Key Highlights
- CoinShares sees 2026 as the year crypto fully merges with traditional finance, with Bitcoin (BTC), stablecoins, and tokenized assets gaining mainstream adoption.
- Ethereum and Solana lead hybrid finance growth, while institutions like BlackRock and J.P. Morgan actively build on public blockchains.
- Global crypto rules gain clarity: the EU, the U.S., and Asia adopt frameworks, boosting adoption, market stability, and demand for tokenized government assets.
Crypto markets are set for big changes in 2026, according to digital asset manager CoinShares’ new report. The report shows digital assets are no longer operating on the sidelines. Instead, they are steadily weaving into traditional finance, reshaping how markets, institutions, and investors interact.
CoinShares argues that hybrid finance—merging crypto and conventional markets—will dominate the coming years. The firm stresses that this convergence is shaping infrastructure, liquidity, and institutional flows. Jean-Marie Mognetti, CEO of CoinShares, said, “Digital assets are no longer operating outside the traditional economy. They are increasingly embedded within it.”
According to the report, the growth of tokenized funds, corporate Bitcoin accumulation, and US government strategic reserves signal a major adoption wave. Stablecoin transaction volumes now rival Visa and Mastercard combined, projecting a $3 trillion market by 2030, according to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.
Additionally, tokenized assets, especially private credit and US Treasuries, more than doubled in 2025. AAVE alone holds liquidity comparable to America’s 50 largest banks. Besides, BlackRock’s BUIDL tokenized money market fund and J.P. Morgan’s Base deposits indicate that traditional finance is actively building on public blockchains.
Institutional adoption and market structure
The report also outlines Bitcoin’s move into the mainstream. More than US$90 billion was allocated to US spot exchange-traded funds (ETFs), while corporate treasuries hold upwards of 1 million BTC. Options markets matured, retirement plan restrictions were relaxed, and the U.S. government created a strategic Bitcoin reserve.
CoinShares predicts that in 2026, wirehouses will open Bitcoin ETF allocations, at least one 401(k) provider will give access, and custody banks will provide direct institutional settlements. Further, the price of Bitcoin could move well past $150,000 in a soft landing scenario, or between $110,000–$140,000 during stable growth. On the other hand, temporary suppression by stagflation or recession is possible.
Ethereum remains the main settlement layer for hybrid finance. It saw $13 billion in ETF net inflows, and institutional experiments like J.P. Morgan’s deployment on Base. Solana made its comeback, growing stablecoin supply from $1.8 billion to $12 billion after January 2024.
Regulation and strategic shifts
Regulations for crypto are finally coming together worldwide. In Europe, the Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) rules make it clear how digital assets can be issued, stored, and traded. In the US, the GENIUS Act treats payment stablecoins like regular money rather than securities, which increases demand for government bonds. Meanwhile, in Asia, countries are following Basel-style banking rules, and Hong Kong has set new crypto capital requirements that will take effect in 2026.
Bitcoin miners have signed $65 billion in HPC and AI contracts, making them diversified compute providers. Prediction markets reached mainstream relevance, as Intercontinental Exchange made an investment of up to $2 billion in Polymarket.
Just at the end of November, the company withdrew ETF applications for US-listed exchanges for XRP, Solana, and Litecoin, winding down the Bitcoin Futures Leveraged ETF. Income from passive products will be replaced by a focus on higher-margin active management and thematic baskets.
Despite leaving the US spot market, CoinShares is still the leading player in Europe, managing approximately US$10 billion in assets with a 34% market share.
CoinShares’ 2026 report shows crypto is increasingly integrated with traditional finance. Clearer rules, more institutional involvement, and hybrid systems are changing how the market operates.
Also Read: Harvard Triples Bitcoin Holdings, Doubles Gold ETF Allocation
