Coinbase: Multiple forces will converge in 2026, accelerating crypto adoption

Coinbase's Head of Investment Research, David Duong, stated that ETFs, stablecoins, tokenization, and clearer regulations will create a cumulative effect in 2026, further accelerating the mainstream adoption of cryptocurrencies.

He pointed out that the approval of spot ETFs in 2025 opens the compliance gateway, leading to the rise of corporate crypto asset treasuries, with stablecoins and tokenization becoming more deeply integrated into core financial processes. By 2026, the acceleration of ETF approvals, the expanded role of stablecoins in DvP (delivery versus payment), and the broader acceptance of tokenized collateral will reinforce these trends.

On the regulatory front, the U.S. has clarified the relationship between stablecoins and market structure through the GENIUS Act, while Europe is advancing the MiCA regulatory framework, providing clearer policy boundaries for institutional entry. Duong believes this marks an important phase in the transition of crypto from a niche market to global financial infrastructure.

Additionally, he emphasized that crypto demand is no longer reliant on a single narrative but is driven by macroeconomic factors, technology, and geopolitics, with capital structures becoming more long-term and reducing purely speculative behavior.