2026-01-14 10:20:33

#数字资产市场动态 The Outlook for 2026 in Investment Banks: Breakthrough Moment for Digital Assets

Institutional participation is accelerating and becoming the new normal. Pension funds, commercial banks, and wealth management firms are no longer on the sidelines but are deeply involved through ETFs, custody solutions, and direct holdings. How will this shift change the market? The demand for Bitcoin and Ethereum is beginning to outpace supply, the "four-year cycle" pattern is being broken, and we are entering a new phase of structural growth.

Policy momentum is heating up. Bipartisan efforts in the US are pushing for structural legislation in the crypto market (referencing the Clarity Act framework), clarifying asset classifications, exchange regulatory standards, and custody requirements. This is seen as the core driver behind the current market rebound. The integration of traditional finance and blockchain is no longer just a concept but is becoming a systemic infrastructure.

The topic of stablecoins remains unavoidable. USDC and USDT are becoming the "Internet dollar." In real-world scenarios such as cross-border payments, corporate fund settlements, and trade financing, the application of stablecoins is rapidly expanding. With increased regulatory clarity (supported by initiatives like the GENIUS Act), issuance scales continue to grow.

RWA tokenization is beginning to take hold. Traditional assets like bonds, real estate, and corporate equity are being tokenized on the blockchain, enabling T+0 settlement and global liquidity. Imagine how the capital markets will be reshaped when trillions of dollars of traditional assets are integrated with the stablecoin ecosystem.

What are the expectations for digital asset prices? Investment banks generally expect Bitcoin to break previous highs by 2026, with forecasts ranging from $130,000 to $225,000, including Bernstein’s target of $150,000 and Grayscale’s expectation of a new high in the first half of the year. As institutional participation deepens, volatility is gradually stabilizing.

Mergers and acquisitions and IPOs are becoming signs of industry maturity. M&A deals between crypto companies and traditional banks are setting records, and mature Web3 enterprises are launching IPO plans one after another. The entire industry is accelerating its transition from the fringe to mainstream finance.

Overall, 2026 is widely regarded by investment banks as a turning point for the integration of crypto assets into traditional financial infrastructure. Optimism is evident, but macro interest rate changes and geopolitical risks still require vigilance. (Insights summarized from major institutions such as Grayscale, Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan Chase, Bernstein, Bitwise, etc.)

BTC2,19%

ETH1,72%

USDC-0,02%

View Original

This page may contain third-party content, which is provided for information purposes only (not representations/warranties) and should not be considered as an endorsement of its views by Gate, nor as financial or professional advice. See Disclaimer for details.

7 Likes

Reward
7
7
Repost
Share

Comment

0/400

PrivacyMaximalist

· 4h ago

Institutional entry this time feels like traditional finance has finally admitted defeat haha Once RWA really takes off, the game rules will be completely rewritten Using stablecoins as a substitute for the US dollar is a bit ironic Bitcoin at 150,000 or 225,000, the difference is huge, investment banks are also gambling After regulatory clarity, do retail investors still have a chance? This cycle feels different, but there are also many who overhype it

View OriginalReply0

MetaverseLandlord

· 10h ago

Institutional entry is a signal, and this time it's truly different --- I am optimistic about RWA implementation; the traditional financial methods are about to change --- Will stablecoins become the internet's dollar? It’s about time, cross-border payments can finally use them --- From 130,000 to 225,000, I just want to know who can precisely hit which point --- Legislation through bipartisan cooperation? That’s the underlying logic, more important than any price increase --- Pension funds are here, enough said --- The smooth volatility sounds nice, but I still prefer the thrill --- The IPO wave is coming, is Web3 finally entering the mainstream? --- T+0 settlement paired with stablecoins, this combination is promising --- Morgan, Goldman Sachs, and others are optimistic; I actually feel more reassured --- Trillions of assets going on-chain? Just thinking about it is crazy, but it might really be possible --- Once the Clarity Act is implemented, the entire landscape will be rewritten --- Supply and demand are unbalanced, so it’s time to buy

View OriginalReply0

SleepTrader

· 11h ago

Institutional entry indeed changes the game rules --- Supply can't keep up with demand, this is outrageous haha --- Stablecoins have really become the internet's dollar, and the payment sector is truly stepping up --- If the RWA path is successful, traditional finance will undergo a reshuffle --- 150,000 to 225,000, the investment banks really dare to say that, now it's just about whether they can hold it --- Mergers and IPOs are piling up, is this the rhythm of going public? --- Feels like 2026 will be crazy, but watch out for the pitfalls of interest rates and geopolitical issues --- Policy paving the way, infrastructure is about to take shape, quite期待 --- T+0 settlement combined with global liquidity, this combo is fierce

View OriginalReply0

BasementAlchemist

· 11h ago

Institutional entry is truly different this time; it's not hype but infrastructure implementation. RWA is the real game changer, with trillions of assets going on-chain... Just thinking about it is crazy. However, the expected range of 150,000 to 225,000 still seems a bit conservative for Goldman Sachs and others. I agree that stablecoins are becoming the internet's dollar; cross-border payments should have been disrupted long ago. The mention of geopolitical risks hit the mark—stay optimistic but don't get carried away, keep a cold wallet handy. The day the Clarity Act truly comes into effect will be the real confirmation signal.

View OriginalReply0

TokenUnlocker

· 11h ago

Institutions are rushing in, is this really different this time? Feels like every round is said the same... But the stablecoin sector is indeed interesting, the internet dollar is slowly becoming a reality --- RWA on-chain still feels like distant water; will the traditional finance folks relinquish control so quickly? Just a question mark for now --- 225,000 USD? I just want to know who dares to go all-in and gamble at that price --- Is the increased clarity of policies true or false? When have those two parties in the US ever been so united? --- Expanding the stablecoin scale won't change the fact that it's fundamentally an IOU --- Mergers, IPOs? Feels like a signal to cool down the market; maturity = bubbles are about to peak --- A smoother volatility sounds good, but I'm more concerned about which projects will die in this round --- The 2026 inflection point was heard last year too, and we'll hear it again next year

View OriginalReply0

LiquidationWizard

· 11h ago

Institutional entry is nothing new; the key is how long they can stick around. --- If RWA really takes off, the traditional financial sector's stability will indeed be shaken. --- Stablecoins becoming the internet's dollar? Sounds good, but the real test is still ahead. --- $225,000... How did the investment bank come up with this number? It feels a bit over-optimistic. --- Legislation through bipartisan cooperation—that's the main event; otherwise, everything is just empty talk. --- T+0 settlement sounds great, but can the blockchain really handle that transaction volume? --- Having confidence is useless; you need real money to keep up. --- After ETF and custody solutions are rolled out, is there still a way out for retail investors? --- They seem a bit dismissive about geopolitical risks. Don't cry if something really happens. --- Is the IPO wave coming? Can those projects withstand the scrutiny of traditional finance?

View OriginalReply0

CryptoCrazyGF

· 12h ago

Listening to the investment banks, it feels like 2026 is really going to change everything Institutions are really buying in seriously, this time is different RWA is probably the main focus, thinking about tens of trillions of assets on the chain is crazy Is 150,000 USD for Bitcoin still a conservative estimate? I think it could be even higher The speed of stablecoin adoption is exceeding expectations, truly replacing dollar liquidity But we really need to keep an eye on interest rates and geopolitical risks, don’t get caught off guard The IPO wave is coming, the crypto world is finally going to go mainstream Institutional entry means less volatility, fewer shocks haha The supply and demand logic holds, but it depends on whether policies are truly implemented If the Clarity Act is truly pushed forward, that’s what we call definitive growth

View OriginalReply0