Quick Breakdown
- Crypto and traditional finance are expected to converge, with exchanges and banks offering both digital and traditional assets in a unified market.
- Stablecoins are projected to evolve into core global settlement infrastructure for payments, remittances, and cross-border commerce.
- The next phase of crypto growth is likely to be driven by regulation and real-world utility rather than speculative trading cycles.
Gracy Chen, CEO of crypto exchange Bitget, has laid out a set of forward-looking expectations for how digital asset markets could evolve in 2026, pointing to deeper integration with traditional finance, tighter regulation, and a shift away from speculative cycles toward infrastructure-led growth.
My 5 Predictions for Crypto in 2026:
1. Crypto and TradFi Merge Into a Single Market: Crypto exchanges will offer traditional assets (equities, ETFs, commodities), while banks and fintechs adopt crypto trading and custody—blurring lines between crypto and TradFi. 24/7 global… https://t.co/QCyNtvSYBp
— Gracy Chen @Bitget (@GracyBitget) January 9, 2026
TradFi convergence and the end of altseason
Chen expects the long-standing divide between crypto and traditional finance to largely disappear. Crypto exchanges are likely to expand into equities, ETFs, and commodities, while banks and fintech firms increasingly integrate crypto trading and custody. In this environment, 24/7 global markets become the norm rather than a differentiator, reshaping how investors access and trade assets.
She also signalled skepticism around the long-promised “altseason,” arguing that the broad-based rallies once associated with smaller tokens may no longer materialize. In her view, this is a structural shift rather than a temporary cycle, as capital becomes more selective and concentrates around assets with clear utility, liquidity, and regulatory clarity.
Stablecoins, regulation, and utility-driven growth
Stablecoins are expected to move beyond their current role as dollar proxies for trading. Chen highlighted their potential to become programmable settlement infrastructure for remittances, payroll, treasury management, and cross-border commerce, particularly in emerging markets where banking systems remain costly or inefficient.
Regulation also features prominently in her outlook. Chen described regulatory alignment as inevitable, predicting that exchanges and platforms unwilling to comply with national frameworks will gradually exit the market. As governments formalize rules, the era of loosely regulated offshore venues is expected to narrow significantly.
Overall, Chen’s vision positions crypto’s next stage as one shaped by macro forces and foundational infrastructure. Rather than short-term speculation, growth is expected to come from how digital assets integrate into payments, settlement systems, and global financial rails.
Meanwhile, Bitget has officially opened its AI-powered trading assistant, GetAgent, to the public. Initially launched in July under an invite-only program, GetAgent combines artificial intelligence with real-time market data to provide traders with automated insights, personalized strategies, and on-chain analytics.
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