CoinShares, a crypto asset management firm, has stated that digital assets are transitioning from outside experiments to becoming integral components of financial infrastructure as major institutions develop on public blockchains.
In its 2026 Digital Asset Outlook released on Monday, the firm posited that the upcoming phase will be characterized by convergence rather than disruption, coining the term “hybrid finance” — a blend of crypto frameworks with traditional finance to establish new market structures.
“Digital assets are increasingly integrated into the traditional economy,” stated CoinShares CEO Jean-Marie Mognetti, emphasizing that 2026 is gearing up for “consolidation into the real economy.”
The report highlighted the growing integration manifested in the use of stablecoins and the rise of tokenized assets, particularly in private credit and U.S. Treasuries, along with an increase in tokenized funds, deposits, and stablecoin initiatives from established players.
It also noted the accelerating mainstream acceptance of Bitcoin, citing over $90 billion in inflows to U.S. spot exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and more than one million BTC owned by corporate treasuries within 190 public companies.
For 2026, the asset management firm anticipates wider accessibility through wealth platforms and retirement accounts, along with enhanced direct institutional settlement via custody banks.
The firm outlines three potential price trajectories for Bitcoin linked to macroeconomic factors: a gentle landing with productivity gains could push crypto above $150,000; steady yet muted growth might see prices ranging from $110,000 to $140,000; and stagflation or recession could temporarily depress prices before recovery.
The competition to establish a settlement layer for hybrid finance is heating up, with Ethereum remaining a pivotal institutional player while competitors start to gain ground.
“2026 will be marked by a financial system subtly reshaping itself around public blockchains and digital settlement frameworks,” remarked James Butterfill, head of research at CoinShares.
The report also emphasized growing regulatory differences, from Europe’s MiCA framework to changing U.S. stablecoin policies and Asia’s Basel-inspired strategies, alongside significant structural transitions, including miners pivoting towards HPC and AI infrastructure and prediction markets achieving widespread recognition.
Read more: Diversification, Not Hype, Now Drives Digital Asset Investing: Sygnum
