In the latest installment of the Crypto Playbook series, Fortune editors Jeff John Roberts and Leo Schwartz assess crypto market performance in 2025 and share their predictions for 2026.
Experts note that the “infancy” excuse for cryptocurrencies is over and institutional adoption has reached a new level.
According to our analysis, 2025 will be one of the biggest years in the history of cryptocurrencies. In particular, the passage of important legislation in the United States, such as the Stablecoin Act and the Genius Act, has brought regulatory clarity to the market.
Analysts say Bitcoin’s hovering around $90,000 and Wall Street’s support for the sector proves that cryptocurrencies are now a permanent part of the financial system.
Experts predict that stablecoins will no longer be just an investment vehicle, but a “background” track for cross-border payments and financial infrastructure. In particular, the tokenization of stocks (trading stocks on the blockchain) has the potential to reduce costs and inject liquidity into the market.
The rise of platforms like Polymarket and Kalshi is considered one of the biggest success stories in the “mainstream” use of cryptocurrencies.
Despite widespread optimism, some serious risks remain for 2026.
- Donald Trump and his family’s direct involvement in cryptocurrency projects has sparked debate over “ethical violations” and profiteering.
- The failure of Michael Saylor’s (MicroStrategy) aggressive Bitcoin strategy or the bankruptcy of a major digital asset treasury (DAT) could create a domino effect on the market.
- Traditional banks are expected to step up their lobbying efforts in Washington to delay the enactment of crypto legislation.
Editor Leo Schwartz points out that the best-case scenario is that cryptocurrencies become “boring.” The sector’s biggest victory may be for cryptocurrencies to cease to be speculative assets and become the invisible but fundamental infrastructure of the financial system. However, Jeff John Roberts does not rule out the possibility of Bitcoin reaching $150,000 by the end of 2026 due to the participation of younger generations.
*This is not investment advice.
