Fireblocks Says 2026 Will Be the ’Rollout Year’ for Crypto Despite Geopolitical Headwinds
Fireblocks policy director Dea Markova told 99Bitcoins that after 2025’s momentum in crypto policy and institutional projects, 2026 should be a “rollout year” focused on product launches and infrastructure-driven growth. Markova expects rule-making and implementation — not headlines — to dominate, with increased institutional digital-asset projects, higher transaction volumes (notably stablecoin transfers), and attention on ledgers that support privacy and large-scale distribution. The article cites bullish Davos comments from industry figures — Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse predicted new all-time highs, BlackRock’s Larry Fink called for blockchain upgrades to reduce fees and corruption, and UBS signalled private-banking crypto offerings. The piece warns geopolitical tensions and macro risk (including US politics) will keep price volatility tied to risk appetite, but overall anticipates constructive regulatory clarity, cross-border alignment on compliant stablecoins and increased product rollouts that could drive trading volumes and institutional participation in 2026.
Bullish
The article signals a constructive shift from policy momentum to implementation and product rollout in 2026, which typically supports increased institutional participation and higher on-chain volumes — bullish drivers for crypto markets. Specific catalysts cited include clearer rule-making, infrastructure investments, growth in stablecoin transfers, and major financial firms (BlackRock, UBS) moving toward crypto services. These factors historically correlate with rising liquidity and investment inflows (examples: custody and ETF rollouts boosting BTC demand in prior cycles). Short-term risks remain: geopolitical tensions and macro uncertainty can increase volatility and trigger correlated drawdowns as traders reduce risk exposure. Over the medium to long term, regulatory clarity and institutional product launches tend to improve market depth and reduce bid-ask spreads, supporting higher prices and adoption. Therefore, despite near-term volatility risks, the net outlook is bullish because the news points to tangible infrastructure and institutional demand growth rather than mere speculation.