Written by: Ekko, Ryan Yoon
Compiled by: Plain Language Blockchain
A growing number of reports are outlining what the crypto industry should look like in 2026. This section summarizes the key takeaways from these reports to assess the structural changes that may occur in the coming year.
Key points
- Bitcoin: As ETFs and DAT (Dynamic Asset Allocation) strategies enhance Bitcoin's institutional utility, its adoption will expand further.
- Privacy: Privacy technology will become an essential infrastructure for protecting institutional transactions.
- AI Agents: As the scale of AI-to-AI transactions expands, verifiable frameworks will become crucial.
- Stablecoins: Stablecoins will be more widely used in payments, settlements, and payroll beyond just transactions.
1. The Crypto Industry in 2026: Is the Era of Speculation Over?
Major institutions have reached a consensus on their 2026 outlook: the narrative-driven phase is fading, and an execution-centric phase is emerging. This report analyzes the 2026 outlooks of six leading institutions to identify the core drivers of structural change in the crypto industry and extract key themes that investors and builders should prioritize.
2. Key takeaways for 2026 emphasized by major institutions
2.1. Tiger Research
- Institutional funds will be concentrated on Bitcoin, and there will be no significant spillover effect on the broader market.
- Projects that cannot generate sustainable revenue will exit the industry.
- The utility-driven token model has failed; buybacks will dominate capital return strategies.
- M&A (merger and acquisition) opportunities between crypto projects will increase.
- The convergence of robotics and cryptocurrency will give rise to new forms of the gig economy.
- Prediction markets will be adopted by media companies to develop new revenue streams.
- Traditional financial institutions will dominate the RWA (Real-World Asset) space by deploying private blockchains.
- The launch of Ethereum staking ETFs will reignite interest in BTCFi.
- Fintech platforms, rather than trading platforms, will become the primary entry point into cryptocurrencies.
- Institutional involvement will make privacy technology a structural requirement.
2.2. Messari
- Cryptocurrencies must function as a real medium of payment, not just a technology stack.
- Bitcoin will remain strong by absorbing the monetary premium and store-of-value function of gold.
- Macroeconomic conditions will have a greater impact on Bitcoin's price movements than the halving cycle.
- Quantum computing is not an immediate risk, but a long-term challenge.
- L1 public chains without real users or economic activity will disappear.
- Ethereum is expected to be more volatile than Bitcoin.
- Ethereum-based DAT strategies can help mitigate severe downside risks.
- Privacy coins will emerge as an alternative to surveillance-intensive systems.
2.3. Delphi Digital
- Increased liquidity in the US will support higher Bitcoin valuations.
- Institutional inflows will drive Bitcoin's continued rise.
- Stablecoins will become a core infrastructure for global payments.
- Authentication is crucial in the AI agent ecosystem.
- Ethereum combined with L2 will enable faster and lower-cost settlement.
- Stablecoins will serve as a bridge between traditional finance and on-chain systems.
- The narrative of the encrypted super-app will continue to evolve.
2.4. a16z Crypto
- Stablecoin deposit and withdrawal channels will continue to mature.
- RWA tokenization and stablecoins will be redefined from a crypto-native perspective.
- On-chain lending will reduce structural inefficiencies and costs.
- Once the legal framework aligns with technological realities, the full potential of blockchain will be unlocked.
- AI-powered payment networks will evolve into an independent financial system.
- Privacy technologies are crucial for protecting institutional transaction data.
- KYC (Know Your Customer) will show its limitations, while KYA (Know Your Agent) will become the new standard.
- The internet will increasingly evolve into banking infrastructure.
2.5. Hashed
- Stablecoins will be used for everyday settlements, including payments and wages.
- Blockchain infrastructure will serve as the underlying layer for AI agent activities.
- Only projects with verifiable revenue and user adoption can survive.
- The crypto industry will shift from speculation to integration with the real economy.
2.6. Coinbase
- Institutional inflows will support the long-term appreciation of Bitcoin.
- The financial models built around Bitcoin will continue to expand.
- Stablecoins will form a large-scale industry centered on payments and settlements.
- Regulatory progress will formally establish the status of cryptocurrencies as recognized financial assets.
- Privacy technology will become the cornerstone of protecting institutional capital.
3. 2026: The Real-World Integration of Traditional Industries and Cryptocurrencies
In 2026, the crypto market will enter a phase where it proves its real value through direct engagement with traditional industries. Early narratives primarily revolved around retail participation and speculation. Now, the focus is shifting to institutional adoption and real-world integration.
Multiple reports indicate that Bitcoin, privacy, and stablecoins have become common focal points:
- Bitcoin has largely become a regulated financial asset.
- Privacy technology is increasingly seen as an essential tool for businesses to confidently conduct transactions.
- Stablecoins are moving beyond everyday payments, integrating with the traditional financial system and expanding their functionality.
- AI agents are expected to develop as a practical component to support the existing AI industry.
In summary, these outlooks suggest that 2026 will see a market structure shaped by institutional investors. This does not mean the disappearance of retail-driven speculation. On the contrary, the market may split into two distinct domains:
Area 1: Focus on practicality and execution.
Area Two: Centered on Speculation.
As expected, institutions and related projects will prioritize regulatory compliance and the development of verifiable revenue models. Meanwhile, the speculative ecosystem built on the inherent volatility of cryptocurrencies will continue to operate. This persistence reflects the origins of cryptocurrencies as a counter-system and their speculative spirit, which has evolved into a lasting cultural force, particularly among younger participants.
