“In 2026 and thereafter, Non-Custodial Wallets Will Be Critical to Your Strategy.”

Think of two users:

User A stores all of their cryptocurrency on the exchange and third-party services.

User B has complete control of their private keys, can automate DeFi strategies, and connects directly to Web3-native solutions. 

This elucidates the reason why non-custodial crypto wallets are becoming so important to the infrastructure market –

“Retail as well as large-scale crypto users are demanding it because of its expected benefits.”

They are no longer a fringe technology; they are now becoming part of the foundational structure—as significant as your identity access management, treasury systems, and security keys.

According to industry research studies, the non-custodial wallet industry will be approximately $1.5-2.5 billion by the year 2026, and the anticipated growth rate over the next decade is expected to be very high as well, often exceeding 20-25% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), varying by report methodology.

Various recent studies show that the bulk of all cryptocurrency wallets being used today are self-custodial, indicating a growing trend toward individual control over assets and financial transactions as a whole.

Source: https://coinlaw.io/self-custody-wallet-statistics/ 

For enterprise leaders currently planning to roll out their own Web3 crypto wallet,  the extreme diversity of self-custodial wallet options — from hardware air-gapped wallets to smart contract-based wallets — presents an important question:

• What trends and tactics should your enterprise’s wallet strategy look at moving forward?

Now that we have defined an overall strategic environment, let’s look at the wallets that you came to evaluate.

A Look at Today’s Peak Value Non-Custodial Crypto Wallets

Here, we will analyze the top self-custodial wallets of 2026, not just simply by looking at a list of ‘features,’ but instead from an enterprise perspective: how relevant is each wallet’s use case for you? What security models do they utilize? How do they compare in the overall ecosystem, and how can developing similar wallets give you a competitive advantage?

1. Arculus Wallet

The Arculus wallet offers a unique solution for securing digital assets. 

The Arculus card, using NFC technology, connects to the user’s smartphone through an app. The private keys are stored offline on the card. 

As a result, consumers are able to use the wallet daily without handling private keys or seed phrases frequently (though a one-time recovery phrase is generated at setup). 

To use crypto in day-to-day use, the users will be required to first unlock the app using biometrics, enter their 6-digit PIN when prompted, and then tap their NFC-enabled Arculus card against the back of their phone. 

For enterprise teams, launching an Arculus-like wallet will provide the following merits:

• When a user’s interaction with their wallet is limited to their hardware card or application, the user’s exposure to their written seed phrases (physically/electronically stored) or chances of losing possession of the seed phrase during routine usage (such as for migrating devices or support issues) are greatly reduced. 
• It helps facilitate an authentication consumer experience that feels similar to existing payment processes with a physical card plus phone journey.
• A physical NFC-enabled card that functions as a hardware wallet helps maintain mobile accessibility. 

The Rationale Behind This Trend: 

Self-custodial wallets like Arculus aim to minimize how often users must interact with their recovery phrase and front-load their access using hardware, digital PIN numbers, and biometric means.

Why This Is Important for You: 

Reimagining how users store their keys and recover them can potentially lead to new user experience innovation opportunities; your goal should not be to replicate other wallet solutions; rather, you should focus on solving the challenges that users face with current wallets.

2. Bitget Wallet 

The Bitget Wallet is a multi-chain wallet with a built-in DEX aggregator that offers customers access to NFT marketplaces, too, where they can buy, sell, and trade.  This non-custodial crypto wallet provides multiple DeFi integrations with support for 130+ chains (Ethereum, Solana, Polygon, etc.) – hence encouraging direct user participation in the broader ecosystem. 

Bitget Wallet is designed with integrative value for users, providing an aggregated view of assets and activity across EVM networks, non-EVMs’ Layer-1, and Layer-2 chains.

DEX integrations reduce time lost switching between applications. 

MARK

Native NFT marketplace support is valuable for targeting users pursuing content ownership, loyalty rewards, and digital goods strategies. 

Critical Insight For Web3 Wallet Businesses 

Based on projections of future digital wallet usage, white label crypto wallets that combine the functions of “secure storage” and “active finance”—trading, staking, liquidity participation, and governance—will be the most successful in helping you capture long-term adoption.

3. Ready Wallet (formerly Argent) 

Ready is typically characterized as an Ethereum-focused smart contract wallet, with the goal of improving user experience by incorporating concepts like social recovery, programmable security, and DeFi-compatible functionality.

Specific features that align with this are

• The use of social recovery methodologies leads to lower total cost of support due to being more streamlined than traditional recovery methods that only rely on seed phrases.
• Programmable security through policy-based controls (e.g., daily transfer limits, whitelisted addresses, and other guardrails) provides a clear, consistent, and adaptable level of protection for wallet operations. 
• Native capabilities for staking on L2 systems and connection to DeFi protocol features cement the idea that the wallet is intended to serve as a facilitator of financial actions. 

Enterprise Lens

Crypto wallet development with account abstraction and configurable defense will become a critical enabler of automated financial flows within Web3-based applications.

4. Keplr Wallet 

Keplr is one of the major wallets used by those actively engaged with the Cosmos ecosystem. It is a self-custodial hub for IBC-connected chains. 

In addition to participating in staking and governance on their native protocol, consumers can move value in a multitude of ways between other Cosmos chains as well as across the entire Cosmos ecosystem.

