Grayscale believes two main factors could support a rise in the cryptocurrency market by 2026: the need for stable stores of value and better regulation.
Zach Pandl, head of research at Grayscale, spoke on CNBC’s Crypto World and explained that economic stress is the strongest influence right now.
He pointed to growing government debt, budget deficits, and concerns about the weakening value of traditional currencies. These issues are encouraging people to look for alternatives outside regular financial assets.
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Pandl noted that Bitcoin
He added that these economic issues are not likely to go away soon. As a result, more investors could continue shifting their portfolios toward cryptocurrencies over the next year and beyond.
Regulation is the second key factor that could support a market increase. Although a US crypto policy bill failed to pass in 2025 due to political delays, Grayscale expects new progress in 2026.
According to Pandl, lawmakers from both parties are once again showing interest in setting clear federal rules for the crypto industry.
He explained that progress this year has made it easier for crypto businesses to operate in the US, but more work remains. Clear laws could help both new and established companies, including large corporations, use digital tokens in their business models.
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