For over a decade, the idea of money moving on-chain has hovered between promise and pause. The technology was always ahead of behaviour. Infrastructure matured faster than trust. Capital, especially institutional capital, preferred to observe rather than participate.

That gap has started narrowing. By the end of 2025, the conversation shifted subtly but meaningfully. On-chain activity stopped being framed as a speculative side-show and began appearing in serious discussions around portfolio construction, asset efficiency, and cross-border value movement. As we look at 2026, it is worth asking whether this is the year money meaningfully transitions on-chain; not as a trend, but as an operating layer of global finance.

What changed in 2025 was behaviour, not technology

The biggest shift in 2025 was not technological innovation. It was behavioural maturity. Bitcoin’s (BTC) evolution captures this well. Once viewed almost entirely through the lens of volatility, it is now increasingly discussed as a long-duration asset with specific portfolio characteristics. That change in framing matters far more than price cycles.

Markets mature when participants begin asking better questions. In 2025, the questions shifted from “How fast can this grow?” to “How does this fit?” Custody, governance, auditability, and regulatory alignment became central themes. That is usually the moment when an asset class moves from experimentation to early adoption.

Serious wealth has entered quietly

In light of the turbulent times we’re living in, one of the more understated developments has been the steady participation of high-net-worth individuals and family offices in alternative assets like VDAs. This has not been loud capital. It has been careful, structured, and incremental. Many are allocating a modest percentage of their portfolios to digital assets, not to chase upside but to hedge concentration risk and gain exposure to a parallel financial infrastructure that is largely uncorrelated to traditional assets.

This matters because such capital tends to be sticky. It enters slowly, but it rarely exits impulsively. Once digital assets are treated as an allocation decision rather than a tactical trade, the foundation for long-term participation is laid. In 2026, this segment is likely to deepen its engagement; not necessarily by increasing risk, but by increasing conviction.

Regulation is not the enemy of on-chain money

India’s regulatory tightening has often been interpreted as resistance. In reality, it signals something more important: acknowledgement. Markets are regulated when they become too large to ignore. From a long-term perspective, regulation is not a brake on institutional participation; it is a prerequisite.

Clear rules, even strict ones, allow capital to assess risk with precision. Ambiguity deters serious money far more than compliance does. As India sharpens its regulatory posture and global frameworks such as CARF gain traction, the cost of participating on-chain becomes more predictable. Predictability, not permissiveness, is what institutions look for.

The quiet maturation of assets

Another reason 2026 feels different is asset maturity. Digital assets are no longer limited to cryptocurrencies. The conversation has expanded to tokenised representations of real-world value: real estate, land, funds, and potentially other long-duration assets.

India saw several announcements in 2025 around real estate and land tokenisation. Elsewhere, the New York Stock Exchange has announced a parallel exchange that will trade in tokenized assets with blockchain-based settlements, making T+1, T+2, and market hours history. While large-scale execution across the globe may take time, these developments are significant catalysts. Tokenisation is not about disruption for its own sake. It is about improving liquidity, reducing friction, and increasing transparency in asset classes that have historically been opaque and inefficient.

The real impact will not come from mass adoption overnight, but from selective, compliant use cases where on-chain records offer operational advantages. That is where credibility is built.

Remittances may be the first true test case

If there is one area where on-chain money has a clear functional advantage, it is global remittances. Speed, cost efficiency, and transparency are not theoretical benefits here; they are measurable outcomes.

Traditional systems remain slow, expensive, and fragmented. On-chain rails offer a way to move value across borders with fewer intermediaries and greater traceability. As regulatory clarity improves, remittances could become one of the first mainstream use cases where on-chain money moves from “alternative” to “obvious.”

India’s unresolved stablecoin question

One critical issue that 2026 will force into sharper focus is India’s stance on stablecoins. The RBI has articulated its position clearly, favouring sovereign digital currency models. However, globally, stablecoins continue to play a growing role in on-chain liquidity and settlement. Apparently, India has also proposed linking BRICS’ digital currencies on the back of CBDCs. The real question is whether stablecoin rails will continue to remain global liquidity havens or will the network effects settle on sovereign rails?

