TL;DR:
- Nasdaq.com expects 2026 crypto progress to be driven by infrastructure, with adoption signals and ETF flows mattering as much as price for investors.
- It predicts stablecoin integration will accelerate under reserve rules, and market value could rise from about $250B to $2T by 2028.
- It also anticipates clearer U.S. market-structure rules and a takeoff in real-world asset tokenization in 2026, while warning volatility persists and investors must verify token backing.
A Nasdaq analysis argues 2026 will be defined less by hype and more by infrastructure, after 2025 delivered record highs for Bitcoin, stablecoin legislation in the U.S., and a pledge from the SEC and CFTC to collaborate on crypto innovation. It also notes record inflows into crypto ETFs, even as recent months were rough for prices. Taken together, those crosscurrents set up a year where adoption trends matter as much as price charts for investors and operators. The article then offers three predictions that could reshape capital’s relationship with blockchains.
Three predictions for crypto 2026
Use of Stablecoins
First, the piece predicts stablecoin usage will accelerate, driven by clearer issuance rules and reserve requirements adopted in 2025. It frames stablecoins as blockchain money with almost instantaneous settlement and low cost, but without the volatility of typical cryptocurrencies, while still warning about depegs and insufficient reserves. With retailers, banks, tech firms, and payment providers exploring integration, stablecoins move from a crypto feature to a mainstream payments and settlement tool in 2026. McKinsey expects market value to grow from about $250 billion to $2 trillion by 2028 in the piece.
Crypto assets: securities or commodities?
Second, the analysis says 2026 may finally answer whether many crypto assets are securities or commodities, after lawmakers fell short of broad regulation in 2025. It argues market-structure legislation could define which digital assets count as securities under existing investment rules and could sharpen exchange regulation, though sticking points remain around DeFi, stablecoin interest, and political conflicts of interest. With the House passing the Clarity Act and Senate work continuing, the industry’s gray zone could narrow enough to change compliance planning for firms and portfolios. Senate draft text may appear.
Tokenization Boom
Third, the article forecasts real-world asset tokenization will take off, describing it as recording ownership of assets such as equities, bonds, art, and real estate on blockchains. It highlights practical advantages: tokens can trade easily, assets can be split into small fractions, and smart contracts can automate yield generation or dividend distributions. Nasdaq’s proposal to trade tokenized versions of equities and ETFs is cited as a catalyst, offering extended hours and wider reach. Tokenization, the piece warns, demands verification that each token is backed by something concrete for investors everywhere.
Zooming out, the author expects 2026 to stay volatile, noting speculation remains rife and that many digital assets may not survive long term. Still, the piece argues 2025 showed projects beginning to deliver real-world utility, and it expects that trend to continue next year as regulation firms up and technology matures. For investors, the framing is pragmatic: opportunity expands when rules clarify, but risk management must keep pace with rapid innovation. That means watching adoption signals, not only candles, as stablecoins and tokenization test crypto’s promise across markets and products.
