David Marcus, a prominent voice in the payments industry, restated a familiar but bold idea: Bitcoin has the potential to surpass gold as a store of value. He cites a combination of Bitcoin’s scarcity and simple recovery tool (a 12-word seed phrase) as the reason people can hold and move large sums of money without banks.
According to the report, the former PayPal president also tied Bitcoin’s upside potential to gold’s market size, saying a match could push BTC into the low millions of dollars per coin.
Marcus says Bitcoin is easy to move and store
His central argument is clear. Gold is heavy and difficult to move. Bitcoin is a code that you can bring to your device or back up with a few words. This is important in a connected world where high-speed transfers are common.
But seed phrases are a double-edged sword. Sure, access can be restored, but if it’s lost or stolen, it can lose value. According to the report, real people sometimes forget their passwords or lose their drives. Despite its weight, gold cannot be destroyed by a single human error.
A former president of PayPal said: #bitcoin The amount should be between $1.1 million and $1.5 million, which he thinks “will happen.” 🚀
The question is not “if” but “when”! pic.twitter.com/5iiz9HtB8g
— The Moon Show (@TheMoonShow) January 28, 2026
Price calculation and real world steps
Marcus used market cap calculations to chart a path from $1.1 million to $1.5 million BTC. Supporters point to fixed supply and argue that such a number is not impossible.
Critics answer with difficult questions. How fast will adoption occur? Who will regulate it and how? Where do pensions and banks fit in?
Critics also say the numbers are just a thought experiment without a clear timeline or rollout plan. That scenery has legs. Forecasts are appealing, but they are not plans.
Market movements and headlines
Bitcoin is reportedly slipping through support around $89,000 to $91,000 as traders juggle headlines and risk appetite. Short swings were common. News of conflicts and trade tensions in the Middle East has investors worried.
At times, traders panicked and sold. Sometimes buyers backed out quickly. This push and pull makes price movements choppy and difficult to read for those trying to time their entries.
What Gold Still Offers
Beyond safe haven, gold has uses. Used in industry and jewelry. This gives it a basic utility that Bitcoin lacks. It is thought that some of the demand for gold will continue to be tied to such practical roles. It provides a different kind of value anchor than scarcity alone.
balanced takeout
Marcus’ views are influential because he built a major payment system and speaks from experience. His words matter to some investors, according to reports. Still, whether Bitcoin overtakes gold will depend on many variables, including wide adoption, predictable rules, and stable market fundamentals.
Each of them needs to be shown, not just expected. The debate will continue and both sides will be able to point out their real strengths. For now, short-term market movements are driven not only by long-term grand calculations, but also by headlines and the mood of traders.
Featured image from Unsplash, chart from TradingView
editing process for is focused on providing thoroughly researched, accurate, and unbiased content. We adhere to strict sourcing standards, and each page is carefully reviewed by our team of top technology experts and experienced editors. This process ensures the integrity, relevance, and value of your content to your readers.