India will eventually need to articulate a more detailed position, whether through restriction, regulation, or selective allowance. This decision will shape how seamlessly India integrates into global on-chain financial systems. Avoiding the question may no longer be viable as cross-border capital flows increasingly intersect with digital rails.

So, is 2026 the turning point?

2026 is unlikely to be remembered as the year money fully moved on-chain. But it may be remembered as the year key decisions were made. The year when on-chain money stopped being debated as a possibility and started being evaluated as infrastructure.

The shift will be gradual, uneven, and heavily regulated. That is how financial systems evolve. What feels different now is the convergence of behaviour, regulation, and asset maturity. When those three align, capital tends to follow.

Money rarely moves where excitement is highest. It moves where systems are stable, rules are clear, and long-term value is visible. 2026 may not deliver headlines, but it may quietly mark the beginning of money finding its place on-chain.

Kris Marszalek, the founder and CEO of crypto exchange Crypto.com, spent $70 million to buy ai.com, the highest publicly disclosed price paid for a website domain, the FT reported.

The acquisition signals the executive’s move into artificial intelligence, a sector that reached nearly $1.5 trillion in worldwide spending in 2025, according to Gartner. The momentum will intensify this year, with Bloomberg reporting that the four largest U.S. tech giants alone, Alphabet, Amazon, Meta and Microsoft, plan to invest a combined $650 billion in AI infrastructure this year.

The transaction, finalized in April 2025, was conducted entirely in cryptocurrency, the FT said in its report on Friday, citing Larry Fischer of GetYourDomain.com, who brokered the transaction. The price tag more than doubled the previous $30 million record held by Block.one’s 2019 purchase of Voice.com. Block.one is the owner of CoindDesk’s parent, Bullish (BLSH). Marszalek spent $12 million to acquire crypto.com in 2018.

Ai.com announced the debut of a consumer platform featuring autonomous AI agents. Unlike traditional chatbots, these agents are designed to operate on a user’s behalf — executing tasks such as trading stocks, managing calendars and automating workflows. Marszalek said the platform aims to be the “front door to AGI” through a decentralized network.

“We are at a fundamental shift in AI’s evolution as we rapidly move beyond basic chats to AI agents actually getting things done for humans,” said Marszalek. “Our vision is a decentralized network of billions of agents who self-improve and share these improvements with each other.”

The platform announced its debut with a Super Bowl LX commercial on Sunday, generating a surge in traffic that crashed the website for several hours. Writing on X on Monday, Marszalek cited “insane traffic levels” from the 30-second ad, noting that while the team had prepared for scale, the volume of interest was unprecedented.

• Bitcoin (BTC) is showing early buy signals amid an ongoing correction near $69,500.
• The key support levels at $65,800 and $60,100 attract dip buyers.
• A break above $74,500 could trigger renewed bullish momentum.

Bitcoin has been in a volatile state over the past month, with prices hovering near $69,500.

The cryptocurrency has faced a 23.2% drop over the last month, signalling a deeper correction in progress.

Despite the decline, recent market activity suggests early buy signals are starting to emerge.

Bitcoin price trapped in a sideways phase

BTC is currently trading in a sideways range between $62,800 and $78,900 over the past seven days.

This range indicates indecision among traders, with neither bulls nor bears fully controlling the market.

Analyst Doctor Profit warn that this sideways phase could be a trap, potentially leading to a deeper drop toward $44,000–$50,000.

However, this view is balanced by macroeconomic developments that may provide temporary support for Bitcoin.

The recent rebound above $70,000 came after a short squeeze pushed BTC higher, liquidating over $245 million in positions.

This shows that buying pressure still exists, particularly from opportunistic traders looking to enter at perceived lows.

Liquidity remains relatively strong, with 24-hour trading volume exceeding $46 billion, suggesting continued investor participation.

Bitcoin technical outlook: the buy signals

From a technical standpoint, Bitcoin remains capped below key resistance at $69,000–$69,500.

Breaking above this level is essential for bulls to regain control of short-term momentum.

On the flip side, the support levels at $65,800 and $60,100 provide clear thresholds where buyers may step in.

Recent dip buying indicates that some traders are accumulating Bitcoin during the correction.

