Bitcoin, decentralized finance applications and real-world token assets are poised to dominate crypto development in 2026, with experts saying regulatory clarity will determine whether the innovation translates into widespread adoption.
The latest research report from ARK Invest, titled “Big Ideas 2026“, predicts that the digital asset market could reach $28 trillion by 2030, with Bitcoin accounting for 70% of this market, or approximately $16 trillion.
The projections from Cathie Wood’s investment management firm are “reasonable,” said Joni Pirovich, founder and CEO of Crystal aOS. Decrypt.
“Crypto-native financial platforms are evolving, but they are not seeking to become global centralized institutions: they are seeking global acceptance and adapting to fragmented compliance requirements,” she said.
The report highlights the maturation of Bitcoin as an institutional asset class, with ETFs and US public companies now holding 12% of the total supply, up from 8.7% at the start of 2025.
The projections show how Bitcoin, DeFi and tokenized assets are increasingly treated as functional components of global capital markets.
Sudhakar Lakshmanaraja, founder of blockchain education platform Digital South Trust, said Decrypt that “the future of cryptocurrency in 2026 will be decided more by regulation than innovation.”
“Bitcoin can dominate as an asset, but DeFi and tokenized markets cannot scale until governments sort out custody, compliance and investor protection rules,” he added.
BlackRock: Ethereum anchors Wall Street tokenization race
Tokenized assets tripled to $19 billion in 2025 and could reach $11 trillion by 2030 (around 1.38% of global financial assets), backed by BlackRock’s $1.7 billion BUIDL fund (20% of tokenized Treasuries) and tokenized gold from Tether and Paxos, according to the report.
Decentralized finance applicationsmeanwhile, generated a record $3.8 billion in revenue in 2025, with January alone accounting for a fifth of the total, while ultra-lean platforms like Hyperliquid have surpassed $800 million in annual revenue with fewer than 15 employees, and 70 protocols now exceed $1 million in monthly recurring revenue, according to the report.
“By 2026, the convergence of mature regulatory frameworks and interoperable institutional networks will enable digital sovereign securities to redefine global capital formation,” said Wook Lee, founder and CEO of EDENA Capital Partners. Decrypthighlighting the transformation underway.
Tokenized markets will be the “primary driver of real economic activity in the digital asset ecosystem,” Lee added.