A crypto market that never quite took off… can 2026 deliver a ‘turnaround’?

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Summary

Experts said they broadly agree that next year crypto will enter a phase in which it must go through a time of proof, combining with real industries to demonstrate real-world utility.
They said that in the first half of 2025, alongside Donald Trump’s inauguration as U.S. president, major coins hit new all-time highs, and a series of digital asset treasury strategy (DAT) firms emerged, fueling an unprecedented boom.
They added that in the second half, macroeconomic uncertainty became a drag, and investor sentiment failed to move out of a “fear” mood even through Dec. 31.

2026 Crypto Industry Outlook

Crypto, expectations rise for broader real-world use ↑

“Demand increasing, led by Bitcoin and Ethereum”

Warning: “XRP and ADA could be left behind”

In 2025, the crypto market saw a stark split between the first and second halves. In the first half, Donald Trump’s inauguration as U.S. president in January, fresh all-time highs in major coins, and the successive emergence of digital asset treasury strategy (DAT) companies combined to fuel an unprecedented boom. In the second half, however, macroeconomic uncertainty weighed on the market, and risk appetite failed to shake off a “fear” mood even through the last day of the year, Dec. 31.

Experts largely agree that crypto is likely to face a “time of proof” next year. The view is that while crypto drew attention as an investment asset this year, next year will mark a phase in which crypto and blockchain technology integrate with real industries and demonstrate real-world utility.