As 2026 begins, the crypto industry is entering a decisive phase marked by regulatory clarity, growing institutional adoption, and a rapid expansion of tokenization. According to Yat Siu, co-founder and executive chairman of Animoca Brands, this year represents a fundamental shift in how digital assets are perceived, used, and valued across the global economy.
While Bitcoin has solidified its role as digital gold, Siu believes the next wave of growth will be driven by altcoins and utility-focused tokens. Many users enter crypto through gaming, DeFi, NFTs, and other Web3 applications rather than Bitcoin itself. This mirrors traditional markets, where equities far outweigh gold in total value. In Siu’s view, 2026 will favor established Web3 tokens that have survived previous market cycles, much like Amazon or Apple emerged stronger after the dotcom crash.
A major catalyst behind this momentum is regulation. Siu points to the expected passage of the US CLARITY Act, which aims to define clear boundaries between the SEC and CFTC. Combined with frameworks like Europe’s MiCA, regulatory certainty is removing long-standing barriers for corporations and financial institutions. This clarity is expected to unlock large-scale tokenization, from stablecoins and real-world assets to corporate equity and intellectual property.
Institutional participation is also evolving. Crypto ETFs were only the beginning. In 2026, institutions are moving from passive exposure to active use of blockchain infrastructure, particularly in real-world asset tokenization. Estimates suggest tokenized RWAs could reach $30 trillion in the coming decade, enabling broader financial inclusion and access to yield-generating products.
Siu also emphasizes that blockchain will increasingly fade into the background. Users will focus on better services, not the technology powering them. Gaming assets, digital ownership, payments, and financial products will onboard mainstream users organically.
His conclusion is blunt but clear: companies that fail to tokenize risk irrelevance. As younger generations adopt crypto as a core asset class, tokenization is no longer optional. In Siu’s words, the reality of 2026 is simple: tokenize or die.
