The three major highlights of the 2026 crypto industry: prediction markets, zero-knowledge proofs, and staking media

【ChainWen】The cryptocurrency industry is about to enter a new phase. According to the latest outlook report from top crypto investment institutions, the industry development starting in 2025 will no longer focus on the speed of blockchain emergence, but on who can truly utilize this technology—reshaping markets, innovating computing infrastructure, and transforming media ecosystems.

Simply put, it’s shifting from “creating new things” to “making good use of existing ones.” How will this change manifest? The report highlights three directions.

The first is the predicted explosion of the market. As the size of prediction markets grows, advances in cryptography, AI, and market design open up many new possibilities for this sector. By 2026, prediction markets will not only become larger and more widespread but also more complex in their business models—you’ll see more innovative contract designs and smarter ways to solve the ultimate question of “who is right.” Especially with real money entering the scene, the definition of trust is changing.

The second is the infiltration of zero-knowledge proofs into traditional industries. This technology is experiencing significant cost reductions. Generating a proof used to be extremely expensive, but it’s becoming increasingly affordable. 2026 may be a turning point—advances in zero-knowledge virtual machines will make verifiable computation from cloud servers to consumer-grade devices a reality. Cryptographic proofs will flow from blockchain into enterprise systems and computing infrastructure, becoming foundational infrastructure rather than flashy applications.

The third is the rise of “Staking Media.” In this model, content creators, analysts, and commentators are no longer just talking—they make publicly verifiable commitments using cryptographic tools—“staking” their money or reputation. Tokens, smart lockups, and on-chain historical records work together to enable participants to prove their credibility by bearing real capital or reputation risks. Audiences can see clearly and even audit these claims. This is a new attempt to align incentive mechanisms with actual propositions.

Overall, the industry has moved beyond “what is blockchain” to “how to use blockchain.”