I recently came across an in-depth research report on the 2026 crypto market, and some of its judgments are quite interesting.



The core idea is: Bitcoin may be bidding farewell to the classic "four-year halving cycle." This cycle has dominated the market for so many years, and now with a large influx of institutional funds and the popularization of traditional financial instruments like ETFs, the entire game is indeed changing.

The predictions for stablecoins are even more ambitious—by 2026, the total supply is expected to exceed $1 trillion. Considering it's only around $150 billion now, this growth rate suggests stablecoins will truly become the infrastructure for digital payments, no longer just a trading pair intermediary.

Another data point: the global assets under management for crypto ETPs (exchange-traded products) are projected to reach $400 billion. This means more and more traditional investors will allocate digital assets through compliant channels instead of opening accounts directly on exchanges.

The report concludes by mentioning that the prediction market will have significant moves in 2026, though specific details were not elaborated. Given the recent performance of platforms like Polymarket, this track certainly warrants attention.

Overall, the feeling is that: the crypto market is shifting from speculation-driven to application-driven, and the trend toward institutionalization and compliance is now irreversible.
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OnlyUpOnlyvip
· 12-13 16:26
Honestly, the four-year cycle is gone just like that. This shift is a bit too fast, and institutional entry has definitely changed the game rules. Stablecoins surpass one trillion? Then those traditional finance folks also have to learn how to play along, or they'll really be eliminated. The path of ETPs is getting wider and wider; even grandparents can buy Bitcoin now. Prediction markets? Polymarket is indeed experimenting, but we’ll have to see more about this sector. From speculation to application, it sounds great, but real implementation might still need some time. The halving cycle is over; what will drive the next wave? Has anyone thought about this? If stablecoins truly become infrastructure, then buying USDC and USDT now might mean increasing your positions. Institutional compliance sometimes also means less wild liquidity. What do you all think? It’s easy to sound nice, but isn’t it just about grabbing retail investors’ gains? The tactics just changed. Trillions in stablecoins, just thinking about it is crazy, but I still believe in it.
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SmartContractWorkervip
· 12-13 05:43
Has the halving cycle theory collapsed? So, have I been waiting in vain these past two years? Haha
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DegenWhisperervip
· 12-12 16:10
Is the four-year cycle dead? It sounds like institutions are planning to replace retail strategies entirely, which is a bit unsettling.
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ApeWithAPlanvip
· 12-11 08:45
Is the four-year cycle cooling off? Then the old seasoned traders' hype narrative needs to be rewritten.
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BetterLuckyThanSmartvip
· 12-11 08:44
Is a four-year cycle going to end? The institutions are really going all out this time. The involvement of traditional finance to change the game rules should have happened a long time ago.
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Blockchainiacvip
· 12-11 08:42
Will the halving cycle cool down? That's a bold statement. Can institutions really change the underlying logic of Bitcoin? I believe stablecoins can surpass one trillion, but only if these coins are genuinely usable; otherwise, they might end up just being arbitrage tools. I'm definitely optimistic about the ETP reaching 400 billion; the way traditional old money enters the market should be like this.
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LiquidationWatchervip
· 12-11 08:29
Is the four-year cycle theory dying? That’s a bit of an overstatement. Can institutional entry really rewrite the underlying logic? Breaking the 1 trillion mark in stablecoins is not surprising; currently at 150 billion, it indeed feels like the ceiling. The question is, who is driving this growth? After ETPs became popular, do retail investors still have a chance? Haha Regulation sounds good, but won't it backfire and cut a wave of retail investors again? The prediction market seems to be overhyped; Polymarket is just like that.
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LowCapGemHuntervip
· 12-11 08:20
Will the halving cycle theory cool down? Then my previous holding strategy would be wasted... I believe stablecoins will surpass one trillion, but the real payment infrastructure? We’ll have to wait and see; currently, not enough people are using it. ETP taking over traditional funds is quite reliable. Large investors who are too lazy to bother with exchanges will definitely lean towards this. However, predictions in the market are too vague. What exactly will they do? Institutional entry is a good thing but also quite annoying; the real opportunities might all have been taken by them.
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