As the cryptocurrency market continues to evolve, Coinbase, a leading cryptocurrency exchange, expects exchange-traded funds (ETFs), stablecoins, and tokenization to drive cryptocurrency adoption in 2026. According to David Duong, head of investment research at Coinbase, these factors will reinforce each other and accelerate cryptocurrency adoption. 
Coinbase’s Predictions for 2026
Coinbase expects ETFs, stablecoins, and tokenization to reinforce each other and accelerate cryptocurrency adoption in 2026. These trends, Duong argued, are likely to strengthen rather than subside. “We expect these forces to strengthen in 2026 as ETF approval timelines shorten, stablecoins play a larger role in delivery-versus-payment structures, and tokenized collateral becomes more widely recognized in traditional transactions,” he said.
Global Crypto Adoption
Although cryptocurrency adoption has increased more slowly than the early evangelists once predicted, developments have remained stable. Data from analytics platform Demand Sage shows that global crypto adoption has fluctuated within a narrow range over the past two years, ranging from 10.3% in the first quarter of 2023 to 9.9% in the first quarter of 2025. Duong suggested that this stability was due to a maturing market rather than stagnation.
Regulatory Clarity
An important catalyst for the next phase is regulatory clarity, he said. In 2025, several major jurisdictions have formalized crypto oversight, changing the way institutions assess risk and deploy capital. In the United States, lawmakers advanced stablecoin legislation with the GENIUS Act, providing a clearer framework for dollar-pegged tokens and payment use cases. In Europe, the introduction of the Crypto Assets Markets Regulation has led to more uniform licensing and compliance across member states.
Crypto Demand Broadens
Beyond regulation, Duong also pointed to a structural shift in demand. Crypto markets are no longer driven by a single narrative or dominated by early adopters. Instead, a broader mix of institutions, allocators, and end users shape flows, linking crypto exposure to macroeconomic conditions, technological advancements, and geopolitical developments. “Demand no longer depends on a single story,” he said, adding that cryptocurrencies are increasingly being viewed from a long-term strategic perspective as they become part of the mainstream financial architecture.
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