Hashed Predicts Digital Assets Will Become a Full Economy by 2026 with Asia Leading Enterprise Adoption
Hashed's Protocol Economy 2026 thesis foresees that by 2026, digital assets will function as a full economy where stablecoins and AI agents are central components. Asia is identified as the first region where enterprise adoption of this new economy is taking shape.
Stablecoins are expected to serve as global settlement rails, while on-chain credit and automation infrastructure will establish the initial on-chain enterprise systems. AI agents will play key roles in routing payments, managing liquidity, and executing transactions programmatically.
Hashed has stated it will focus capital on teams demonstrating real user engagement and on-chain activity. The firm prioritizes projects where genuine liquidity combines with automation capabilities rather than short-term momentum-driven initiatives.
Regulatory developments in Korea, Japan, Hong Kong, and Singapore are actively creating frameworks supporting stablecoin settlement, tokenized deposits, and issuance of real-world assets (RWA). These efforts aim to integrate crypto assets into existing financial systems.
The firm characterizes 2026 as the year digital assets begin to behave like a true economy, emphasizing infrastructure growth that enables automated, programmable finance. This indicates a shift away from the past two years’ liquidity-fueled speculation, moving toward stablecoins, on-chain credit, and automation infrastructure as sustainable core drivers of activity.
Market context at the time includes Bitcoin trading around $92,000 after failing to maintain levels near $94,000. Ethereum remains above $3,100, with gold near $4,200. Asian markets registered declines with the Nikkei down 1.36% and Topix down 1.12%.
