"RBC-Crypto" does not provide investment advice, the material is published for informational purposes only. Cryptocurrency is a volatile asset that can lead to financial losses.
Partner of the research and investment division of Pantera Capital, Jay Yu, presented forecasts of key crypto trends for 2026. Among them are the integration of artificial intelligence into consumer crypto services, the growth of the stablecoin market, and the development of capital-efficient lending on the blockchain.
Blockchain Lending
A new stage of lending in the crypto industry is expected. These are applications that combine complex creditworthiness assessment (both on-chain and off-chain), flexible collateral terms, and analysis of user behavior using AI, packaged in a simple interface.
Segmentation of Prediction Markets
According to Yu's forecast, prediction markets will develop in two directions: financial, with an emphasis on integration with DeFi, the use of leverage and staking, and cultural - with a focus on local events, hobbies, and community participation.
Expansion of x402
The x402 protocol, initially created for micropayments, will begin to be used for regular crypto payments, essentially as a crypto equivalent of Apple Pay. It is expected that on a number of sites, over 50% of payment traffic will go through x402. In terms of transaction volume in this category, the Solana network will surpass Base.
AI as a New Interface
Autonomous traders based on artificial intelligence are still an experiment, but AI will be used to analyze trends, tokens, and wallets. These solutions will begin to be widely implemented in user applications.
Tokenized Gold
Gold-backed stablecoins will become one of the key instruments in the tokenized assets segment (real world assets, RWA), especially in the context of restrictions on physical ownership of the metal and declining trust in the dollar.
Quantum Threat to Bitcoin
The emergence of a technological precedent will force institutional companies to develop strategies to protect old bitcoins that have not been moved for many years from hypothetical quantum computer attacks.
Privacy as a Service
Solutions with a user-friendly interface for developers are expected to appear, which will simplify the implementation of confidential transactions, similar to how Wallet-as-a-Service services developed earlier. Companies will begin to offer Privacy-as-a-Service options for corporate clients.
DAT Companies
The market for DAT companies (digital asset treasury), which place cryptocurrency on corporate balance sheets, will shrink to two or three leaders in each segment. Mergers, closures, and a transition to structures resembling exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are expected.
Changes in Tokenomics
The model of governance tokens, which give the right to vote on protocol changes, will be called into question. In response, tokens that can be exchanged for a share in the project's capital will begin to appear, and a legal framework will be built to secure the right to participate in project governance through tokens.
Dominance of Hyperliquid
The Hyperliquid platform will maintain its leadership among decentralized exchanges for trading perpetual futures. The main source of growth will be HIP3 format markets - a mechanism that allows third-party teams to create their own derivative markets on the Hyperliquid base. To launch such instruments, it is enough to stake HYPE tokens and set suitable market parameters.
Also, the role of yield-bearing stablecoins will be strengthened on the platform, which will receive priority asset status (in particular through the HyENA protocol). At the same time, USDC from Circle will cede leadership on Hyperliquid to new stablecoins USDe from Ethena and native USDH.
Prop AMMs Will Become Multi-Chain
Proprietary AMMs will expand their reach to multiple blockchains and will account for more than half of the trading volume on Solana. In addition, they will begin to be used to value tokenized real assets.
On Solana, such mechanisms are already capturing a significant share of trading flow. Typical examples of Prop AMM on Solana include protocols like HumidiFi, as well as SolFi, ZeroFi and Obric - they already process large trading volumes through aggregators like Jupiter.
Unlike classic AMMs like Uniswap, proprietary ones use blockchain-embedded strategies of professional market makers, which allows for more active liquidity and narrow spreads. Such architecture is possible on Solana due to its high throughput, low fees, and support for frequent quote updates directly in the network.
Stablecoins for International Payments
Major fintech companies, including Stripe, Brex, Klarna and Ramp, will begin to massively use stablecoins in cross-border settlements. Networks like Tempo will become key gateways for the transition from fiat to cryptocurrency: they will accept fiat payments and convert them into stablecoins for subsequent settlements.
Trust Wallet users lost $7 million in cryptocurrency due to a hack
Broke the cycle. How the price of bitcoin changed over 10 years at Christmas
AI beat humans in a crypto trading tournament. What were the results
