Ethereum (TVL) is projected to grow tenfold over the next two years. Sharplink CEO Joseph Shalom attributes this growth to the expansion of stablecoins and the adoption of blockchain by traditional financial institutions.
The stablecoin market is expected to exceed 500 trillion won by 2026.
According to cryptocurrency information platform CoinMarketCap, Shalom CEO predicted that the stablecoin market will grow to approximately $500 billion (approximately KRW 723.35 trillion) by December 2026. The current total stablecoin market capitalization stands at $308.46 billion (approximately KRW 446.23 trillion), leaving room for approximately 62% growth.
Shalom noted that Ethereum (ETH) handles more than half of all stablecoin transactions. Given this share, the increased use of stablecoins is likely to lead to a sharp increase in the total value locked (TVL) on the Ethereum network.
Real Asset Tokenization (RWA) is expected to bring trillions of dollars to Ethereum.
In addition to stablecoins, Real-World Assets (RWA) are emerging as another key driver of Ethereum growth. Shalom forecasts that the RWA market could reach $300 billion (approximately 434 trillion won) by 2026, and predicts that tokenization will expand beyond individual securities or funds to encompass entire "fund complexes." This will further strengthen Ethereum's influence within the financial ecosystem.
This shift stems from the growing interest in blockchain technology from traditional financial institutions like BlackRock. Shalom believes that as Ethereum grows as a platform for asset securitization, these institutions are likely to place large amounts of assets on blockchain.
Competition for institutional investment could lead to a re-entry into cryptocurrencies.
Some analysts suggest that even initially conservative institutional investors may turn their attention back to the Ethereum market due to competitive pressures. Shalom stated, "Sovereign funds' investment in Ethereum and RWA tokenization activities could increase five- to tenfold next year alone," adding that this trend will further accelerate the growth of TVL.
While the market outlook is optimistic, not all analysts agree. Cryptocurrency analyst Benjamin Cowen said that "Ethereum is unlikely to reach new all-time highs in 2026," warning that Bitcoin (BTC) price action could limit ETH's rebound.
Ethereum's current TVL stands at approximately $68.2 billion (approximately KRW 987.66 trillion), which is only 10-15% of the projected future figure.
On-chain AI and prediction markets are also emerging as variables.
Shalom also pointed to the rise of "on-chain AI agents" and "prediction markets" as additional growth catalysts. As AI-based automation tools and services for betting on future events become widespread in the Ethereum ecosystem, network activity and transaction demand are expected to increase.
Ethereum is currently trading at $2,930 (approximately KRW 4,238,800), down approximately 13% since the beginning of the year. This is 40% lower than the all-time high of $4,964 (approximately KRW 7,178,400) recorded this year.
๐ Market Interpretation
Ethereum's future TVL growth potential depends not on a simple price recovery, but on structural changes centered around traditional finance and fintech. The expansion of the stablecoin and RWA markets serves as the foundation for this.
๐ก Strategy Points
As blockchain adoption in traditional finance grows, the Ethereum-based asset market is expected to become more active. Monitoring institutional investment trends and focusing on related projects and infrastructure could be a viable strategy.
๐ Glossary
TVL (Total Value Locked): The total amount of assets locked in a blockchain network or DeFi protocol. An indicator of network activity.
RWA (Real-World Assets): Tokenized real-world assets such as real estate, stocks, and funds on the blockchain.
Stablecoin: A cryptocurrency whose value is pegged to a fiat currency, such as the dollar.
On-chain AI agents: automated intelligent programs that operate in a blockchain environment.
๐ก Want to know more? AI-prepared questions for you:
A. With the rapid growth of the stablecoin and real-asset tokenization markets, Ethereum network activity is expected to increase significantly, and with the acceleration of asset transfers in traditional finance, TVL could increase by up to tenfold.
A. This refers to converting real-world assets, such as real estate and bonds, into digital tokens on a blockchain. Ethereum is the most widely used platform.
A. Since nearly half of all stablecoin transactions take place on Ethereum, as the stablecoin market grows, Ethereum TVL is bound to increase as well.
A. It's an AI program that operates on the blockchain based on smart contracts. It can be used in a variety of fields, including automated insight analysis and transaction execution.
A. Currently, ETH is at around $2,930 (approximately 4.24 million won), down 40% from its all-time high of around 4.97 million won this year.
TP AI Precautions
This article was summarized using a TokenPost.ai-based language model. Key points in the text may be omitted or inaccurate.
Get real-time news... Go to TokenPost Telegram
Copyright ยฉ TokenPost. Unauthorized reproduction and redistribution prohibited.
