TL;DR
- Stablecoins to revolutionize cross-border payments, especially for India’s $135B remittance market.
- RWA tokenization seen as a key blockchain application for unlocking real-world asset liquidity.
- Clear regulatory frameworks are crucial for accelerating mainstream crypto adoption in 2026.
Edul Patel, CEO of Indian crypto investment platform Mudrex, outlined the trends he expects to shape digital asset adoption in 2026, identifying stablecoins, real-world asset (RWA) tokenization, and the intersection of AI with blockchain as the leading catalysts for market expansion.
According to Patel, stablecoins will play a key role in transforming cross-border payments and remittances, particularly for countries like India, which remains the world’s largest recipient of remittances, totaling $135 billion annually. He noted that around $10 billion of that amount is lost each year due to intermediary fees and prolonged settlement periods in the existing system.
Stablecoin-based infrastructure, he added, enables near-instant transactions at a fraction of the cost, compared with the five to seven days often required by traditional banks. “This efficiency gap creates a strong structural case for stablecoin adoption over time,” Patel said.
RWA Tokenization Gains Global Momentum
Patel highlighted the growing interest in RWA tokenization, describing it as a key pathway to unlocking liquidity in historically illiquid markets such as real estate, commodities, and infrastructure. He referenced ongoing projects like Dubai’s tokenized money market funds and Maharashtra’s ₹50 trillion land digitization plan as clear indicators of rising global participation.
“As legal and technical frameworks mature, RWA tokenization could become one of the most consequential applications of blockchain,” he stated. The process allows asset owners to fractionalize value into tradeable digital units, broadening access to capital markets while improving transparency and efficiency in asset management.
Regulation and Investor Behavior Shifts
Patel emphasized that regulation remains the most decisive variable for crypto adoption heading into 2026. Although India has developed a mature exchange landscape and stronger investor awareness, he observed that regulatory clarity is still missing.
He argued that a clear and supportive policy framework could position India as a global leader in digital asset adoption. “The foundation exists; what is needed is consistent guidance to balance innovation and compliance,” he added.
Retail investors and younger market participants, particularly Gen Z traders, are also shifting their approach. Patel noted a move away from short-term speculation toward fundamentals, with greater demand for projects tied to tangible use cases and transparent token economics. The preference for DeFi, Web3, gaming, and AI–blockchain projects with measurable outputs is already visible across exchanges and user activity metrics.
AI Integration and DEX Expansion
On the technology side, Patel pointed to the integration of artificial intelligence with blockchain as an emerging driver of efficiency and compliance. “AI systems are already being used to enhance anomaly detection, risk control, and fraud monitoring,” he explained, noting that blockchain’s transparency further strengthens these safeguards through real-time data validation.
Patel also expects decentralized exchanges (DEXs) to expand their user base as on-chain liquidity improves and interfaces become more intuitive. He described DEXs as a growth engine for 2026, particularly as users increasingly demand self-custody and transparency in financial transactions.
For Patel, the convergence of stable payments, tokenized assets, and AI-powered infrastructure marks a turning point in crypto’s evolution—a shift from speculation to utility, grounded in measurable adoption and real-world value creation.
