Coinbase Predicts ETFs, Stablecoins, and Tokenization to Drive Crypto Adoption in 2026
David Duong of Coinbase forecasts that ETFs, stablecoins, and tokenization will mutually reinforce one another to accelerate cryptocurrency adoption throughout 2026. He highlights that ETF approval timelines are expected to shorten, stablecoins will play increasingly important roles in delivery-versus-payment processes, and tokenized collateral will achieve broader recognition.
Global crypto adoption has stabilized, reflecting market maturity rather than stagnation, with adoption rates fluctuating narrowly from about 10.3% in Q1 2023 to 9.9% in Q1 2025. Regulatory clarity in the United States and Europe has fostered deeper institutional participation and integration of crypto into real-world financial systems. Specifically, the US GENIUS Act is progressing stablecoin regulation while Europe’s Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) provides consistent licensing and compliance standards.
In 2025, significant jurisdictions formalized crypto oversight, which is reshaping how institutions assess risk and deploy capital related to digital assets. Key drivers of adoption include the expansion of regulated spot ETFs that improve investor access, the growth of corporate crypto treasuries, and the embedding of stablecoins and tokenized assets within traditional financial workflows.
Coinbase plans to scale prediction markets by acquiring The Clearing Company, advancing its ambition to become an "Everything Exchange." The company has also filed lawsuits against the states of Michigan, Illinois, and Connecticut over regulatory authority related to prediction markets in the United States.
