1kx Sees $100B Blockchain Revenue by 2026 as Adoption Shifts
Investment firm 1kx forecasts blockchain industry revenue of $100 billion in 2026, revising its estimate down by about 28% amid crypto price volatility. Its report covers more than 2,600 protocols and over 100 public companies. The blockchain revenue outlook also reflects a changing mix of income: institutional adoption and applications in the wider economy are expected to contribute 30% of the total. In the third quarter, wider-economy revenue exceeded blockchain infrastructure revenue for the first time. Public companies’ share of blockchain revenue has risen to 16%, from 7% in 2022. A record 283 protocols returned value to token holders through buybacks, token burns or fee sharing. The figures point to broader commercial adoption, though blockchain revenue remains exposed to market swings and concentrated among leading firms and protocols.
Neutral
The report contains no direct catalyst for a specific cryptocurrency, and neither summary identifies a particular token whose price would be directly affected. In the short term, the forecast revision and continued exposure to crypto price volatility could weigh on sentiment toward the sector, while the record number of protocols returning value to holders may support interest in token economics. These competing signals make a broad, immediate price reaction difficult to infer. Over the longer term, growing institutional and real-economy revenue, alongside a higher contribution from public companies, could indicate a more diversified commercial base. However, the forecast does not remove the sector’s dependence on market conditions or the concentration of revenue among leading firms and protocols. Overall, the news is relevant to assessing industry fundamentals, but it is not enough on its own to establish a directional outlook for any individual coin; the likely price impact on a specific cryptocurrency is neutral.