Entering January 2026, the crypto market has completely broken free from its slump. From the implementation of regulatory policies in various countries to the cross-industry expansion of traditional financial giants, and the intensive actions of industry leaders and institutions, every development is reshaping the market landscape. This is no longer a simple game of price fluctuations, but a signal that crypto assets are truly integrating into the mainstream financial system. Below, we will break down these key actions that will impact the entire year in layman's terms.
I. Regulatory Stance: Some are loosening restrictions and allowing things to proceed, while others are maintaining strict vigilance.
The process of "compliance" in the crypto industry became polarized in early 2026, with some embracing it proactively and others remaining cautious and defensive.
Vietnam has taken a significant step forward. On January 20th, the Vietnamese Ministry of Finance officially launched a pilot program for licenses to cryptocurrency trading platforms, beginning to accept applications for the establishment, modification, and revocation of such platforms. The new regulations have high entry barriers: platforms must be Vietnamese companies with a minimum paid-in capital of 10 trillion Vietnamese dong (approximately 2.98 billion RMB). Despite these stringent requirements, several local financial institutions, including SSI Securities and MB Bank, have expressed their intention to participate. This signifies that Vietnam's cryptocurrency market has officially moved from a "gray area" into a regulatory framework, opening new avenues for the Southeast Asian cryptocurrency ecosystem. It's worth noting that while Vietnam previously had numerous cryptocurrency participants, it lacked clear regulation. This pilot program provides reassurance to the industry and aligns with the global trend of large-scale digital asset development.
The United States, on the other hand, adopted a dual stance of "loosening restrictions + imposing restrictions." On one hand, Trump explicitly stated at the Davos Forum that Congress was pushing forward legislation on the structure of the cryptocurrency market and would sign the bill as soon as possible. The core objective was to maintain the United States' global advantage in key areas such as crypto and AI, driven by both political considerations and a desire to address geopolitical competition. Following this, the US Treasury Secretary further revealed that the government would continue to advance the "Strategic Bitcoin Reserve Program," having already stopped selling confiscated Bitcoins, and would further expand its digital asset reserves—essentially a direct official endorsement of Bitcoin.
On the other hand, the American Bankers Association (ABA) has listed "banning stablecoin yields" as a top priority for 2026. The reason is straightforward: concerns that interest-bearing stablecoins will steal bank deposits. After all, the CEO of Bank of America once warned that up to $6 trillion in deposits could flow into such products, which would severely weaken the deposit base and lending capacity of community banks. Essentially, it is a battle of interests between traditional banking and the crypto space.
II. Institutional Entry: Traditional Giants Rush in, Encryption Becomes Standard Feature
If institutional adoption of crypto was previously "tentative," by 2026 it had entered a phase of "deep integration." PwC's latest report explicitly states that institutional adoption of crypto assets is "irreversible." The debate has shifted from "whether to use it" to "how to integrate it into the existing system"—stablecoins and on-chain settlement tools are already being used by banks and asset management companies for cross-border payments, internal transfers, and other practical applications. Crypto technology is no longer just a speculative tool but is being embedded in financial infrastructure.
The most significant move came from the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). The NYSE announced it is developing a tokenized securities trading and on-chain settlement platform, and is currently seeking regulatory approval. Once launched, this platform will enable 24/7 trading of US stocks and ETFs, supporting fractional share trading (e.g., starting at 0.001 shares), settlement in stablecoins with instant delivery, and tokenized stocks will enjoy the same dividends and governance rights as traditional stocks. The NYSE's parent company is also collaborating with giants like Citigroup and Bank of America Mellon to build a tokenized deposit and clearing system to address cross-time zone fund management issues.
This is no small matter. Nasdaq had previously applied to pilot stock tokenization. Once implemented on the NYSE, it will be the first time a top global securities exchange has deeply integrated traditional securities with blockchain technology. This will not only reduce transaction costs (commissions will be more than half that of traditional brokerages) but also break down geographical and time barriers, allowing retail investors worldwide to easily invest in US stocks. For example, previously buying a single high-priced US stock would cost hundreds of dollars, but with tokenization, it could be done for just tens of dollars, maximizing financial inclusion.
Bitcoin "whale" institutions are also increasing their holdings. Strategy recently spent a whopping $2.13 billion to buy 22,305 Bitcoins at an average price of $95,284 per coin. As of January 19, the institution held over 709,000 Bitcoins, with a total investment of $53.92 billion and an average cost of approximately $75,979 per coin. This continuous accumulation of holdings sends a strong message of confidence to the market—institutions are bullish on the long-term value of Bitcoin.
III. Industry Leaders Speak Out: From Personal Choices to Long-Term Planning, Their Stance is Clear
The actions and opinions of industry leaders often foreshadow market trends, and the statements made by these individuals at the beginning of 2026 are particularly representative.
Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has proposed a new concept: 2026 will be the year to "reclaim lost sovereignty over computing." Simply put, it's about breaking free from dependence on centralized services and protecting personal data security. He has already put this into practice: in 2025, he switched to the decentralized document tool Fileverse and the encrypted communication software Signal; in 2026, he plans to replace Google Maps and Gmail with open-source, encrypted alternatives. Facing criticism, he stated bluntly that "blindly relying on mainstream centralized tools is precisely the reason for the failure of past crypto projects," and that upholding user sovereignty is the core of the Bitcoin spirit.
The Trump family has bet real money on crypto. Currently, the family's net worth is $6.8 billion, with $1.4 billion coming from crypto projects, accounting for nearly one-fifth. Profits are primarily generated from selling cryptocurrencies, crypto trading, Trump MEME coins, and holdings in Bitcoin companies. Even their USD1 stablecoin has a circulating supply exceeding $3 billion. Conversely, the stock price of their media company has fallen by 66% in a year, clearly demonstrating the family's focus on the crypto sector.
Robert Kiyosaki, author of *Rich Dad Poor Dad*, takes a more direct approach: he doesn't care about short-term fluctuations in gold and Bitcoin and will continue to buy them. He believes that with high US national debt and declining purchasing power of the dollar, the current monetary system is unreliable, and only gold, silver, and crypto assets can hedge against inflation—a consensus shared by many long-term investors.
IV. Summary: The Core Logic of the Crypto Market in 2026
These developments reveal that the main theme of the crypto market in 2026 will be "compliance + industrialization." At the regulatory level, while different countries have different attitudes, they are all establishing clear rules and bidding farewell to "wild growth." At the institutional level, traditional financial giants are no longer rejecting crypto technology but are actively integrating it into their businesses, making crypto assets a "standard" asset allocation. At the individual and industry leader level, there is a shift from speculation to long-term value recognition, and the decentralized concept is becoming more widespread.
Of course, the competition remains – the conflict of interest between traditional banking and the crypto space, as well as the uncertainty of regulatory details, could trigger short-term fluctuations. However, it's undeniable that crypto assets have moved from the fringes to the mainstream, and 2026 is highly likely to be the year they truly "take root," completely reshaping the market landscape.
Disclaimer: The content of this article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute any investment advice. Investors should approach cryptocurrency investment rationally based on their own risk tolerance and investment objectives, and should avoid blindly following trends.