The Key Crypto ETF Developments Experts Are Monitoring for 2026

What’s Ahead for Crypto in 2026?

After a remarkable year for cryptocurrencies in 2025, industry specialists are now turning their attention to what lies ahead. Predicting the direction of digital assets in 2026 remains challenging, as the market is known for its volatility and unpredictability. The introduction of new regulations, such as the GENIUS Act—which established a national regulatory structure for cryptocurrencies in the United States—is expected to play a larger role as more companies introduce stablecoins and tokenized assets. Financial advisors will need to stay vigilant to keep up with emerging products, shifting markets, and evolving industry standards.

Matt Bartolini, who leads global research at State Street, commented, “There are still considerable uncertainties looming. That’s part of the reason why Ether outperformed Bitcoin after the GENIUS Act was passed, due to its unique relationship with the new regulatory environment.”

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The State of the Crypto Ecosystem

After a sharp decline in Bitcoin’s value, cryptocurrency ETFs attracted only $790 million in the fourth quarter—less than 5% of the $35 billion total inflows for the year. It’s unclear whether the price drop triggered the outflows or vice versa. Broader market conditions may have played a role, as other sectors, such as technology ETFs, also experienced slowdowns toward the end of the year. Bartolini emphasized that his focus is less on short-term performance and more on the overall health of the crypto ecosystem and the impact of new legislation.

Recent analysis by Judicial Arbitration and Mediation Services revealed that global crypto assets briefly exceeded $4 trillion following the implementation of the GENIUS Act. The report highlighted several key developments:

• Major financial players, including Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan, are now exploring opportunities in the stablecoin sector under the updated regulatory framework.
• Experts expect the new law to encourage more companies to issue stablecoins, intensifying competition in a market currently led by Tether (USDT) and Circle (USDC).

What’s Next for Crypto ETFs?

With these positive trends, the coming year could be as significant—if not more so—than the last two years for crypto ETFs. “Prices have rebounded considerably from last year’s lows,” noted Roxanna Islam, who oversees sector and industry research at VettaFi. “We’ve already observed some early strength as the year begins and prices recover.”

Islam also pointed out that stablecoins and tokenization are set to be major themes in 2026. Several issuers, such as Amplify, Bitwise, and Grayscale, have already submitted filings for related products. “These funds typically invest in shares of financial firms involved in stablecoin and tokenization initiatives, as well as assets like Ether and Solana. I anticipate much more discussion around stablecoins and tokenization as the year progresses,” she said.