According to a year-end outlook from Coinbase's head of investment research, David Duong, crypto adoption is set to accelerate in 2026 as momentum from exchange-traded funds (ETFs), stablecoins, tokenization, and clearer regulation begins to reinforce itself. Duong stated that 2025 marked a turning point for the digital asset sector, with regulated spot ETFs opening the door for broader investor access, corporate crypto treasuries gaining traction, and stablecoins and tokenized assets becoming more embedded in traditional financial workflows.
Duong expects these forces to compound in 2026 as ETF approval timelines compress, stablecoins take a larger role in delivery-vs-payment structures, and tokenized collateral is recognized more broadly across traditional transactions. He argued that global crypto adoption has stabilized, signaling market maturity rather than stalled growth. Data from Demand Sage shows global crypto adoption fluctuating within a narrow band over the past two years, ranging from 10.3% in Q1 2023 to 9.9% in Q1 2025.
A key catalyst for the next phase is regulatory clarity. In 2025, several major jurisdictions moved to formalize crypto oversight. In the United States, lawmakers advanced stablecoin legislation through the GENIUS Act. In Europe, the rollout of the Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulation has brought greater consistency to licensing and compliance across member states. Duong noted this creates "real operational readiness," allowing firms to build products and integrate crypto into payments and settlement systems.
Echoing this institutional focus, Bitwise Chief Investment Officer Matt Hougan also predicts increased institutional interest in crypto for 2026, with ETFs playing a central role. Hougan explained that ETFs simplify the investment process for financial advisors, who typically spend minutes, not hours, thinking about crypto for client portfolios. They prefer familiar, regulated products over dealing with wallets, custody, or operational details.
Bitwise's eight years of surveys show a consistent preference for ETFs, with about 70% of participating institutions and advisors consistently reporting ETFs as their preferred route to crypto investment. Hougan anticipates demand for crypto ETFs will continue to grow in 2026 as regulatory frameworks mature and new ETF options emerge, serving as a bridge between traditional finance and digital assets.
