Digital Assets In 2026: From Early Days To Regulated Scale

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Real-world asset tokenisation is moving from proof-of-concept to broader adoption, with regulated exchanges and infrastructure development central to this transition.
• Stablecoins are gaining regulatory attention, with jurisdictions establishing clear oversight to ensure transparency, prudent reserve management and investor confidence.
• DeFi regulation is changing, with regulators exploring models that balance innovation with accountability.

A more strategic phase for digital assets

The digital asset sector is moving decisively from speculative cycles to regulated, institutional adoption. The focus for 2026 is expected to be infrastructure: market venues capable of listing and settling tokenised instruments, credible stablecoin regimes that can support payments and settlement, and custody arrangements that strive to protect client assets in insolvency.