In the latest installment of their “Crypto Playbook” series, Fortune editors Jeff John Roberts and Leo Schwartz assess the performance of cryptocurrency markets in 2025 and share their predictions for 2026.
Experts point out that the “early stage” excuse for crypto is over and that institutional adoption has reached a new level.
The analysis states that 2025 will be one of the biggest years in crypto history. In particular, the passage of important legislation in the US, such as the Stablecoin Act and the Genius Act, has brought regulatory clarity to the market.
According to analysts, Bitcoin hovering around $90,000 and Wall Street embracing the sector proves that cryptocurrency is now a permanent part of the financial system.
Experts predict that stablecoins will no longer be just an investment vehicle, but will become a “background” track for cross-border payments and financial infrastructure. In particular, the tokenization of stocks (trading stocks on the blockchain) could reduce costs and inject liquidity into the market.
The rise of platforms like Polymarket and Kalshi is seen as one of the biggest success stories for the “mainstream” use of crypto.
Although optimism prevails, some serious risks remain on the table for 2026:
- Donald Trump and his family’s direct involvement in cryptocurrency projects has sparked debates about “ethical violations” and (profiteering).
- The failure of Michael Saylor’s (MicroStrategy) aggressive Bitcoin strategy, or the bankruptcy of a large “Digital Asset Treasury Company” (DAT), could create a domino effect in the market.
- Traditional banks are expected to increase their lobbying efforts in Washington to slow down cryptocurrency legislation.
Editor Leo Schwartz notes that the best-case scenario is for crypto to become “boring.” The sector’s greatest triumph could be if crypto ceases to be a speculative asset and becomes an invisible but fundamental infrastructure of the financial system. Jeff John Roberts, however, does not rule out the possibility that Bitcoin could reach $150,000 by the end of 2026 with the participation of the younger generation.
*This is not investment advice.
