2026 Marks Crypto’s Shift From Price Cycles to Platforms
- Qureshi says 2026 could surprise Crypto markets as volatility stays high across sectors.
- Bitcoin may target $150,000 while Ethereum and Solana benefit from developer demand.
- Stablecoins, DeFi consolidation, and regulation are expected to reshape Crypto in 2026.
As 2025 comes to an end, expectations for the Crypto market in 2026 are increasingly focused on structure rather than price alone. Haseeb Qureshi, managing partner at Dragonfly, outlined an outlook that points to consolidation, distribution power, and platform relevance as the next defining forces. His view reflects a market moving beyond simple boom-and-bust cycles.
Qureshi stated that 2026 may deliver outcomes that surprise market participants in both positive and negative ways. He described the coming year as one influenced by macroeconomic pressure, advanced policy frameworks, and diverging performance across sectors. According to his view, volatility is likely to remain persistent rather than fade. He emphasized that broad market stability should not be assumed.
Bitcoin Targets $150K as Capital Shifts to Ethereum, Solana, and Platforms
Bitcoin played a central role in his outlook. Qureshi projected that the asset could rise toward a new peak near $150,000 by the end of 2026 if favorable conditions align. He also noted that a price increase may not lead to a corresponding rise in Bitcoin’s share of the overall crypto market.
He also discussed expectations for major blockchain networks. Qureshi said platforms such as Ethereum and Solana are positioned for a strong year due to sustained developer engagement and institutional interest. At the same time, he suggested that several fintech-oriented chains may underperform. He linked this risk to competition, limited differentiation, and slower user adoption.
Corporate involvement is expected to deepen. Qureshi anticipates that large technology companies, including Google, Facebook, and Apple, may roll out crypto wallet products during 2026. He further expects Fortune 100 firms to explore launching proprietary blockchains. According to his view, frameworks such as Avalanche, OP Stack, Orbit, and ZK Stack could support those initiatives.
Decentralized finance may enter a period of consolidation. Qureshi believes the perpetual futures decentralized exchange market could narrow to three dominant platforms as liquidity concentrates. He also expects equity-based perpetual contracts to expand their role. These instruments could exceed 20% of total DeFi perpetual trading volume if current trends persist.
Related: $1T Stablecoins by 2026, Says Solana Co-Founder Yakovenko
Security risks remain unresolved. Qureshi warned that DeFi-related exploits and hacks could increase next year despite improved auditing and monitoring. He argued that rising capital flows often attract more advanced attacks. As a result, operational risks may grow alongside adoption rather than decline.
Stablecoins Move Into Payments
Stablecoins are expected to remain a major focus. Qureshi forecast that total stablecoin supply could expand by roughly 60% in 2026, with U.S. dollar-backed tokens continuing to dominate circulation. He said Tether’s USDT may see its market share decline to around 55%. That shift could reflect growing competition and changing user preferences.
He also cited the quick growth in payment cards linked to stablecoins. Qureshi projected the segment’s usage could rise sharply as regulation becomes clearer and adoption broadens. This perspective, he said, linked government and institutional efforts to introduce stablecoins into payment systems. U.S. banks may soon issue stablecoins via their subsidiaries.
Beyond finance, Qureshi highlighted emerging applications. Prediction markets may gain broader cultural acceptance, although legal uncertainty is expected to persist. He said only a small number of consumer-facing platforms are likely to reach meaningful scale. Many similar projects may struggle to attract sustained users.
Artificial intelligence is another area of interest. Qureshi expects near-term crypto benefits from AI to focus on developer productivity and security tooling rather than consumer applications. He said automation could allow smaller teams to build complex systems faster. Defensive systems may also improve, even as threats evolve.
Qureshi disclosed that he holds investments in several assets referenced in his outlook. He also addressed regulation, stating that the U.S. Clarity Act could become law in 2026. He added that crypto projects linked to Donald Trump, including World Liberty Financial, may face increased scrutiny if Democrats regain control of the House.
