Based on the market dynamics at the beginning of 2026, the crypto narrative is no longer dominated by empty speculation, but rather by technology with practical utility.
Here are the three primary narratives currently on the rise and becoming the focus of large institutional investors:
1. DePIN (Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Networks)
This is the strongest narrative at the moment. DePIN utilizes crypto tokens to incentivize individuals to build and operate real-world physical infrastructure.
Why it’s Rising: It offers significantly lower-cost solutions compared to traditional infrastructure.
Sector Examples: Decentralized wireless internet networks, cloud storage, and environmental sensor networks.
Focus: Projects that successfully partner with the telecommunications industry or major data providers.
2. AI x Crypto Integration (AI Agents)
While AI was merely hype in previous years, in 2026 we are seeing the emergence of AI Agents that possess their own crypto wallets to conduct machine-to-machine transactions without human intervention.
Why it’s Rising: Efficiency within the digital economy. AI requires a borderless and instantaneous payment system, which can only be provided by blockchain.
Focus: Decentralized AI computing and protocols that enable AI bots to trade or hire services autonomously.
3. RWA (Real World Assets) – Advanced Tokenization
This narrative has matured. Major banks have begun tokenizing traditional assets on a massive scale.
Why it’s Rising: Moving government bonds, real estate, and commodities onto the blockchain increases liquidity and transparency.
Focus: Projects with high regulatory compliance that collaborate with global financial institutions (such as BlackRock or JPMorgan).
4. Additional Narrative: Specific Layer-2s (L2s)
No longer just general-purpose L2s, but L2s specifically designed for a single purpose (App-Chains), such as L2s dedicated to gaming or high-frequency trading.
Strategic Advice:
The DePIN and AI narratives tend to have high volatility but great growth potential, while RWA is typically more stable as it is tied to physical assets.
