Ilya Volkov, co-founder and CEO of YouHodler, believes 2026 will see continued mainstream progression for Bitcoin, AI, stablecoins and more. Read on to learn ore.
In 2026, Bitcoin will graduate from alternative asset to global macro asset
“We are witnessing Bitcoin’s transition into the global financial system. By 2026, I expect Bitcoin to be treated less like a speculative asset and more like a macro hedge, like gold. Sovereign wealth funds and pension portfolios across Europe, the Middle East, and Asia will begin disclosing small but symbolic BTC positions. At that point, Bitcoin’s role will shift from a trading instrument to a long-term stabilizer within globally diversified portfolios.”
Lightning will become the fastest-growing settlement layer in the world
“The Lightning Network will experience explosive real-world adoption in 2026. Cross-border remittances routed through Lightning will double, driven by demand from emerging markets where traditional payments remain slow and expensive. For the first time, Bitcoin will be used more for payments than for speculation, which is a shift we haven’t seen in its 15-year history.”
Hybrid custody will replace the outdated custodial vs. non-custodial debate
“The industry will finally move past the unproductive argument of custodial versus non-custodial. In 2026, hybrid custody becomes the global standard, combining the convenience of regulated platforms, the safety of cryptographic proofs, and the autonomy of self-custody. Investors will demand both control and security, and they will no longer accept platforms that offer only one or the other.”
CeFi and DeFi will converge into a single financial architecture
“By 2026, consumers won’t distinguish between CeFi and DeFi because both will be working behind the scenes of the same products. Regulated fintech platforms will quietly integrate decentralized liquidity as infrastructure. DeFi protocols will adopt compliance rails to meet institutional standards. The distinction disappears, and that’s what will allow the industry to scale responsibly.”
Stablecoins will become the most widely used digital currency class on Earth in 2026
“The stablecoin market will see significant growth in 2026, driven by merchants, cross-border commerce, and consumers in emerging economies who rely on digital dollars for financial stability. For millions of people, stablecoins will become the primary store of value and medium of exchange, far more than their local currencies. We are entering an era where digital dollars dominate the global money supply outside the United States.”
AI-to-AI payments will be the most overlooked but transformative trend in fintech
“The next phase of digital finance will emerge from machines, not humans. By 2026, autonomous AI agents will be conducting microtransactions, paying for compute, data access, electricity, and API calls in real time. Blockchain provides the settlement layer for machine-to-machine commerce, and this ‘machine economy’ may become one of the fastest-growing segments of the digital asset sector.”
Crypto lending and yield will return in 2026, but under regulated and transparent frameworks
“2026 will mark the rebirth of digital asset lending, not the reckless version that we’ve seen before, but a regulated, transparent, revenue-backed model that resembles traditional money-market funds. Platforms that survived the last cycle, or new ones built on compliance-first principles, will define the next generation of yield products. Investors will demand real audits, real collateral, and real oversight.”
Digital assets will increasingly be used as geopolitical instruments in 2026
“Crypto has been playing a growing role in global geopolitics. In 2026, economies experiencing currency depreciation will adopt stablecoins at scale, creating parallel digital economies that reduce reliance on local banking systems. At the same time, regional alliances will explore cross-border digital currency settlements to reduce dependency on USD rails.
“Crypto will soon sit at the intersection of policy, regulation, and global finance. Many governments are already tightening oversight of crypto-based transactions through reporting requirements and compliance frameworks, but at the same time, they are increasingly exploring how to use digital assets themselves.
“As regulation matures, harmonization across jurisdictions will become critical. The result will be a more balanced, coordinated environment where crypto is broadly accepted, responsibly governed, and easier for institutions, businesses, and individuals to use. Digital assets will move from fragmented experimentation toward a stable, integrated role in the global financial system.”
Fintech without digital assets will become obsolete
“Fintech is undergoing its largest transition since the rise of mobile banking. By 2026, traditional fintech companies that do not integrate stablecoins, digital asset rails, crypto collateral, or blockchain authentication will look outdated. Payments, lending, and e-commerce providers will all adopt digital asset capabilities as their default setting. Digital finance becomes simply ‘finance.’”