**BNB Token Surges Amid Market Speculation**

BNB, the native token of BNB Chain, has seen a significant rise, hitting $614 on September 27—a 25.7% increase over three weeks. This marks the first time BNB has closed above this level since June 2024. While some speculate that Binance founder Changpeng "CZ" Zhao's release from US custody might be driving this rally, analysts suggest otherwise.

BNB's performance mirrors the broader altcoin market, indicating that its recent resilience, avoiding dips below $500, could signal a bullish trend. Some even predict BNB might reach $1,000. However, the token's value is more closely tied to Binance's ecosystem rather than CZ's legal issues.

To gauge BNB's future, one must consider its demand within the ecosystem and compare BNB Chain's performance against rivals like Ethereum and Solana. Despite a stagnant total value locked (TVL) and declining DApp volumes, BNB Chain's active addresses have increased by 4%, contrasting with Ethereum's 23% decline.

In summary, no major developments in the BNB Chain ecosystem justify BNB outperforming the broader altcoin market. The release of CZ is unlikely to be the primary driver of BNB's price surge.