Vi e w p o i n t | 18 Dec 2025 16:37:45 ET │ 23 pages Digital Asset Take 2026 Outlook: Navigating the Path to Mainstream Adoption CITI'S TAKE We forecast increased adoption of digital assets, spurred by potential US digital-asset legislation in Q2, with Bitcoin likely ranging into the new year around $80-$90k user-activity values. Our base case 12-month forecasts for BTC and ETH are $143k and $4304, respectively, driven by revived ETF demand and positive equity forecasts. The bear case, premised on recessio ...

asia crypot, digital asset asia, apac, sygnum. Photo by BeInCrypto According to a recent report, 87% of surveyed high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs) in Asia hold digital assets, and 60% plan to increase allocations. This reveals a maturing digital asset space across the region. Wealthy investors in key markets are increasingly viewing crypto as an essential component of their portfolios. Digital Asset Adoption Accelerates Among Asian Wealthy Investors The findings come from Sygnum’s APAC HNWI Report 202 ...

Partnerships & Adoption - Citi bank 与 Coinbase 合作，致力于为客户提供“数字资产采用”服务 [1] Industry Focus - 华尔街巨头花旗银行关注数字资产的采用 [1]

Core Insights - Ripple has acquired global prime broker Hidden Road and rebranded it as Ripple Prime, which has seen its business triple since the acquisition announcement, now serving over 300 institutional clients with more than $3 trillion cleared across markets [1][4]. Group 1: Business Model and Services - Ripple Prime is positioned as an all-in-one service that includes digital assets, foreign exchange, exchange-traded derivatives, over-the-counter swaps, fixed income clearing, repo, and precious metals, emphasizing compliance and risk management [2]. - The prime brokerage model allows clients to access multiple services through a single intermediary, improving efficiency and reducing friction in trading and settlement processes [3][4]. Group 2: Strategic Importance - The acquisition is seen as a significant step for Ripple, making it the first crypto company to operate a global, multi-asset prime broker, which is expected to unlock substantial growth through added licenses and risk capital [4][5]. - Ripple Prime aims to enhance the role of RLUSD, its U.S. dollar stablecoin, with some clients already using it as collateral for prime brokerage products [6]. Group 3: Market Position and Future Outlook - The launch of Ripple Prime expands Ripple's institutional offerings beyond payments and custody, catering to the needs of large trading firms [7]. - The success of Ripple Prime will depend on client demand, market conditions, and its competitive performance against existing prime brokers in both crypto and foreign exchange markets [8].

Group 1: Acquisition and Business Expansion - Ripple has completed a $1.25 billion acquisition of Hidden Road, becoming the first crypto company to own a global prime broker, now rebranded as Ripple Prime [1] - Ripple Prime's business has grown threefold since the acquisition announcement in April [1] - Ripple has made five major acquisitions in the past two years, including a recent $1 billion deal for GTreasury [7] Group 2: Institutional Finance and Market Position - Owning a prime broker positions Ripple at the center of institutional finance, controlling access to leverage and risk management [2] - The acquisition allows Ripple to ensure that its digital assets, particularly XRP and RLUSD, receive similar treatment as traditional assets like stocks and bonds [3] - Ripple's CEO stated that the company is at an inflection point for the next phase of digital asset adoption [3] Group 3: Stablecoin Utility and Market Standing - RLUSD is being utilized as collateral for prime brokerage products, indicating increased utility for the stablecoin [4] - Despite its regulatory compliance and being ranked as the number one stablecoin for stability, RLUSD has fallen to 20th place in the $308 billion stablecoin market, with a market value of $898 million [5] - The Bank of New York Mellon has been announced as the primary reserve custodian for RLUSD, highlighting Ripple's commitment to institutional and regulatory standards [6]

🇺🇸 NEW: @SenLummis said open banking is essential to keep America at the forefront of financial innovation and digital asset adoption.She warned that major banks opposing the rule risk stifling competition and driving crypto entrepreneurs overseas. https://t.co/vV0fK5w5Ph ...

Core Insights - Solana is positioned to potentially become the next mega-cap technology company, as Bitcoin's years of legitimacy are now benefiting the broader crypto landscape [1][3][7] - Record-breaking inflows into crypto exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are driving Bitcoin to new all-time highs, indicating strong market demand [2][5] Industry Trends - Recent U.S. legislation and increased institutional participation are facilitating broader digital asset adoption, with Solana and Ethereum experiencing rapid growth [3][4] - The Bitcoin ETF has seen inflows surpassing those into the Nasdaq 100 since its launch, highlighting overwhelming demand for Bitcoin [5][6] - Traditional markets are beginning to view crypto as a legitimate component of diversified portfolios, which is expected to benefit platforms like Solana [6][7] Company Performance - Solana's native token, SOL, recorded its highest weekly inflow recently, trading at $230.8, reflecting a 10.3% increase over the past week [4] - Despite the surge in prices and institutional interest, overall adoption of digital assets remains low [7] Market Outlook - The year 2025 is anticipated to be a turning point for the crypto market, with increasing acceptance of digital assets among equity investors [5][6] - Bitcoin is viewed as a superior version of gold, with a potential market upside of over 10 times if it continues to gain traction as a store of value [8]

Partnerships & Collaborations - SBI Group partners with Chainlink to accelerate institutional digital asset adoption globally [1] Focus Areas - Collaboration focuses on tokenized real-world assets, funds, and regulated stablecoins [1] - Initial focus is on the Japanese market [1]

🇯🇵 JUST IN: Japan's SBI Group partners with Chainlink to accelerate institutional digital asset adoption globally.The collaboration focuses on tokenized real-world assets, funds, and regulated stablecoins, starting with the Japanese market. https://t.co/jtqBvTIR9i ...

Institutional Digital Asset Adoption - Chainlink 正在推动机构数字资产的采用 [1] - Chainlink 通过为资本市场的未来提供动力来实现上述目标 [1] Conference Participation - Sergey Nazarov 参加了 SALTConference [1] - SALTConference 的参与者包括 Digital Chamber, OndoFinance, 和 JPMorgan [1]