VC Firm a16z Flags Stablecoins, Tokenization and Privacy as Key Themes for 2026
Venture capital agency Andreessen Horowitz (a16z) has recognized stablecoins, real-world asset tokenization and privateness infrastructure as a few of the most necessary forces set to form the crypto trade in 2026, in keeping with research published by its crypto staff.
Stablecoins Move Into the Mainstream
The report argues that stablecoins have already reached mainstream scale citing an estimated $46 trillion in transaction quantity final yr — a degree that rivals or exceeds main fee networks such as PayPal and approaches U.S. ACH volumes.
While sending stablecoins has turn out to be near-instant and extraordinarily low-cost a16z researchers stated the following main problem lies in constructing higher on-ramps and off-ramps that join digital {dollars} to on a regular basis monetary programs.
Closing the On- and Off-Ramp Gap
A brand new era of startups can be addressing this hole by linking stablecoins to native fee rails, QR-based networks and card-issuing platforms, enabling customers to spend stablecoins at conventional retailers.
According to a16z these developments might push stablecoins past area of interest crypto use circumstances and set up them as a foundational settlement layer for the web.
On tokenization the report highlighted rising curiosity from banks, fintech corporations and asset managers in bringing equities, commodities and different property onchain.
However, a16z cautioned that a lot of at this time’s real-world asset tokenization stays “skeuomorphic,” mirroring conventional monetary constructions reasonably than exploiting crypto-native capabilities.
Perpetual Futures and Onchain Origination
Instead the agency sees momentum constructing round crypto-native derivatives, notably perpetual futures, which supply deeper liquidity and easier implementation. Emerging-market equities had been flagged as a promising space for so-called “perpification.”
a16z additionally argued that debt markets will more and more transfer towards onchain origination, reasonably than offchain loans which are later tokenized, as compliance and standardization frameworks mature.
Privacy as a Competitive Moat
Privacy emerged as one other central theme for 2026. a16z companions stated privateness is now not a secondary characteristic however a possible aggressive moat for blockchain networks.
As public blockchains turn out to be extra interoperable, privacy-preserving programs might create stronger community results by making consumer migration harder and enhancing safety in opposition to transaction-level surveillance.
AI Agents and the Future of Payments
The analysis additionally pointed to the rising intersection of AI brokers and crypto infrastructure, notably as autonomous programs start transacting with out human intervention.
a16z highlighted the necessity for new id requirements — described as “Know Your Agent” — and programmable fee primitives that permit machines to settle worth immediately and securely.
From Experimentation to Infrastructure
Beyond finance, the report explored how crypto rails might reshape wealth administration, media, messaging and information privateness.
Tokenization might develop entry to non-public markets and allow automated portfolio rebalancing, whereas blockchain-based micropayments could assist tackle income erosion throughout the open net as AI brokers eat content material with out conventional attribution.
Overall, a16z stated the approaching yr will mark a shift from experimentation towards infrastructure-level adoption, the place regulation, institutional participation and crypto-native innovation converge.
“Crypto’s subsequent part will likely be pushed much less by hype and extra by actual utility,” the agency stated, arguing that stablecoins, tokenization and privateness will underpin a extra predictable and sturdy onchain financial system.
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