Ethereum Set for DeFi Rally Amid Stablecoin Inflows
Analysis firm 10X Research warns of a stealth Ethereum rally fueled by surging stablecoin inflows and rising staking activity. The report, “Is This the First Chapter of the 2026 DeFi Cycle?”, highlights billions of dollars moving onto the Ethereum network as U.S. regulatory clarity improves. Key structural indicators, such as total value locked (TVL) and user trading volume, are sending bullish signals. Despite this capital accumulation stage, altcoin prices remain muted. According to 10X Research, these metrics suggest an Ethereum rally is quietly building ahead of a broader DeFi cycle in 2026.
Bullish
10X Research identifies large stablecoin inflows and increased staking as precursors to a stealth Ethereum rally. Historical DeFi cycles show that capital accumulation phases, marked by rising TVL and trading volume, often lead to significant price breakouts. Similar patterns in early 2021 preceded major ETH gains. In the short term, muted altcoin prices reflect ongoing accumulation. Over the long term, growing on-chain metrics and regulatory clarity point to a bullish trajectory for ETH and related DeFi tokens heading into 2026.