As we enter 2026, the crypto industry is facing a major turning point. Legal hurdles surrounding digital assets are gradually being overcome, major institutional players are confidently entering the market, and the concept of "asset" is being redefined.
Few have a broader perspective than Yat Siu , co-founder and executive chairman of Animoca Brands . We spoke with Siu about the future of Web3 in the new year – and why he believes businesses face a life-or-death choice: Tokenize or be phased out.
New year, new era for altcoins.
Siu acknowledges that Bitcoin has become “digital gold,” but as we head into 2026, he believes the real excitement lies elsewhere. “Most people don’t start exploring crypto by buying Bitcoin,” he Chia . “They enter the market through Token with specific utility – be it DeFi, games, Non-Fungible Token , or something else.”
He gave a comparison to the traditional market: no single company has a market Capital equal to that of gold, yet the total value of the global stock market far exceeds that of gold. “The same thing is happening with crypto. What excites me this year is that the opportunities lie not only in new Token but also in Token that have already proven their worth.”
Siu had witnessed this pattern before. “Remember what happened after the dot-com bubble. Amazon, Microsoft, Apple, Netease – they didn’t disappear, they came back stronger. I believe 2026 will mark the beginning of a ‘revival’ for established Web3 companies.”
The year of regulatory transparency has finally arrived.
One of the developments that Siu is most interested in this year is the fate of the CLARITY Act in the US Congress. Building on the foundation of the GENIUS Act on stablecoins, the CLARITY Act aims to define clear legal boundaries between the SEC and CFTC regarding digital assets.
“I believe the CLARITY Act will pass in 2026,” Siu said. “And when that happens, there will be an unprecedented wave of Tokenize – from Fortune 500 companies to small businesses. The uncertainty that has held back so many organizations will be eliminated.”
He XEM this as key to enabling businesses to boldly adopt new technologies on a large scale. “Companies have been on the sidelines not because they don’t see the potential, but because they haven’t been able to address legal blind spots. This year, that obstacle will no longer exist.”
Organizations are shifting from observing to participating.
The emergence of crypto ETFs in recent years has marked a new milestone, but Siu believes 2026 will be the year institutions truly push forward with their strategies, not just experiment. “What we’re seeing now is just the beginning. RWAs and stablecoins will lead the narrative for institutions this year.”
Real-world asset Tokenize (RWA) holds particular potential for significant change. “RWAs deliver what crypto has promised but failed to deliver on a large scale: true financial inclusion. We’re talking about crypto wallets for the unbanked, and profitable investment opportunities previously only available to the wealthy. This year is the time for those promises to become a reality.”
Current forecasts suggest that Tokenize RWAs could reach $30 trillion in the next decade. The adoption of regulations such as the European Union's MiCA has given major banks and investment institutions more confidence to participate in public blockchains. “The infrastructure is ready. The legal framework is also nearing completion. Now it’s just a matter of implementation.”
The scenario after the decline repeats itself.
Siu clearly sees the similarities between the current situation and the post-dot-com bubble period. “The Capital cycle has fundamentally changed. In the early days of Web3, the biggest opportunity was investing in the most attractive new Token offerings. Now that’s no longer the case.”
Now, the investment trend is to choose Token that already have liquidation and a strong market position. “After the dot-com bubble, companies like Amazon, Microsoft, Yahoo, and eBay not only survived but also thrived. This model will repeat itself with Web3, but with a special twist: even tech giants like Google and Meta will officially enter this field.”
This trend demands different skills from investors than before. “The situation is much more complex now. To succeed, you need to be more analytical. The easy way to profit from anticipating hot Token launches is no longer relevant.”
"Everything will become a type of asset."
When asked about his boldest prediction for the coming years, Siu immediately replied: “Everything will become an asset through Tokenize. Intellectual property, royalties, advertising revenue – anything of value will be Tokenize.”
Yat Siu. Source: AnimocabrandsHe also acknowledged that Tokenize RWAs are currently Shard across different chains and exchanges, but he is optimistic about future consolidation and expansion. “The technology is ready. It’s just a lack of legal clarity and institutional trust. These two factors are gradually being addressed.”
This trend also has a generational element. “Cryptocurrencies are becoming the asset class of choice for younger generations, just as the internet and social media once differentiated previous generations. Businesses that want to effectively reach this customer group must have a strategy tied to Tokenize. It’s no longer an option, it’s a necessity.”
Blockchain is gradually fading into the background.
Siu's rather counterintuitive prediction is that blockchain technology will gradually become "invisible" to most users. "Think about digital music. Before, people talked about 'MP3s' or 'downloading digital music'. Now we simply call it 'music'. The technology has faded into the background, and so has blockchain."
He used the model of prediction market platforms as an example. “They operate on a crypto foundation, but users don’t care about the underlying technical aspects. What they care about is the service provided. This will be the direction for crypto popularization: just deliver value to the user, and the blockchain will quietly operate in the background.”
This practical approach opens up many opportunities in various fields. “Playing games with in-game assets as Non-Fungible Token. Profit-generating products easily accessible to the average user. Faster payments. Digital ownership. These applications will attract traditional users to crypto-based services, not because they like blockchain, but because these services are genuinely better.”
From cryptocurrency experts to those just curious about crypto.
Siu predicts a major shift in the target audience for crypto this year. “2026 will see a shift from those already familiar with crypto to those just starting to learn about it. And from entertainment to practical utility and real value.”
Memecoin , he argues, is a product of regulatory ambiguity. “Previously, memecoin launches were primarily aimed at the existing crypto community. They weren’t aimed at the general public.” But as more user-friendly legal frameworks emerge globally, this trend is changing.
“With clearer regulations, projects can openly talk about their true value. They no longer need to hide behind the memecoin label. The CLARITY Act will further this trend – Token will be valued based on their real utility, and Token without real value will struggle to survive.”
Financial literacy has become essential.
Looking ahead to the remainder of 2026 and beyond, Siu believes financial literacy will become an extremely important skill. “Crypto is currently solving many practical problems – reducing international money transfer costs, making it easier for users to generate income, and expanding opportunities that were previously inaccessible to everyone.”
He also predicted that crypto would become more deeply integrated into everyday financial systems. “Student loans, consumer credit, and then unsecured loans – crypto will be applied to financial solutions that directly impact the lives of ordinary people.”
This is similar to the digital skills revolution of the 1990s and 2000s. “Back then, businesses that didn’t embrace digital skills gradually lost ground. Consumers eventually had to learn as well. Now, this trend is repeating itself with financial literacy. Tokenize is leading to financialization, and those who proactively acquire financial literacy will have a much greater advantage.”
Tokenize or de-tokenized
Siu concludes with a message that serves as both a warning and a call to action for the coming year.
“Companies that don’t Tokenize their assets – that don’t make those assets accessible to AI and Web3 liquidation – will gradually lose ground. We’ve seen traditional businesses ignore the internet and then be overtaken by Amazon or Steam. Companies that ignore the Tokenize trend will follow the same path.”
Siu paused briefly, then emphasized his almost-a-motto: "Tokenize or die. This isn't a prediction for the distant future. This is the reality of 2026."
