Tiger Research's recently published report insightfully outlines key changes in the cryptocurrency market in 2026, predicting a market restructuring dominated by institutions and the elimination of unsustainable projects. The report predicts vertical shifts in the future market structure, focusing on ten key keywords. It explores a range of areas, including institutional capital flows, shifts in tokenomics models, and the expansion of robotics, prediction markets, and RWA.
According to this research, institutional funds are concentrated around Bitcoin (BTC), and the "trickle-down effect" of the past into the altcoin market has virtually disappeared. Consequently, projects outside of Bitcoin and Ethereum (ETH) are expected to face fiercer competition for institutional attention. A conservative asset management culture focuses on intrinsic profitability and risk management, and narrative-driven altcoins are likely to be weeded out. Tiger Research found that 85% of newly listed projects this year experienced price declines, confirming this trend.
Changes are also beginning to emerge in terms of market function. Research suggests that token economies based on usability and utility have failed to gain investor trust. Projects that thrive on short-term trends are failing to demonstrate sustainability and are being weeded out, and complex governance structures are failing to deliver clear value to investors. Ultimately, structures that directly return value, such as buybacks and burns, are expected to emerge as the new mainstream in tokenomics. According to Tiger Research's analysis , this is a clear message from the market that survival is only possible by overcoming the limitations of simple utility.
In addition, mergers and acquisitions (M&A) between Web3 projects are increasingly likely to become a key tool for full-scale market restructuring. As the Web3 market matures, rapid scale-up is required to strengthen competitiveness, and one strategy for achieving this is the integration of existing projects. In particular, teams and technology-based projects with real revenue-generating capabilities are expected to take the lead. This is interpreted as a sign that the blockchain industry is becoming more industrialized.
Changes are also being detected in the technological foundation. The robotics industry is combining blockchain technology with decentralized crowdsourcing models, creating new models that secure large-scale learning data from users around the world. This opens the door to a robotics-centric "gig economy" era built on blockchain. Furthermore, media companies are attempting to overcome the limitations of existing content-centric revenue models by introducing prediction markets. This so-called reader-betting-based economic model raises expectations that it could emerge as a new paradigm for the media industry.
Meanwhile, traditional financial institutions are expected to emerge as key players in the real asset tokenization (RWA) market. Rather than leveraging external blockchains, they are aiming for market dominance by building their own chains to strengthen asset security and control. Consequently, blockchain projects lacking independent product design capabilities may struggle to survive in the RWA market. Commercialization of privacy technology is essential to support the market entry and establishment of these institutions. Institutional capital involves large-scale transactions and prefers their strategies to remain transparently exposed. Therefore, transaction information protection technology is expected to emerge as a critical variable that will influence future market entry conditions.
The boundaries between investing in and utilizing digital assets are rapidly blurring. While cryptocurrency exchange apps were previously the primary gateway to the market, fintech platforms are expected to become the primary gateway. Fintech services with user-friendly UIs and enhanced real-world interactions are driving the ubiquity of digital asset experiences. The launch of an Ethereum staking ETF, in particular, is fueling the desire for "sustainable returns" among Bitcoin ETF investors, and Bitcoin finance (BTCFi) services could be re-evaluated as a means to meet this demand.
Tiger Research emphasized that the cryptocurrency market in 2026 will face a complex turning point beyond simple technological advancements, encompassing industrial restructuring, enhanced capital flow, and privacy security. They concluded that now, a market where proof speaks louder than words. The cryptocurrency industry has now entered a phase where practical utility and tangible results are demanded.
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