Crypto Market Insiders Shares Stablecoin Forecast for 2026

Stablecoins are becoming a vital part of the digital economy, shifting from a focus solely on cryptocurrency trading to broader financial applications. In a survey conducted by Cointelegraph, 20 crypto leaders shared their predictions for these tokens in 2026. 

The executives identified five key trends that are expected to shape the future of stablecoins, as well as one significant caution for the industry. 

What Becomes of Stablecoins in 2026? 

By 2026, co-founder and Neura’s chief product officer, Tyler Sloan, along with other executives, believes stablecoins will function like digital cash online. 

Crypto leaders affirm that the tokens will be utilized widely for payments, salaries, remittances, and settlements. This means that these assets will be a fundamental part of global finance, not just a niche cryptocurrency item.

Furthermore, industry leaders agree that clear regulations will help stablecoins grow quickly. Once governments set clear rules on reserves and compliance, more users, businesses, and banks will feel comfortable using stablecoins widely.

Meanwhile, Boris Bohrer-Bilowitzki, CEO of Concordium, revealed in the survey that regulation can build trust but may also cause market splits and risks. Some of these tokens will be strictly regulated, while others will stay more decentralized. 

Stablecoin Will Boost Financial Inclusion

Additionally, OKX president Hong Fang mentioned that in 2026, many companies are likely to hold stablecoins in their treasury operations. Stablecoins offer faster transactions, lower costs, and features that make managing cash, global payments, and on-chain investments easier.

Simon McLoughlin, CEO of Uphold, believes that tokenized bank deposits could also compete with stablecoins. These digital bank deposits may attract regulated institutions, reducing the dominance of stablecoins in some markets. According to McLoughlin, “If 2025 was the year of the stablecoin, 2026 will be the year of the tokenized deposit.”

Another executive, Daniel Ahmed, co-founder of Fasset, also believes that stablecoins are expected to grow rapidly in countries where local currencies are unstable. Likewise, stablecoins will continue to evolve in decentralized finance and blockchain markets. It will remain important for trading, lending, tokenizing real-world assets, and other financial activities on the blockchain.

Stable Tokens Gaining Momentum Across Global Finance

Many in the industry now describe stablecoins as crypto’s first major success story. Over the past year, both individuals and institutions have used them more often for payments, trading, and international transfers. Their ability to combine digital speed with price stability had driven this adoption.

Interestingly, payment companies like Visa and Stripe are integrating tokens to make money movement faster and cheaper. Clearer regulation has also pushed stablecoin growth forward and encouraged adoption. The GENIUS Act, signed into U.S. law in July, created a federal framework for issuing and supervising stablecoins.

It is also worth noting that analysts expect the stable token market to keep expanding. Citi expects the market to reach $1.9 trillion by 2030 under a base scenario. Standard Chartered forecasts growth to around $2 trillion by 2028.