More big investors, clearer rules, more “everyday” applications: The new “State of Crypto – Market Outlook 2026” from 21shares brings together ten forecasts and shows which topics could become important for Bitcoin, Ethereum & Co. in 2026 – understandable as New Year’s reading for beginners and advanced users.
According to 21shares, 2025 was the moment when three things came together: more participation from large investors, more regulatory clarity and noticeable progress in new products and applications. The report builds on this – and formulates ten theses on how the crypto market could develop further in 2026.
A central theme: Bitcoin could become more “grown up”. The report argues that the classic four-year rhythm (keyword “halving”, i.e. the planned supply shortage) sets the pace less strongly – Bitcoin reacts more strongly to major economic issues such as inflation and interest rates. At the same time, 21shares expects crypto exchange-traded products (ETFs/ETPs) to continue to grow and could reach more than $400 billion globally.
Even more tangible for many: Stablecoins – to put it simply, “digital dollars/euro” – could rise to $1 trillion in circulation by the end of 2026, according to forecasts. And: The report paints a picture of more automation, for example through AI assistants that are supposed to carry out certain financial steps “on autopilot”. Overall, this is less a new hype, but rather the gradual construction of a global digital financial infrastructure – with setbacks that tend to be milder than in previous crypto cycles.