Arthur Hayes Predicts Crypto Surge by 2026
Arthur Hayes, a well-known name in the crypto world and former CEO of BitMEX, recently shared bold predictions about the future of Bitcoin, altcoins, and the broader crypto market. His insights are gaining attention from investors, especially as they may explain the recent price surge in coins like ZEC.
**Ethereum and Solana Are Here to Stay**
Hayes believes that almost all Layer 1 blockchain platforms could become worthless in the future—except for two major players: Ethereum and Solana.
He’s confident that Ethereum will remain the dominant blockchain. According to Hayes, major banks and financial institutions moving into crypto and Web3 will likely build on Ethereum because of its strong infrastructure and long-term reliability. Ethereum is expected to be a key foundation for the next phase of digital finance.
Solana, on the other hand, is praised for its support of memecoins and fast transaction speeds. Hayes sees Solana as the second-best smart contract platform after Ethereum. However, he warns that Solana needs a fresh narrative or use case to continue growing and stay competitive. He doesn’t expect it to overtake Ethereum but still considers it a survivor in the evolving crypto space.
**Crypto Boom Expected by 2026**
Looking ahead, Hayes is highly optimistic about 2026. He points to a global increase in liquidity—basically, more money flowing into the economy—as a major driver for rising crypto prices.
One key reason for this? Hayes believes that if Donald Trump returns to power, he’ll have heavy influence over the U.S. Federal Reserve. He expects Trump to push for more money printing, especially if the NASDAQ drops significantly—say, by 20%. This would likely prompt immediate government action to avoid hurting the booming AI industry, which generates a large portion of tax revenue and capital gains.
In Japan, the newly elected prime minister has announced the biggest economic stimulus package since Abenomics, while Europe is likely to increase its money printing due to ongoing tensions with Russia. All these events could flood global markets with cash—fueling a big rise in Bitcoin and altcoins.
**A New Tech Bubble Could Be Coming**
Hayes draws comparisons to 1994, when markets recovered from Latin American debt issues and entered a major tech boom. He sees something similar happening again—this time led by artificial intelligence and blockchain technology. If Trump wins and injects more liquidity into the economy, Hayes believes we could see an even bigger tech bubble than before.
**What to Watch in 2025 and Beyond**
Hayes expects privacy-focused cryptocurrencies and Zero Knowledge Proof (ZKP) technologies to gain popularity in 2025. These tools help protect user data on blockchains—a growing concern as more people enter the crypto space.
His final advice? Buy promising coins without using leverage (borrowed money), and hold onto them through market ups and downs.
**Key Takeaways:**
– Ethereum and Solana are likely to be the strongest Layer 1 blockchains.
– Increased global liquidity could cause crypto prices to surge.
– A potential Trump return could lead to massive money printing.
– AI and crypto could drive a new tech bubble.
– Privacy coins and ZKP technologies are worth watching in 2025.
As always, investing in crypto carries risks. Do your own research before making any moves.