Source: DLNews
Original title: What BlackRock, Coinbase and 11 other industry giants predict for crypto in 2026
Compiled and edited by: BitpushNews
Wall Street giants and key crypto industry institutions recently released their outlooks for the crypto space in 2026, focusing on regulatory trends, stablecoins , artificial intelligence, and privacy. These institutions manage approximately $22 trillion in assets (close to the GDP of the entire Eurozone) and play a systemically important role in global markets.
Here are their key insights for the new year:
BlackRock
In its 2026 Global Markets Outlook, BlackRock points out that stablecoins will challenge governments' control over their currencies. As stablecoin adoption surges, the use of emerging market currencies faces the risk of decline.
Samara Cohen, Head of Market Development at BlackRock, said: "Stablecoins are no longer a niche product; they are becoming a bridge between traditional finance and digital liquidity."
The report also mentions that Bank of America is threatened by the Genius Act. This landmark law, signed in July 2025, grants crypto companies incentives that traditional banks are not allowed to offer.
Coinbase
David Duong, Director of Investment Research at Coinbase, believes that the deployment of artificial intelligence (AI) will spur an economic boom that has yet to be captured by statistics.
He emphasized that the integration of AI and encryption technology is not a short-term trend, but a fundamental shift towards the next stage of technological progress.
Meanwhile, demand for privacy tokens is expected to surge due to global concerns about digital surveillance and data exploitation. Coinbase specifically mentioned Ethereum's privacy initiatives, as well as tokens like Zcash and Monero .
Fidelity
This giant, which manages $6 trillion in assets, predicts that more countries will buy Bitcoin as part of their national reserves by 2026.
Fidelity noted that Brazil and Kyrgyzstan have already passed relevant legislation. Vice President Chris Kuiper pointed out that once more countries adopt Bitcoin, competitive pressure will force other countries to follow suit.
This view was supported by Strategy CEO Phong Le, who also foresaw a wave of sovereign nations buying Bitcoin.
JPMorgan Chase
JPMorgan Chase believes that although the market capitalization will shrink by about $1 trillion from $4 trillion in 2025, the crypto industry will still make great progress in 2026 thanks to a more relaxed regulatory environment in the United States.
The bank noted that digital assets are gradually becoming an alternative to the US dollar, and stablecoins have developed into a force to be reckoned with.
Andreessen Horowitz (a16z)
a16z predicts that by 2026, AI agents will completely transform internet payment and banking models.
AI agents will enable instant, permissionless mutual payments (for purchasing data, computing power, etc.) without the need for traditional invoices and bulk settlements.
Furthermore, they believe that "privacy" will become the most important moat in the crypto space and generate powerful network effects.
DefiLlama / DL Research / DL News
The jointly released report, "The State of DeFi," points out that regulatory clarity will push stablecoins into the mainstream by 2025.
With the implementation of the US Genius Act and the EU MiCA, other regions are expected to follow suit in 2026. This global regulatory alignment will accelerate the emergence of non-dollar stablecoins and attract a new wave of institutional issuers.
Galaxy Digital
Galaxy is extremely optimistic about Bitcoin's long-term prospects, predicting that it will reach $250,000 by the end of 2027.
The agency also predicted that stablecoin trading volume would surpass that of the existing banking transaction system ACH.
By the end of 2026, the total market capitalization of privacy-related tokens is expected to exceed $100 billion.
VanEck
Matthew Sigel, head of digital asset research, predicts that digital assets will enter a period of consolidation in 2026, rather than an explosion or collapse.
He believes that Bitcoin's four-year historical cycle remains solid.
While not an immediate concern, quantum security is becoming a key issue in the Bitcoin community. VanEck recommends that clients allocate 1% to 3% of their portfolios to mainstream cryptocurrencies.
Pantera Capital
Chief Legal Officer Katrina Paglia believes that U.S. crypto policy will shift from an "uncertainty" phase to an "implementation phase."
The regulatory reset under the Trump administration has set the course for 2026. The Genius Act established a licensing and regulatory framework for payment-based stablecoins, laying the groundwork for this development.
The company stated that over the 12 years they have managed crypto assets, the average annual return has doubled.
OKX Ventures
Founder Jeff Ren stated that next year will be a year of more assets going on-chain.
He anticipates that gold, stocks, intellectual property, and even GPU computing power will be blockchain-enabled. The goal is to package familiar risks (such as interest rates, oil prices, and credit spreads) into a format that is easy for ordinary users to operate.
Silicon Valley Bank
Silicon Valley Bank analysts Anthony Vassallo and Josh Pherigo say that by 2026, venture capitalists will be investing more in institutional-grade crypto products from established companies.
“The era of suits and ties has arrived,” the two said. “Corporate acceptance of cryptocurrencies is accelerating confidence on both sides of the market.”
They stated that cryptocurrencies and artificial intelligence will have a significant impact on key areas such as payments, market infrastructure, and global commerce. Mergers and acquisitions between fintech and cryptocurrency companies will also "achieve new heights."
21Shares
This ETF issuer predicts that assets under management for cryptocurrency exchange-traded funds (ETFs) will exceed $400 billion by 2026. ETFs have become a strategic allocation tool, representing the rise of "patient capital" in the market.
TRM Labs
Blockchain intelligence firm TRM Labs believes that cryptocurrencies are entering a more mature and tightly regulated phase. Regulators are no longer debating "whether to regulate," but rather "how to regulate." Sanction circumvention, illicit finance, and state-sponsored activities are prompting governments to view blockchain networks as a national security issue, not just a financial innovation. This will lead to a further fragmentation between the compliant institutional market and the fringe offshore market.
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