2026: Part of the Short Story of Change in the Capital Market

The year 2026 is not just a simple number following 2025 — it is a critical period where crypto and blockchain promises begin to materialize. For investors and industry professionals, this year represents a chapter in the larger story of a fundamental shift in the architecture of the global capital markets. It’s not just about the price of Bitcoin or Ethereum; it’s about a foundational change in how the financial system operates worldwide.

Tokenization: The Foundation of the 24/7 Market

Almost three decades into the global capital market’s efforts to reduce friction and waiting times. From electronic trading to real-time settlement, every innovation aims to accelerate the process. But tokenization is different — it’s not just about speed, but a radical restructuring.

Traditional markets still operate based on an old framework: price discovery driven by access, batch settlement in T+2 or T+1 cycles, and collateral held in accounts. This process has created problems that are not far removed from the digital age — delays, inefficiencies, and capital lock-up. When an institution needs to add a new asset, it faces a lengthy collateral positioning process that can take five to seven days.

Tokenization removes these barriers. Through blockchain and digital assets, settlement occurs in just seconds. Collateral becomes truly fungible — transferable and usable in free form. This means institutions can continuously rebalance their portfolios, integrating equities, bonds, and digital assets into a unified, always-on capital allocation strategy.

The result is unparalleled transparency and efficiency. Capital previously locked in legacy settlement cycles is unlocked. This transformation is not just part of the story — it is the heart of the 2026 transformation.

The Challenge of Operational Readiness

But technology is only part of the equation. For institutions looking to capitalize on the new world of 24/7 markets, operational readiness will be critical.

Treasury, risk management, and settlement teams must shift from discrete batch cycles to continuous processes. This involves real-time AML/KYC protocols, 24/7 collateral management, digital custody integration, and accepting stablecoins as viable settlement rails. It’s not just a software update — it’s an organizational revolution.

Institutions that succeed in this transition will gain a competitive advantage that others cannot. While others are still trying to adapt, early movers will be able to allocate capital faster and at lower costs.

Global Signals: Regulation and Outreach

Signals from around the world show that this transformation is truly happening:

In the United States: The SEC has provided regulatory clarity by licensing the Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation (DTCC) to develop a securities tokenization program. This is a milestone — it shows regulators are serious about integrating blockchain into traditional markets.

At Interactive Brokers: A revolutionary step is the launch of 24/7 USDC deposit functionality. Clients can now fund their accounts anytime using stablecoin. In the future, support for Ripple’s RLUSD and PayPal’s PYUSD will arrive, creating an ecosystem where digital money is part of the story of daily operations.

In South Korea: Nearly a decade of ban on corporate crypto investment has been lifted. Public companies can now hold up to 5% of their equity capital in digital assets, limited to major tokens like Bitcoin and Ethereum. This is a breakthrough in institutional adoption.

On the Ethereum Network: Data shows an increase in new users engaging with the network. The adoption curve continues upward, indicating sustained interest from retail and emerging market participants.

The Correlation of Bitcoin and Gold: A New Signal

One of the most intriguing developments is the positive correlation emerging between Bitcoin and gold. Last week, the 30-day rolling correlation reached 0.40 — the first time this year that Bitcoin and gold moved together.

While gold hit new highs, Bitcoin shows technical strength but remains promising. BTC dipped below the 50-week exponential moving average after a 1% weekly decline. The current price is at $88.37K, far from its ATH of $126.08K, but above the lows of $80K seen last quarter.

Bitcoin’s presence in a risk-on environment continues to warrant attention. Whether the ongoing rise in gold prices will moderate Bitcoin’s value, or if the decoupling proves that BTC is moving away from traditional safe-haven assets, will be a key indicator for the entire market.

Cryptocurrency in Mainstream: From Speculation to Utility

A remarkable story unfolding is the evolution of Pudgy Penguins as one of the strongest NFT-native brands in this cycle. The project has transitioned from simple “digital luxury goods” to a multi-vertical consumer IP platform.

The strategy is elegantly simple: attract users through mainstream channels — toys, retail partnerships, viral media — then onboard them into Web3 via games, NFTs, and the PENGU token. The ecosystem is expanding:

• Phygical products: Over $13 million in retail sales and more than 1 million units sold
• Games and experiences: Pudgy Party surpassed 500,000 downloads in just two weeks
• Wide token distribution: PENGU was airdropped to over 6 million wallets

While the market currently assigns a premium valuation to Pudgy compared to traditional IP peers, success depends on execution in three areas: retail expansion, gaming adoption, and deeper token utility.

The Challenge of “Sophomore Year”

If 2025 served as the freshman year of crypto for major capital institutions — entering the US and mainstream finance — 2026 will be the sophomore year. It’s not guaranteed to be a smoother journey.

Companies like Coinbase and others have signaled concerns about aspects of the CLARITY Act. Controversy surrounding stablecoin yields is becoming an obstacle to passing this critical legislation. Commitments are needed to advance a larger regulatory framework that benefits the industry.

Furthermore, the biggest challenge is not technical — it’s distribution. Crypto must reach broader markets: retail, mass affluent, wealth management, and institutional segments. Until it offers the same incentives for allocation as other asset classes, institutional adoption will not be a performance driver.

2026: The Year of Principles and Specialization

This year offers crypto a chance to “declare a major” and begin making a larger contribution to multi-asset portfolios and institutional trading. It’s part of a bigger story: democratization of access to digital assets, transformation of capital market infrastructure, and acceptance of blockchain as part of proper risk management and capital efficiency.

Institutions starting to build operational capacity for 24/7 markets are positioned to act quickly once regulatory frameworks are in place. Infrastructure is already forming — with regulated custodians, credit intermediation solutions moving from proof-of-concept to production, and regulators engaging.

By 2033, market participants estimate the tokenized assets market will reach $18.9 trillion, representing a 53% compound annual growth rate. This is not just a number — it reflects a logical milestone after three decades of efforts to reduce market friction. But it’s only a conservative estimate. Up to 80% of global assets could be tokenized by 2040, following an S-curve growth similar to mobile phones or aviation.

2026 is not the end of the story — it’s just a chapter in a continuing narrative that will extend into the coming decades.