Original Title: 5 Crypto Predictions For 2026: Breaking Cycles And Crossing Borders
Original Author: Alexander S. Blume, Forbes
Translated by: Peggy, BlockBeats
Editor's Note: As digital assets gradually move towards the mainstream, the industry is undergoing profound changes. After the volatility and adjustments of 2025, the crypto market remains sluggish, investor sentiment is cautious, and the industry faces a critical moment of consolidation and reshaping. However, this lull is not stagnation, but rather a prelude to the next phase of innovation and maturity.
In the author's view, with the acceleration of institutional trends and the gradual clarification of regulatory frameworks, 2026 is expected to be another strong year for the development of digital assets. This article is written by Alexander S. Blume, the CEO of Two Prime and a senior digital asset investment advisor. Founded in 2019, Two Prime focuses on digital asset management and institutional-level financial services, with a focus on Bitcoin-related asset management, lending, and structured products.
This article will present his five major predictions for the crypto market in 2026, covering stablecoins, DATs, market cycles, cross-border liquidity, and product refinement, helping readers grasp the key opportunities and challenges in the digital asset field for the coming year.
2026 will be another strong year for the development of digital assets
At the end of last year, I predicted that 2025 would be the "transformative implementation year" for digital assets, as significant progress had been made in mainstream adoption in both retail and institutional markets. This prediction has proven to be validated in several ways: an increase in institutional allocation, more tokenization of real-world assets, and the development of regulatory and market infrastructure supporting cryptocurrencies.
We have also witnessed the rise of Digital Asset Treasury Companies (DATs), although this trend still appears fragile. Since then, the prices of Bitcoin and Ethereum have risen by about 15%, as these assets gradually integrate into the traditional financial system and gain wider adoption.
The entry of digital assets into the mainstream is no longer a question. Looking ahead to 2026, we will see continued maturity and evolution, with the experimental phase giving way to more stable growth. Based on the latest data and emerging trends, here are my five major crypto predictions for the coming year.
DATs 2.0: Bitcoin Financial Services Companies Will Gain Legitimacy
This year, DATs (Digital Asset Treasury Companies) have experienced rapid expansion, but also growing pains. From liquor brands to sunscreen companies, many are reshaping their identities, claiming to be buyers and holders of crypto assets. However, investor skepticism, regulatory pressure, mismanagement, and low valuations have posed challenges to this model.
Among a series of new projects, some DATs even hold so-called "altcoins," which are merely speculative projects lacking historical records and investment value. However, in the coming year, many issues surrounding the DAT market and its strategies will gradually be resolved, and companies genuinely operating based on Bitcoin standards will find pathways to enter the public market.
Many DATs, even the largest ones, will begin trading at prices closer to their underlying asset values, and managers will face greater pressure to create value for shareholders more effectively. After all, a company that merely holds a large amount of Bitcoin without taking action (while maintaining private jets and high management fees) is not a worthwhile investment for shareholders.
Stablecoins Will Be Ubiquitous
2026 will be the year of the explosion of stablecoins. It is expected that USDC and USDT will further penetrate traditional financial transactions and products, no longer limited to trading and settlement scenarios. Stablecoins may not only appear in cryptocurrency exchanges but also enter payment processors, corporate treasuries, and cross-border settlement systems.
For businesses, the appeal of stablecoins lies in their ability to enable instant settlements without relying on slow or expensive banking payment networks.
However, similar to the situation with DATs, we may also see an oversaturation in the stablecoin market: too many speculative stablecoin projects launching, too many consumer-facing payment platforms and wallets emerging, and too many blockchains claiming to "support" stablecoins. By the end of the year, many speculative projects are expected to be eliminated or acquired by the market, leading to consolidation in the industry, ultimately dominated by more brand-influential stablecoin issuers, retailers, payment networks, and exchanges/wallets.
Four-Year Cycles Will Be History
I am now announcing: Bitcoin's "four-year cycle" will officially come to an end in 2026. Today's market is broader and more institutionalized, no longer an isolated ecosystem. Instead, a new market structure and sustained buying pressure will change Bitcoin's trajectory, leading to continuous, gradual growth.
This means overall volatility will decrease, and Bitcoin will become a more stable store of value, driving broader adoption among global traditional investors and market participants. Bitcoin's evolution from a trading tool to a new asset class will be accompanied by more stable capital flows, longer holding periods, and fewer "cyclical" fluctuations.
U.S. Investors Will Gain Offshore Liquidity
As digital assets further move towards the mainstream, and with a favorable policy environment driving this change, the relevant rule-making and market structure will enable U.S. investors to access overseas cryptocurrency liquidity. This change will not happen overnight, but over time, we will see more approved affiliated institutions, improved custody solutions, and overseas platforms that meet U.S. compliance standards emerging.
Certain stablecoin projects may also accelerate this trend. Dollar-backed stablecoins have already been able to circulate cross-border, which traditional banking payment networks cannot achieve. As major issuers expand into regulated offshore markets, they have the potential to connect U.S. capital to global liquidity pools. Simply put, stablecoins may ultimately achieve the goal that regulators have long sought: to connect U.S. investors with the international digital asset market in a clear and traceable manner.
This is crucial, as offshore liquidity plays a key role in price discovery in the digital asset market. The next stage of market maturity will involve the standardization of how cross-border markets operate.
Products Will Become More Refined
The new year will bring a new wave of refinement in Bitcoin-related debt and equity products, along with more trading products centered on Bitcoin-denominated returns. Even previously cautious investors regarding digital assets will begin to accept this more complex product system.
We are likely to see structured products collateralized by Bitcoin, as well as strategies aimed at generating real returns through Bitcoin exposure, rather than merely betting on price fluctuations. ETFs have already begun to go beyond simple price tracking, offering functionalities to generate returns through staking or options strategies. Although fully diversified total return products remain limited, derivatives will become more complex and better integrated with standard risk frameworks. By 2026, Bitcoin will no longer be just a speculative tool but will gradually become a core component of financial infrastructure.
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