A research team from a compliant platform recently made an interesting prediction. They found that the forces driving the entire cryptocurrency industry this year will further compound and amplify by 2026—this includes the expansion of crypto ETF product lines, the deepening role of stablecoins in settlement systems, and the widespread application of asset tokenization.

Specifically, as the ETF approval cycle continues to shorten, stablecoins will play a more critical role in DvP settlement processes. Coupled with increased institutional recognition of tokenized collateral, these trends will continue to reinforce each other, creating a virtuous cycle.

What is the bigger context? Global regulatory frameworks are gradually becoming clearer, which is pushing crypto from a niche asset class to an integral part of the global financial infrastructure. Meanwhile, the market driving forces are also undergoing a fundamental shift—not dominated by a single hot narrative, but by the resonance of multiple factors such as macroeconomic conditions, technological advancements, and geopolitical developments. The capital side is also transforming, gradually shifting from primarily short-term speculators to long-term, strategic institutional participants.