Notably, the reset of leveraged positions in derivatives markets points to reduced short-term selling pressure.

Meanwhile, macro factors such as strong US economic data and Federal Reserve liquidity injections provide additional tailwinds.

Political events like Japan’s election have also lifted global risk appetite, indirectly supporting BTC and other risk assets.

Historical trends show that Bitcoin often experiences deep corrections after major rallies, making the current slump consistent with past market cycles.

The all-time high of $126,080, reached in October 2025, remains distant, but the current consolidation may offer opportunities for medium-term accumulation.

Analysts emphasise that patience is critical, as further volatility is expected before a sustained uptrend emerges.

Bulls should watch these key technical zones carefully, knowing that a breakout above $74,500 could signal renewed upward momentum.

Conversely, a fall below $65,800 could intensify selling and extend the correction phase.

Overall, the market is balancing between lingering bearish pressure and emerging buying interest, creating a cautious but potentially rewarding environment.

Investors with a longer-term perspective may view current prices as an entry point amid market-wide corrections.

Short-term traders should remain alert to both upside breakouts and downside risks in the coming weeks.

Bitcoin’s BTC$68,657.39 mining difficulty dropped by around 11%, its largest decline since China’s 2021 crackdown on the industry, after a sharp decline in hashrate triggered by plunging prices and widespread winter storm-related outages in the U.S.

Mining difficulty, which determines how hard it is to find new Bitcoin blocks, adjusts roughly every two weeks to maintain a 10-minute block interval on the network.

The latest change brought the metric down from over 141.6 trillion to about 125.86 trillion, according to Blockchain.com data, signaling a steep drop in the number of active machines securing the network.

The decline follows a series of blows to miners. Bitcoin prices have fallen significantly from an all-time high of $126,000 in October to around $69,500.

That price drop forced many miners, especially those running outdated equipment and facing high energy costs, to shut down. Some also repurposed their hardware to focus on artificial intelligence (AI), as megacap firms offer stable contracts and often economically irresistible terms.

Bitfarms (BITF) notably saw its share price surge after saying it’s no longer a bitcoin company, and is instead focusing on data center development for high-performance computing and AI workloads.

Bitcoin mining revenue on a per terahash basis, measured via the hashprice, has plunged from nearly $70 at the time the cryptocurrency was trading at an all-time high, to now stand at little over $35.

Severe winter storms, particularly in Texas, compounded the situation. Grid operators issued curtailment requests to conserve electricity for residential users. Public mining firms scaled back production, with some seeing daily bitcoin output fall by more than 60%.

Although a drop in difficulty might appear alarming, it functions as a self-correcting mechanism. For miners who remain online, the reduced competition can increase profitability and help maintain the business model.

Historically, major difficulty drops have also signaled market capitulation, often preceding a stabilization or rebound in price as miners sell the BTC they mine to cover operational expenses.

Japan’s landslide election boosted equities but added near-term pressure to Bitcoin as capital rotated and liquidity tightened.

Japan’s ruling bloc secured a two-thirds majority in the Lower House on February 8, handing Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi a decisive victory that has already reshaped global market positioning.

The result has lifted Japanese equities while adding short-term pressure to Bitcoin (BTC), even as longer-term policy shifts in Tokyo may support institutional crypto adoption.

Takaichi’s Victory Reshapes Capital Flows

Market reaction to the election was swift, with Japanese stocks pushed to fresh record highs in the hours after the result, and the Nikkei extending gains as traders priced in aggressive fiscal stimulus and a more tolerant stance toward yen weakness.

Market watcher Ash Crypto wrote on X that Japan’s stock market had hit a new all-time high following Takaichi’s victory, reflecting optimism around domestic reflation.

Research firms and analysts were more cautious about global spillovers. XWIN Research described the outcome as bearish for Bitcoin in the near term, pointing to tighter global liquidity and shifting capital flows.

Meanwhile, GugaOnChain noted that the so-called “Takaichi Trade” is not a simple exit from U.S. assets but a portfolio rebalance. Japanese Government Bonds, sidelined for years by ultra-low yields, are attracting incremental capital as fiscal expansion raises reflation expectations.

