Coinbase Anticipates Growth in Cryptocurrency Adoption by 2026 Due to ETFs, Stablecoins, and Tokenization

According to David Duong, head of investment research at Coinbase, the acceleration of crypto adoption is anticipated in 2026 as the synergy from exchange-traded funds (ETFs), stablecoins, tokenization, and enhanced regulation begins to take hold.

Key Takeaways:

• Coinbase predicts that ETFs, stablecoins, and tokenization will mutually reinforce each other, leading to quicker crypto adoption in 2026.
• Global crypto adoption has reached a stable point, indicating market maturity rather than a halt in growth.
• Improved regulation in the US and Europe is facilitating increased institutional involvement and integration into real-world applications.

In a year-end forecast shared on X this week, Duong noted that 2025 represented a pivotal moment for the digital asset industry, with regulated spot ETFs providing broader access for investors, corporate crypto treasuries gaining momentum, and stablecoins and tokenized assets becoming more integrated into conventional financial processes.

Coinbase: ETFs, Stablecoins and Tokenization Expected to Accelerate in 2026

Duong contended that these trends are likely to strengthen rather than diminish.

“We anticipate these dynamics to compound in 2026 as ETF approval timelines shorten, stablecoins play a more significant role in delivery-vs-payment frameworks, and tokenized collateral gains wider recognition in traditional transactions,” he stated.

Although the pace of crypto adoption has been more gradual than early advocates had envisioned, the trend has remained consistent.

Data from analytics platform Demand Sage indicates that global crypto adoption has varied within a narrow range over the last two years, fluctuating from 10.3% in the first quarter of 2023 to 9.9% in the first quarter of 2025.

Duong suggested that this consistency signifies a maturing market rather than a lack of progress.

A significant driver for the upcoming phase, he noted, is regulatory clarity. In 2025, several key jurisdictions took steps to formalize crypto oversight, altering how institutions assess risk and allocate capital.

https://t.co/BY2Fr5Y0oj

— David Duong (@DavidDuong) December 31, 2025

In the United States, legislators advanced stablecoin legislation through the GENIUS Act, establishing a clearer framework for dollar-pegged tokens and their payment applications.

In Europe, the implementation of the Markets in Crypto-Assets regulation has introduced greater uniformity in licensing and compliance across member nations.

“The practical outcome is genuine operational readiness,” Duong remarked, highlighting clearer policy guidelines that enable firms to develop products, expand infrastructure, and incorporate crypto systems into payment and settlement processes.

Coinbase: Crypto Demand Expands as Institutions and Macro Forces Take Charge

In addition to regulatory developments, Duong emphasized a structural change in demand.

Crypto markets are no longer influenced by a singular narrative or dominated by early adopters. Instead, a diverse array of institutions, allocators, and end-users is influencing market flows, linking crypto exposure to macroeconomic factors, technological advancements, and geopolitical events.

“Demand is no longer reliant on a single narrative,” he stated, noting that crypto is increasingly perceived through a long-term strategic perspective as it becomes integrated into mainstream financial systems.

Last month, Coinbase reached an agreement to acquire The Clearing Company as it aims to expand prediction markets and further its goal of becoming an “Everything Exchange.”

Previously, Coinbase initiated lawsuits against the US states of Michigan, Illinois, and Connecticut, intensifying a growing legal dispute over the authority to regulate prediction markets in the United States.

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