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 predictions for the evolution of digital assets leading into 2026, emphasizing the transition of crypto from peripheral finance to core infrastructure [1][2][3] Industry Developments - The report highlights a year of synchronized institutional adoption, regulatory clarity, and product innovation, which has strengthened the foundational aspects of the crypto market [2] - Key themes include the evolution of Bitcoin, the growth of the ETP market, the emergence of a trillion-dollar stablecoin market, a revitalized DeFi ecosystem, and the rise of agentic finance [2][3] Predictions for 2026 - Bitcoin's halving cycle is becoming less impactful, indicating a shift towards maturity as a macro asset, with structural inflows and regulatory clarity taking precedence [5] - Global crypto ETPs are projected to surpass the Nasdaq-100 ETF by the end of 2026, with assets under management (AUM) expected 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 [5] - Prediction markets are expected to onboard millions of users, with annual traded volume projected to exceed $100 billion [5] - Tokenized real-world assets (RWAs) are forecasted to increase from $35 billion in total value locked (TVL) in 2025 to over $500 billion in 2026, driven by institutional adoption and regulatory support [5]