFT payment system.
The two-day conference drew more than 10,000 attendees and featured hundreds of speakers, including crypto executives, investors, and policymakers from around the world. Notable participants included Maelstrom CIO and BitMEX cofounder Arthur Hayes, Eric Trump (the son of U.S. President Donald Trump) and Binance cofounder and former CEO Changpeng “CZ”Zhao, each sharing some of their predictions for where the industry is headed.
Despite lingering regulatory and market uncertainty, Token2049 speakers largely agreed: crypto is quickly becoming an integral part of the mainstream financial system.
Arthur Hayes BTC Prediction
During a keynote speech at Token2049, Maelstrom cofounder and CIO Arthur Hayes doubled down on his long-standing $1 million Bitcoin price target. Hayes told attendees that he expects the milestone to be hit by 2028.
“It’s time to go long on everything,” Hayes said, citing expected increases in U.S. dollar liquidity as a key driver.
Hayes noted that, as in past crises, the U.S. could respond to current economic turmoil (like market shocks from President Trump’s tariff policies) by injecting liquidity. He expects hedge funds to step in through Treasury buybacks, a move he believes will drive Bitcoin’s price sharply higher.
Eric Trump’s SWIFT prediction
Eric Trump issued a warning to banks during Token2049, calling the traditional financial system “slow,” “antiquated,” and “expensive” in an interview with CNBC.
Speaking in Dubai, the Trump Organization executive vice president claimed that blockchain technology will replace legacy systems like SWIFT within a decade. SWIFT provides the primary messaging network through which international payments are initiated.
“There’s nothing that can be done on blockchain that can’t be done better than the way that the current financial institutions are working,” Eric Trump said. “SWIFT is an absolute disaster.”
CZ’s AI and crypto predictions
In a fireside chat during Token2049, CZ shared his views on the current crypto cycle and what may shape the industry’s future.
When looking ahead, CZ discussed the potential convergence of artificial intelligence (AI) and crypto, saying AI will favor decentralized financial infrastructure.
“The currency for AI is crypto,” he said, a thought he has expressed in the past, suggesting AI systems won’t rely on traditional banking tools like credit cards.
His comments followed a tweet in which he joked that “Satoshi Nakamoto was an AI from the future,” when asked who he believes created Bitcoin.
