Digital Assets Set to Become Financial Backbone by 2026

B. Riley and Moody’s predict digital assets and stablecoins will become core financial infrastructure by 2026, driven by regulation and institutional adoption, with a shift from speculation to utility and operational use.

Analysts from B. Riley and Moody’s forecast a major transformation in digital finance by 2026, with digital assets and stablecoins evolving from speculative tools to foundational elements of global financial infrastructure. Reports highlight that regulatory maturation and institutional adoption are driving this shift, as traditional financial institutions increasingly integrate blockchain technology for payments, liquidity management, and asset tokenization. Digital asset treasury companies are transitioning from holding tokens to deploying them operationally, aiming for recurring revenue streams. Stablecoins are being adopted as digital cash by banks and asset managers, accelerating the tokenization of finance and enabling near-instant settlement of tokenized assets. Moody’s notes that over $300 billion in investments are expected by 2030 for new financial infrastructures, but warns of technical and regulatory risks. Both reports emphasize the need for clearer regulations, improved governance, and enhanced interoperability to support this evolution. The integration of digital assets and stablecoins is set to become the backbone of global digital finance, with institutions playing a central role.