Crypto experts are looking ahead to 2026 as the year digital assets could finally take off in a big way. Even though Bitcoin ended 2025 with its first yearly loss since 2022, many analysts believe the next big bull run is just around the corner. Factors like a crypto-supportive U.S. government, more big institutions getting involved, and the likely approval of spot ETFs are setting the stage for a strong market recovery.

Popular crypto YouTuber Jesse Eckel, who has over 276,000 followers, is betting big on 2026. In a recent video, he confidently said, “2026 will be the bull run and altcoin season people thought would happen in 2025.” He’s so convinced, he sold his house and invested everything into crypto. “If I’m wrong, I’ll accept the consequences,” he added.

Eckel admitted his predictions for 2025 didn’t pan out, especially his call for an altcoin rally in early 2025. Instead, altcoins dropped sharply due to global market issues like trade tariffs. That failure made him rethink the long-standing belief in the four-year crypto cycle.

According to Eckel, the 2025 rally was different from past ones. It wasn’t driven by massive global liquidity, but rather by strong narratives and growing institutional interest. Because of this shift, he now believes that by mid-2026, most people will realize the four-year cycle model no longer works. Once that happens, he expects a major price surge as all the positive news that’s been ignored finally gets reflected in prices.

Eckel listed 10 key reasons he believes 2026 will be huge for crypto. He’s also updated his price forecasts: Bitcoin could hit between $170,000 and $250,000 during the next peak, higher than his earlier $170K target. He’s keeping his Ethereum prediction steady at $10,000 to $20,000.

“If I get this wrong two years in a row, it’s almost unforgivable,” Eckel said. “I might just walk away from it all.”

Andrew Forson, President of DeFi Technologies, shares a similar outlook. He believes institutional adoption will speed up in 2026, and blockchain tech will be used in more industries and applications. Forson sees stablecoins as the most important part of the crypto world right now.

“Stablecoins live on decentralized blockchains,” Forson explained. “Each transaction is validated across various networks.” This setup allows assets to move smoothly between Bitcoin, Ethereum, exchange-traded products (ETPs), and stablecoins. Investors can easily switch between yield-generating crypto assets and fiat-like stablecoins.

Forson also pointed to a fast-growing trend: tokenizing real-world assets (RWA). More institutions are bringing assets like stocks, bonds, and commodities onto blockchains. This boosts both adoption and value of digital assets.

Another area he’s excited about is combining blockchain with artificial intelligence. “To train AI models well, you need trustworthy data. Blockchain can prove where that data comes from,” he said.

He also noted how blockchain can improve traditional finance systems — making it easier to settle trades involving stocks or bonds globally and faster. This could attract even more liquidity into markets. Forson said DeFi Technologies plans to focus on these developments going forward.

Still, not everyone is so optimistic. Some experts warn that 2026 could bring another crypto winter. They highlight Bitcoin’s recent 30% drop from its yearly high and say there may be fewer big events left to fuel another rally. Skeptics also question whether companies holding Bitcoin as part of their treasury strategy can keep demand strong.

While the debate continues, many eyes are on 2026 as potentially a game-changing year for crypto markets — especially if new technology use cases and institutional interest keep growing.