Core Insights - CoinShares has released its 2026 outlook titled "The Year Utility Wins," indicating a shift from speculation to practical adoption of digital assets [1] - The report introduces Hybrid Finance as a framework where traditional financial institutions and blockchain infrastructure converge for real economic purposes [1] Market Developments - Stablecoins have evolved into genuine settlement infrastructure, and blockchain applications are generating consistent revenues [2] - The report states that "crypto is entering a value-accrual era" with platforms distributing earnings to token holders through systematic buybacks [2] Bitcoin Projections - CoinShares projects three scenarios for Bitcoin in 2026: an optimistic case exceeding $150,000, a base case trading between $110,000 and $140,000, and a bear case influenced by recession or stagflation [3][4] - The bear case suggests prices could range from $70,000 to $100,000 under stagflation conditions [4] Economic Context - The report highlights the erosion of dollar dominance, with the dollar's global reserve share decreasing from approximately 70% at the start of the millennium to the mid-fifties [5] Corporate Holdings - Corporate Bitcoin holdings have significantly increased, with publicly-listed companies rising from 44 in January 2024 to 190 by November 2025 [5] - Total Bitcoin holdings among these companies nearly quadrupled from 265,709 BTC to 1,048,520 BTC, with total value increasing from $11.7 billion to $90.7 billion [6] - MicroStrategy (MSTR) dominates this landscape, holding 61% of publicly-listed firms' Bitcoin after increasing its holdings from 189,150 BTC to 650,000 BTC [6] - The top 10 corporate holders control 84% of the supply, while the top 20 hold 91% [7]

Core Insights - Digital assets are transitioning from an experimental phase to a fundamental component of financial infrastructure, with large institutions increasingly utilizing public blockchains [1] - The concept of "hybrid finance" is emerging, characterized by the integration of crypto systems with traditional finance to enhance market operations [1] Integration of Digital Assets - Digital assets are becoming part of the traditional economy, with expectations for 2026 to see further consolidation into the real economy [2] - The report highlights the growing use of stablecoins and tokenized assets, particularly in private credit and U.S. Treasuries, along with an increase in tokenized funds and deposits [2] Bitcoin Mainstreaming - Bitcoin's adoption is accelerating, evidenced by over $90 billion in U.S. spot ETF inflows and more than one million BTC held by corporate treasuries across 190 public companies [3] - The asset management firm anticipates broader access to Bitcoin through wealth platforms and retirement accounts, as well as more direct institutional settlements from custody banks [3] Bitcoin Price Projections - Three potential price trajectories for Bitcoin are outlined: a soft landing could push prices above $150,000, steady growth may result in a range of $110,000–$140,000, while stagflation or recession could lead to short-term price declines before recovery [4] - Competition to establish a settlement layer for hybrid finance is intensifying, with Ethereum remaining a key player despite emerging rivals [4] Financial System Transformation - The year 2026 is expected to witness a financial system rearchitecting around public blockchains and digital settlement layers [5] - The report notes increasing regulatory divergence across regions, including Europe's MiCA framework, U.S. stablecoin policies, and Asia's Basel-style approaches, alongside structural shifts such as miners transitioning to high-performance computing and AI infrastructure [5]

