Crypto adoption is expected to accelerate in 2026 as momentum for exchange-traded funds (ETFs), stablecoins, tokenization and clearer regulation begins to build, according to David Duong, head of investment research at Coinbase.
Key points to remember:
- Coinbase expects ETFs, stablecoins, and tokenization to reinforce each other and accelerate crypto adoption in 2026.
- Global crypto adoption has stabilized, signaling market maturity rather than slowing growth.
- Clearer regulation in the United States and Europe allows for deeper institutional participation and real-world integration.
In his year-end outlook shared on
Coinbase: ETFs, Stablecoins and Tokenization Set to Accelerate in 2026
According to Duong, these trends are likely to strengthen rather than weaken.
“We expect these forces to become more pronounced in 2026 as ETF approval times shorten, stablecoins play a larger role in delivery versus payment structures, and tokenized collateral is recognized more widely in traditional transactions,” he said.
Although crypto adoption has increased more gradually than early evangelists predicted, the trajectory has remained steady.
Data from analytics platform Demand Sage shows that global crypto adoption has fluctuated in a narrow band 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 reflects a maturing market rather than stagnation.
A key enabler for the next phase, he says, is regulatory clarity. In 2025, several major jurisdictions moved to formalize cryptocurrency oversight, reshaping how institutions assess risk and deploy capital.
https://t.co/BY2Fr5Y0oj
—David Duong
(@DavidDuong) December 31, 2025
(@DavidDuong) In the United States, lawmakers advanced stablecoin legislation through the GENIUS Act, providing a clearer framework for dollar-pegged tokens and payments use cases.
In Europe, the rollout of regulation of crypto-asset markets has brought greater consistency to licensing and compliance across member states.
“The practical consequence is real operational readiness,” Duong said, pointing to clearer policy guardrails that allow companies to build products, scale their infrastructure, and integrate crypto rails into payment and settlement systems.
Coinbase: Cryptocurrency Demand Broadens as Institutions and Macroeconomic Forces Take Lead
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 cryptocurrency exposure to macroeconomic conditions, technological advancements, and geopolitical developments.
“Demand is no longer driven by a single story,” he said, adding that crypto is increasingly viewed from a long-term strategic perspective as it becomes an integral part of traditional financial architecture.
Last month, Coinbase agreed to acquire The Clearing Company as it plans to expand prediction markets and advance its ambition to become an “Everything Exchange.”
Before that, Coinbase filed lawsuits against the US states of Michigan, Illinois and Connecticut, escalating a growing legal fight over who had the authority to regulate prediction markets in the US.
The article Coinbase Sees ETFs, Stablecoins and Tokenization Driving Crypto Adoption in 2026 appeared first on Cryptonews.
