FX.co ★ Coinbase predicts crypto integration into financial core in 2026

In its report titled “Crypto Market Outlook for 2026,” Coinbase’s research division called the current phase a turning point for the industry. The division anticipates that cryptocurrencies will begin to enter the core of the financial sector. David Duong, head of global investment research at Coinbase Institutional, described the moment as an “exceptional and transformative period for the crypto ecosystem,” while adding that “the industry’s full potential is still far from realized.”

Duong clarified that the forecast is not predicated on a single speculative thesis. Instead, it focuses on how “policy clarity, institutional architecture, and broader participation” are creating conditions for the crypto market to converge with traditional finance. Analysts expect clearer global regulatory frameworks in 2026 to alter institutional approaches to strategy, risk management, and compliance.

The report also states that equity derivatives could become the preferred instrument for a new generation of retail traders. It also suggests that volumes in prediction markets could rise amid potential changes to US taxation. A separate section in the report is devoted to stablecoins, with Coinbase anticipating their expanded use in cross‑border settlement, remittances, and payroll services.