21shares Publishes 2026 State of Crypto: Guiding the Next Chapter of the Digital Asset Economy

Core Insights - 21shares has published its latest State of Crypto report, outlining ten evidence-led predictions for the evolution of digital assets leading into 2026, emphasizing the transition of crypto from the edges of finance to its core infrastructure [1][2][3] Industry Developments - The report highlights a year of synchronized institutional adoption, regulatory clarity, and product innovation, which has anchored the market with structural inflows and macro realignment [2] - Key themes include the evolution of Bitcoin, the growth of the ETP market, a projected $1 trillion stablecoin market, a resurgent DeFi ecosystem, and the rise of agentic finance [2][3] Predictions for 2026 - Bitcoin's halving cycle is becoming less impactful as structural inflows and regulatory clarity take precedence, indicating a maturation of Bitcoin as a macro asset [5] - Global crypto ETPs are expected to surpass the Nasdaq-100 ETF by the end of 2026, with assets under management (AUM) projected to reach $400 billion, driven by increasing regulatory frameworks [5] - The supply of stablecoins is anticipated to grow from over $300 billion in 2025 to $1 trillion in 2026, supported by regulatory advancements like the Genius ACT and MiCA [5] - Prediction markets are expected to onboard millions of users, with annual traded volume projected to exceed $100 billion, driven by geopolitical events and improved crypto infrastructure [5] - Tokenized real-world assets (RWAs) are predicted to increase from $35 billion in total value locked (TVL) in 2025 to over $500 billion in 2026, facilitated by regulatory clarity such as the Clarity Act [5]