That puts its market capitalization at nearly $150.23 billion, overtaking U.S. chip giant Intel, which sits at $138 billion. The milestone underscores BNB’s rapid rise from an exchange utility token to one of the most valuable digital assets in the world.
Derivatives traders had expected a sharp correction after BNB crossed into uncharted territory, but liquidation data tells a different story. Over the past 24 hours, about $10 million in positions were wiped out—$9.1 million of which came from short sellers betting against the rally.
Futures activity has also exploded, with open interest hitting a new record of $2.4 billion. The surge highlights a sharp rise in speculative appetite and institutional participation around BNB contracts.
So what’s fueling the rally? Crypto exchange Binance founder Changpeng “CZ” Zhao pointed to a combination of factors in a recent post on X: friendlier U.S. regulatory signals that have boosted overall market sentiment, and a major network upgrade that improved performance with faster block times and lower transaction fees.
Why BNB reach $1000?
— CZ 🔶 BNB (@cz_binance) September 18, 2025
Good question. No one knows for sure. Correlation does not prove causation. But here is a incomplete list of possible reasons.
People tend to give me too much credit. I didn't do much. I am not technically involved like Vitalik. I am at best a mascot, but… https://t.co/rvhFA0yxYP
With momentum building and traders eyeing $1,200 as the next big milestone, BNB is once again proving it’s more than just an exchange token—it’s a market mover in its own right.