Pantera Capital analyst predicts rise of AI, prediction markets, stablecoins by 2026

Jay Yu, a research analyst at Pantera Capital, has released 12 predictions for the cryptocurrency market in 2026 via X. Yu identified the core crypto trends for 2026 as the rise of capital-efficient on-chain credit, the bifurcation of prediction markets into financial and cultural segments, and the proliferation of agent commerce (x402). The analyst also forecast that AI will become the primary interface for crypto, while tokenized gold will emerge as a key real-world asset (RWA). Regarding Bitcoin, Yu expects discussions on the risks of quantum computing to intensify, although he believes the actual threat will be limited. He also noted the possibility that companies holding Bitcoin treasuries will consolidate to two or three firms, and the line between tokens and stocks will blur. Additionally, Yu predicted that perpetual decentralized exchanges will reorganize around hyper-liquid models and stablecoins will expand to become a global payment infrastructure.