Ark Invest sees bitcoin and tokenization driving the next phase of digital asset growth

Core Insights - The convergence of blockchain technology, institutional adoption, and regulatory clarity is transforming digital assets into a foundational layer of the global financial system, as highlighted in Ark Invest's Big Ideas 2026 report [1] Digital Asset Growth - Bitcoin is increasingly recognized as a new institutional asset class, with U.S. ETFs and public companies raising their combined bitcoin holdings to approximately 12% of total supply in 2025, up from less than 9% the previous year [2][3] - Bitcoin's risk-adjusted returns have outperformed most major cryptocurrencies and broader crypto indexes, indicating its maturation as a store of value [3] Market Projections - Ark Invest anticipates that the combined market for Bitcoin and smart contract networks could grow at an annualized rate of about 60% to roughly $28 trillion by 2030, with Bitcoin expected to account for around 70% of that total [4] - The firm's forecast suggests Bitcoin's market capitalization could increase from about $2 trillion today to approximately $16 trillion by the end of the decade, driven by its role as "digital gold" and rising institutional participation [5] Stablecoins and Tokenization - The rapid growth of stablecoins and tokenized real-world assets is identified as a key catalyst for broader adoption, with regulatory clarity in the U.S. prompting financial institutions to reassess their strategies [6] - Stablecoin transaction volumes are reaching levels that rival or exceed major legacy payment networks [6] Future of Tokenized Assets - Tokenized U.S. Treasuries, commodities, and equities are seen as early indicators of a larger migration of financial assets onto public blockchains [7] - Although the market value of tokenized assets is currently small, projections indicate it could exceed $11 trillion by 2030 as sovereign debt, bank deposits, and public equities increasingly transition on-chain [8] - Decentralized finance (DeFi) platforms and crypto-native issuers are closing the gap with traditional fintechs in terms of assets under management, revenue efficiency, and institutional relevance [8]