Simply put
- ARK Invest suggests that Bitcoin might capture about 70% of the anticipated $28 trillion digital asset market by 2030, fueled by the rise of ETFs and corporate treasury investments.
- The value in DeFi is shifting focus from networks to applications, as protocols that generate fees are scaling more rapidly, beginning to compete with fintech platforms regarding revenue and managed assets.
- The tokenized market appears to be heading towards mainstream acceptance, with ARK estimating that tokenized real-world assets could hit up to $11 trillion by 2030.
Bitcoin, decentralized finance applications, and tokenized assets seem set to lead the charge in crypto development by 2026. Experts emphasize that regulatory clarity will be crucial for mainstream acceptance of these innovations.
In its latest research report, Big Ideas 2026, ARK Invest predicts that the digital asset market could grow to $28 trillion by 2030, with Bitcoin responsible for around 70% of that, equating to approximately $16 trillion.
Joni Pirovic, founder and CEO of Crystal aOS, commented that Cathie Wood’s investment forecast appears “reasonable.”
She noted, “Crypto-native financial platforms are growing, but their goal isn’t to become centralized giants. They strive for global acceptance and must navigate fragmented compliance challenges.”
Bitcoin has matured as an institutional asset class, as highlighted in the report, revealing that U.S. ETFs and publicly traded companies now hold 12% of the total Bitcoin supply, an increase from 8.7% at the start of 2025.
This shift suggests that Bitcoin, DeFi, and tokenized assets are increasingly being recognized as integral parts of the global capital markets.
Sudhakar Lakshmanaraja, founder of Digital South Trust, stated, “The future landscape of cryptocurrencies in 2026 will largely be shaped by regulations rather than just innovation.”
He added, “Bitcoin might remain a dominant asset, but the expansion of DeFi and tokenized markets relies heavily on governments establishing custody, compliance, and investor protection frameworks.”
The report suggests that the tokenized asset market could potentially triple to $19 billion by 2025, with projections reaching $11 trillion (roughly 1.38% of global financial assets) by 2030, supported by BlackRock’s substantial $1.7 billion BUIDL fund and tokenized offerings like gold from Tether and Paxos.
In terms of decentralized financial applications, platforms like Hyperliquid are achieving significant success, generating over $800 million in annual revenue while having only a small team of fewer than 15 employees. Currently, 70 protocols boast monthly recurring revenue exceeding $1 million, contributing to substantial revenue growth expected to reach $3.8 billion by 2025.
“By 2026, as regulatory frameworks mature and institutional networks become more interoperable, sovereign digital securities could reshape global capital formation,” stated Wook Lee, Founder and CEO of EDENA Capital Partners, emphasizing that change is indeed in motion.
He also mentioned that tokenized markets are on track to be the primary catalyst for real-world economic activities within the digital asset eco-space.
The report further indicates that Bitcoin’s volatility is decreasing, showing that the average drawdown from all-time highs has reached its lowest levels across measured periods in 2025, with Bitcoin’s risk-adjusted returns outperforming Ethereum and Solana for most of the year.
Currently, Bitcoin is trading just below $90,000, reflecting a small increase of 0.5% over the past day, but represents a decline of over 6% for the week, according to CoinGecko.
This cryptocurrency bounced back above the $90,000 mark after President Donald Trump announced he wouldn’t impose tariffs on European nations following a meeting about Greenland, but prices have dipped amid ongoing geopolitical concerns.
Besides discussing cryptocurrencies, ARK’s report delved into topics like AI infrastructure, self-driving technology, robotics, and decentralized energy.
In Myriad’s prediction market, users are inclined to think that cryptocurrencies, not AI, are more likely to see a bubble burst first, estimating a nearly 55% chance of that happening.
(Disclaimer: Myriad is owned by Dastan, which also owns Decrypt.)
