Crypto Market Trends 2026: Prediction Markets, RWA Growth, and AI Narratives

A forward-looking view on how prediction markets, RWA tokenization, and AI integration are reshaping crypto markets in 2026.

Rich by Coin

2026-01-13

Prediction markets have grown roughly tenfold since January 2025, and I expect this momentum to continue into 2026. Perpetual contracts are spreading beyond crypto tokens into traditional asset classes, and 2025 was a breakout year for perpetual futures in the crypto space, with instant settlement, strong UI, and decentralization. Metals are in a strong bull market, and near cycle peaks, investors move along the risk curve to seek profits, which makes perpetual contracts favorable for both small-cap and emerging markets. Regulatory changes are driving an ICO Renaissance, with participation at historic highs, and I expect this overall uptrend to persist.

Strong revenue models will win among altcoins; markets are shifting toward genuine businesses, and investors are seeking a sustainable “flywheel” to support token prices, so revenue-generating protocols should maintain dominance. RWA will have the biggest year in history; while surpassing 2025’s $14 billion growth will be difficult, liquidity will keep flowing and 2026 should bring many revenue tokenization opportunities and large altcoin trading volumes. Digital banks (neobanks) will be the fastest-growing segment in crypto; infrastructure has finally caught up with demand, adoption is exploding, and easy on/off between crypto and fiat is essential. AI agents’ true return is near; after last year’s AI hype, 2026 should fulfill promises as technology catches up, and Crypto x AI could drive broad opportunities across subfields such as robotics, agent workflows, and AI data infrastructure.

Stablecoin supply will increase by about 50%, continuing the growth from last year. Institutional momentum in crypto will surpass retail, with institutions driving the cycle and DATs and ETFs pushing for adoption; I will focus on tokens and protocols that institutions care about—real revenue projects. Bitcoin’s year-end price is likely to be higher than its start; although extreme top patterns depend on several factors, I believe BTC will close 2026 with strength, above $90,000.