Digital Assets: A Shift Towards Core Financial Infrastructure by 2026

Digital assets are anticipated to evolve into essential components of financial infrastructure by 2026, driven by regulation, institutional investment, and practical applications. This perspective is shared by Binance s APAC leadership, particularly SB Seker, who emphasizes a significant transition from speculation to real-world utility.
As we look toward 2026, the digital asset industry is transitioning from experimentation to deeper financial integration and maturity,
Seker stated. He highlighted that 2026 will be a pivotal year marked by institutional growth and regulatory clarity. He noted that digital assets are becoming crucial for efficient settlements, tokenization, and value transfers within regulated environments.
Seker pointed out that Binance has seen a 14 increase in institutional users and a 13 rise in trading volume over the past year. He described this as an early indication of accelerated growth expected in 2026. He predicted that
institutional diversification beyond bitcoin and ethereum into selected altcoins, combined with greater government and public sector engagement, is expected to accelerate.
Looking ahead to 2026 s policy and market structure, Seker remarked:
Clearer regulations and rising institutional participation will reshape the crypto landscape further.
He emphasized that stablecoins, now exceeding 300 billion in market capitalization, will be central to policy discussions as regulatory clarity in major markets takes effect.
Seker also noted the impact of public-sector initiatives on asset selection and valuation. He stated:
Initiatives like CBDCs aim to integrate digital assets into mainstream finance with greater transparency and trust, especially impacting altcoin valuations with real-world utility and sustainable economics.
He observed that regulated products such as ETFs will continue to expand, offering safer access beyond bitcoin.
In conclusion, Seker emphasized that
in 2026, the industry is set to move beyond hype and speculation toward delivering real, lasting value.
He asserted that when innovation aligns with responsibility, digital assets will become an integral part of everyday finance.