An investor's analyzing the bnb (bnb) coin on screen.

An investor analyzing the BNB coin on screen. Source: maurice norbert - stock.adobe.com

Key Takeaways:

An early BNB investor turned a $1,000 investment from 2017 into over $1 million as BNB crossed $1,000.
BNB’s surge reflects increased network utility, institutional interest, and developer activity fueling its growth.
Market experts suggest crypto is still in a “waiting room” phase, with broader cycle momentum expected through 2026.

An early Binance Coin (BNB) investor has turned a $1,000 investment into over $1 million after BNB crossed the $1,000 milestone for the first time.

The individual bought BNB in 2017 at around $1 per token, achieving a 1,000-fold return over eight years.

BNB just broke $1,000 today! @cz_binance

Diamond Hand 0x8503 spent less than $1K to buy 999 $BNB eight years ago, when the price was only ~$1.

Now, those 999 $BNB are worth ~$1M, a 1,000x return.https://t.co/DIkr8auXWA pic.twitter.com/4qZElFjyt5
— Lookonchain (@lookonchain) September 18, 2025

Despite the huge gains, blockchain data shows the wallet continues to hold the tokens.

BNB’s rally to $1,005 signals renewed optimism in the crypto market, with many anticipating the start of an altcoin season.

Raoul Pal, CEO of Global Macro Investor, described the current stage as a “waiting room” in the broader cycle, suggesting momentum could extend into 2026.

The surge in BNB’s value has been linked to its expanding utility across centralized exchanges and growing institutional interest.

Marwan Kawadri, DeFi lead at BNB Chain, cited increased developer participation, higher-quality digital asset tokens (DATs), and rising user activity as reinforcing the token’s momentum.

Watching #BNB go from $0.10 ICO price 8 years ago to today's $1000 is something words cannot explain.

I, not representing any entity or title, as just a community member and a #BNB holder, thank everyone in the #BNB and crypto ecosystem, for your support.

We had our challenges…
— CZ 🔶 BNB (@cz_binance) September 18, 2025

Binance co-founder Changpeng Zhao reflected on BNB’s journey from its $0.10 ICO price to its new milestone, noting that “we worked hard, we built, and we held.”