BlackRock Identifies Cryptocurrencies and Tokenization as New Ways to Shape Financial Markets in 2026

The world’s largest asset manager, BlackRock, has focused on cryptocurrencies and tokenized assets as key trends that are transforming the way investors access markets. In its Thematic Outlook for 2026, the company identified digital assets not as speculative tools, but as an integral part of the modernization of the global financial infrastructure. This move from one of the most influential players in the capital market signals that cryptocurrencies and blockchain solutions are finally moving into the mainstream of institutional investing.

How BlackRock Looks at Cryptocurrencies in Its Thematic Forecast

BlackRock explored the ways in which investors will access digital assets in the coming years. A team led by Jay Jacobs, head of the US Exchange-Traded Funds (ETF) division, included cryptocurrencies in the list of “topics that affect the markets in unprecedented ways.”

The Commission particularly emphasized the importance of three key areas: Bitcoin, Ether, and Stablecoins. Bitcoin BTC $84.40K and Ether ETH $2.83K are seen as major components of digital asset-focused portfolios. Stablecoins, particularly those backed by the US dollar, are seen as the first practical example of successful asset tokenization in the real world.

iShares Bitcoin Trust is the most dynamic ETF product in history

The legitimacy of cryptocurrencies in the eyes of institutional investors is especially evident in the example of BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT). Launched in January 2024, this spot Bitcoin ETF has set a record as the fastest-growing exchange-traded investment product in its category.

IBIT’s asset inventory now exceeds $70 billion, reflecting continued demand among professional market participants. Such success demonstrates that the ways in which large institutions manage exposure to crypto have changed dramatically. Instead of buying directly on spot markets, investors are increasingly choosing regulated ETF products as a reliable way to gain access to digital assets.

Asset tokenization is a revolutionary way to transform finance

However, the most important topic in BlackRock’s report is not the cryptocurrencies themselves, but the phenomenon of tokenization. This process involves the presentation of traditional assets — real estate, securities, bonds — in digital format on the blockchain. BlackRock emphasizes that the ways in which you access classic financial instruments will change radically due to the expansion of tokenization.

“In our opinion, with the growth of tokenization, the ability to access assets other than cash and US Treasury bills through blockchain will also increase,” the company said in its report. This approach opens up entirely new ways of managing portfolios and allocating assets, eliminating the need for traditional intermediaries.

Why Ethereum Dominates the Tokenized Asset Ecosystem

BlackRock’s report highlights that the Ethereum blockchain will be the main beneficiary of tokenization growth. This is no coincidence — Ethereum accounts for more than 65% of all tokenized assets, indicating its dominant position as a digital asset platform.

Ethereum has earned this status thanks to its developed ecosystem of decentralized applications, robust infrastructure, and open ways to develop new financial instruments. BlackRock understands that the ways in which blockchain technologies will evolve in the coming years are directly dependent on Ethereum’s expansion as a leader in創造 tokenized solutions.

Crypto Ecosystem Beyond Stablecoins

Beyond traditional financial assets, tokenization encompasses other sectors as well. NFT projects like Pudgy Penguins show an evolution from pure speculation to building real ecosystems. Pudgy Penguins is evolving as a multi-vertical platform, accumulating users through traditional channels (toys, retail) and then engaging them in Web3 through games and the PENGU token.

Decentralized exchanges (DEXs) such as Velodrome and Aerodrome represent another aspect of the evolution of the crypto market. While the industry’s primary focus is on stablecoins and institutional ramps to enter the crypto market, the real transformation is unfolding on DEXs, where the ways assets are traded are reimagined without centralized intermediaries.

Crypto Goes Mainstream: BlackRock’s Findings

The inclusion of cryptocurrencies and tokenized assets in BlackRock’s official thematic forecast for 2026 is symptomatic. A company that manages more than $10 trillion in assets thereby confirms that digital assets can no longer be seen as a marginal phenomenon.

The ways in which the global financial system will function in the coming years will change irreversibly. Blockchain technologies have moved from the status of experimental solutions to the role of critical infrastructure for the modernization of finance. For crypto investors, BlackRock’s message is clear: blockchain-based technology will not just survive, but will become central to rethinking how investors access assets on a global scale.