Core Insights - The concept of 'hybrid finance' is emerging as blockchain technology integrates with traditional financial systems, creating a new infrastructure that neither sector could develop independently [2][3][9] - Major financial institutions, including BlackRock and J.P. Morgan, are actively participating in the blockchain space, indicating a shift from traditional finance being an observer to a builder on public blockchains [4][5] Hybrid Finance Development - Stablecoin transaction volumes are now comparable to those of Visa and Mastercard, with projections estimating a US$3 trillion market by 2030 [3] - Tokenised assets, particularly in private credit and US Treasuries, have more than doubled in 2025, showcasing significant growth in this sector [3] - AAVE, a decentralized finance (DeFi) lending protocol, has achieved liquidity levels comparable to the largest banks in the U.S. [3] Bitcoin's Mainstream Adoption - U.S. spot ETFs have attracted over US$90 billion, and corporate treasuries now hold over one million BTC across 190 public companies, nearly quadrupling in the last eighteen months [5] - The report anticipates further mainstreaming of Bitcoin in 2026, with major financial institutions opening Bitcoin ETF allocations and providing direct settlement services [6] Price Forecasts - CoinShares outlines three potential Bitcoin price scenarios for 2026: a soft landing could push prices beyond US$150,000, stable growth may see prices range between US$110,000 and US$140,000, while stagflation or recession could create near-term pressure [7] Platform Competition - Ethereum remains the dominant platform for hybrid finance, with US$13 billion in ETF net inflows, while Solana has increased its stablecoin supply from US$1.8 billion to US$12 billion since January 2024 [8] - Hyperliquid, a derivatives platform, has processed nearly US$3 trillion in cumulative volume, returning 99% of revenue to token holders [8] Regulatory Landscape - The EU's MiCA framework provides legal certainty for digital assets, while the U.S. GENIUS Act classifies payment stablecoins as non-securities, creating new demand for U.S. government debt [9][10] - Asia is adopting Basel-inspired standards, with Hong Kong finalizing crypto capital requirements effective January 2026 [10] Industry Transformation - Bitcoin miners are transitioning into diversified compute infrastructure providers, announcing US$65 billion in contracts with hyperscalers [11] - Prediction markets are gaining mainstream relevance, with Intercontinental Exchange investing up to US$2 billion in Polymarket, which is now seen as a reliable forecasting system [11]

Core Insights - CoinShares International Limited has launched the CoinShares Physical Staked Toncoin (CTON), providing institutional access to TON, the blockchain integrated with Telegram's 900+ million users [1][3][10] - The launch aims to meet the growing European institutional demand for diversified blockchain exposure, positioning Toncoin as a significant opportunity within the layer 1 blockchain landscape [3][5] Company Overview - CoinShares is a leading global digital asset manager with over $10 billion in assets under management, offering a range of financial services including investment management and trading [1][8] - The firm is regulated in multiple jurisdictions, including Jersey, France, and the US, and is publicly listed on Nasdaq Stockholm [8] Product Features - The CoinShares Physical Staked Toncoin ETP (CTON) offers a 0% management fee, a 2% staking yield, and direct 1:1 exposure to underlying TON tokens [9] - The product is designed for trading in USD on the SIX Swiss Exchange and is accessible across various European markets [10] Market Context - TON's integration with Telegram provides a unique value proposition, leveraging an established infrastructure and a significant user base to support real applications and payments [4][5] - The blockchain's high-performance capabilities, with over 104,000 transactions per second, enhance its appeal in the current market [4]

Core Insights - CoinShares has launched the CoinShares Physical Staked Toncoin (CTON), a regulated exchange-traded product providing institutional access to TON, the blockchain integrated with Telegram's 900+ million users [1][2][3] Group 1: Product Launch and Features - The CoinShares Physical Staked Toncoin (CTON) offers exposure to TON and is designed for European investors, extending the existing market footprint of CoinShares [1][10] - The product features a 0% management fee, a 2% staking yield from network validation rewards, and is physically backed with direct 1:1 exposure to underlying TON tokens [9][10] - CTON will begin trading on the SIX Swiss Exchange, allowing transactions in USD similar to traditional securities [9][10] Group 2: Market Context and Strategic Positioning - CoinShares identifies Toncoin as a compelling opportunity within the layer 1 blockchain landscape, particularly due to its integration with Telegram, which provides a significant user base and established infrastructure [3][4] - The blockchain's high-performance capabilities, with over 104,000 transactions per second, enhance its market reach and technical performance [4][5] - CoinShares aims to bridge the gap between traditional digital services and decentralized infrastructure, aligning with its hybrid finance investment thesis [5][6] Group 3: Company Background - CoinShares is a leading global digital asset manager with over $10 billion in assets under management, providing a range of financial services to various clients [1][8] - The firm is regulated in multiple jurisdictions, including Jersey, France, and the US, and is publicly listed on Nasdaq Stockholm [8]