That rotation has coincided with a pullback in U.S. equities. Over the past seven days, the Nasdaq Composite fell about 5.6%, the S&P 500 slipped by about 2.7%, and the Russell 2000 dropped close to 2.6%.

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A stronger dollar, driven by yen weakness and persistent rate gaps between the U.S. and Japan, has tightened financial conditions further. In these risk-off phases, Bitcoin has tended to move alongside U.S. equities, allowing equity-led de-risking to spill into crypto markets.

“The Takaichi Trade strengthens Japan but puts pressure on the U.S. and Bitcoin,” wrote GugaOnChain. “The capital flight to JGBs and a robust dollar create an environment of inevitable adjustments, requiring investors to closely monitor the correlation between U.S. indexes and crypto assets.”

Weak Sentiment Now, Policy Tailwinds Later

At the time of writing, BTC was trading just below $71,000, up about 2% on the day but down more than 6% over the past week and nearly 22% in the last month.

Adding to the feeling of fragility in the market, the Bitcoin Fear and Greed Index fell to a 6-year low on February 7 after BTC slid from above $90,000 in late January to near $60,000 before rebounding.

CryptoQuant’s latest report shows Bitcoin trading below its 365-day moving average, with spot and institutional demand weak and liquidity tightening, all common features of a bear phase.

Still, Japan’s political backdrop looks different beyond the immediate risk-off trade. With a two-thirds majority, Takaichi’s administration has room to pursue legislative changes, and officials have previously framed Web3 as an industrial policy focus. As such, analysts expect discussions around crypto tax reform and stablecoin rules to resume.

As XWIN concluded,

“Near-term pressure on U.S. equities and Bitcoin is macro-driven, while Japan’s institutional reforms may support crypto markets longer term.”

A Chinese-language crypto guarantee marketplace known as Xinbi processed nearly $18 billion in onchain transaction volume despite platform bans and United States enforcement actions aimed at dismantling similar services, according to a new report from TRM Labs.

The report said recent crackdowns — reshaped but failed to dismantle — a key layer in crypto-enabled laundering infrastructure. TRM’s analysis showed that Xinbi sustained on-chain activity after Telegram banned clusters of Chinese-language guarantee services in 2025. 

The report attributes Xinbi’s resilience to rapid migration to alternative messaging services and the launch of an affiliated wallet, XinbiPay. Onchain data showed wallet activity rebounded in January 2026 as users transitioned to the new setup.

The analytics firm said Xinbi has allegedly played a central role in allegedly laundering proceeds for scam operations and cybercrime syndicates, including pig-butchering fraud schemes.

The $17.9 billion figure reflects gross onchain transaction volume processed by wallets attributed to Xinbi by TRM. This includes inflows, outflows and internal transfers within the platform’s escrow and wallet system. 

TRM said the figure does not represent the net proceeds or confirmed illicit gains, and may include internal recycling of funds, which is common to guarantee services. 

Alleged illicit guarantee service Xinbi adapts to enforcement

In a statement sent to Cointelegraph, Ari Redbord, global head of policy at TRM Labs, said services like Xinbi are adapting.

“Guarantee services like Xinbi are learning to survive enforcement by fragmenting across platforms and building their own infrastructure,” Redbord said. 

“These services sit at the center of the scam economy,” he said, adding that taking them out of the laundering chain exposes entire networks that depend on them. 

TRM said Xinbi started promoting alternative channels for coordination as early as mid-2025, laying the groundwork for migration as enforcement pressure intensified. 

The analytics firm said the transition accelerated in January, coinciding with additional actions against peer services and arrests tied to laundering networks.

Related: Crypto thieves, scammers plunder $370M in January: CertiK

Xinbi previously flagged over $8 billion in stablecoin flows

Xinbi has been under scrutiny since 2025. In May, blockchain analytics firm Elliptic reported that wallets linked to Xinbi Guarantee had received at least $8.4 billion in stablecoins, tied to money laundering and scam-related activity in Southeast Asia. 

The earlier report linked Xinbi to a Chinese-language, Telegram-based marketplace selling money laundering services, stolen data, scam-enabling tools and other illicit offers. 

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