Web3 leaders need to take notice of what this can mean for your audience if you engineer a Keplr-grade wallet:

• A way to engage on a large scale in governance (both as validators and via delegations in DAO votes) rather than relying on ad hoc participation. 
• When linking to other blockchain networks, IBC-enabled assets allow for a higher level of liquidity movement & redirection.
• This will be possible using a method that does not require customers to retain custody of their relevant assets on any one blockchain within the Cosmos universe.

A Signal To Watch 

As cryptocurrency wallet development initiatives continue to create more tools and data services over diverse Cosmos blockchains, wallets that promote interactivity & interoperability among users will spur the ongoing development of both DeFi & app-specific chains.

5. Trezor Wallet 

Hardware wallets are becoming an integral part of many institutions’ high-security operations, and Trezor wallets (Trezor Safe 3, Trezor Safe 5, Trezor Safe 7) are considered to be one of the best non-custodial hardware wallets available for the safe storage of numerous types of digital assets. 

Trezor offers high-security, isolated keys that can be stored offline and are ideal for longer-term or treasury-type holdings.

• The ability to integrate with a desktop suite and 3rd party applications helps facilitate policy enforcement & audit workflows.
• Offline signing adds a strong security shield for high-value or high-risk transactions.

A Thought to Carry Forward

Security professionals often refer to hardware security modules, cold wallets, and air-gapped signing technology when it comes to developing treasury-based wallet systems. 

6. Phantom Wallet

Phantom is one of the premier decentralized wallets for the Solana ecosystem. It provides people with a non-custodial wallet experience with all of the key features for staking. interacting with DeFi directly within the wallet and managing NFTs while prioritizing UX.

This wallet product is compatible with hardware wallet integrations, adding extra security for end-users. 

Why should you care?

• Solana wallets serve as transaction engines that empower high volume, low fees, and fast settlement. 
• Enterprise use cases include gaming and loyalty programs, payroll experiments, and cross-chain financial services.

An Industry Cue 

Solana-centric crypto wallet development as a whole is increasing in volume and velocity across multiple verticals; thus, the trend is towards active wallet activity instead of passive storage.

7. Leap Wallet 

Leap Wallet supports both the Cosmos network and the EVM environment, enabling users to bridge the gap between these two through a single interface.

The Core Message 

Wallets that reduce their operational footprint across Cosmos + EVM or other multi-technology stacks will position themselves for success when catering to corporate clients willing to adopt seamless workflows.

Decoding 2026’s Self-Custodial Wallet Success Codes –  X-Factors Enterprises Can Use

Conclusion: The wallet is not the ultimate objective; it’s just the base level

If your organization is creating a non-custodial wallet & you are currently or will be looking for the ideal technical or product partner to help you achieve your vision for your project, make sure they help you navigate the security, compliance & UX trade-offs first. 

Whether you want to create crypto wallets like the ones discussed above or want to create an AI smart crypto wallet with features like cross-chain composability, physical key storage, reg-ready governance core, or customized functionalities, Antier’s properly designed tech stack will help you craft a top-tier solution. That would grow into a durable component of your Web3 infrastructure, not just an application included in your product portfolio. 

Schedule a tactical meeting to architect a self-custodial wallet product with the potential to be in a league of its own.

TLDR:

• xStocks surpass $25B in total transaction volume, reinforcing global market leadership.
• Over $3.5B in onchain activity involves 80,000 unique holders across blockchains.
• Eight of the top eleven tokenized equities by holders now use xStocks.
• xStocks support cross-chain, permissionless trading on Solana, Ethereum, and TON.

Bitcoin and crypto markets are seeing growing integration with traditional finance as xStocks reaches a major milestone. Kraken’s tokenized equities platform has surpassed $25 billion in total transaction volume across centralized and decentralized exchanges. 

The milestone reflects strong adoption, with over 80,000 onchain holders and $3.5 billion in recorded onchain activity. This growth signals that tokenized equities are moving beyond experimental infrastructure toward real, scalable markets.

xStocks Sets Benchmark for Tokenized Equity Adoption

According to a blog post, xStocks now holds the largest market share in tokenized equities globally. 

Eight of the top eleven tokenized equities by unique holders are xStocks, while 68% of the top twenty-five stocks also use the framework. The platform integrates across multiple blockchains, including Solana, Ethereum, and TON, with additional networks planned. 

Users can access, trade, and transfer assets seamlessly through exchanges, wallets, and DeFi protocols.

Each xStock remains fully backed 1:1 by the underlying stock or ETF. Custodians hold assets in bankruptcy-remote structures, ensuring ownership security. 

This model supports transparent trading and sustained liquidity across venues. The ecosystem now reports nearly $225 million in aggregate onchain assets under management.

Integration extends to both centralized exchanges like Bybit and Gate.io and decentralized platforms. This enables thousands of retail investors, professional traders, and institutions to participate globally. 

xStocks are structured for cross-chain mobility and always-on markets, reinforcing interoperability standards. The framework’s expansion continues with new assets listed monthly and growing alliance participation.

Transaction volume highlights the platform’s rapid adoption. Within under eight months, xStocks surpassed $25 billion across minting, redemption, and secondary market activity. 

Onchain adoption accounts for over $3.5 billion, emphasizing broad engagement across wallets and DeFi applications. Market participants now treat tokenized equities as live markets, not experimental infrastructure.

Driving Global Capital Market Interoperability

xStocks Alliance promotes open and permissionless tokenized equity standards. Members can move assets across platforms and chains without friction, fostering deeper liquidity. 

The alliance’s approach encourages repeated engagement, network effects, and resilient market structures. Cross-chain integration positions xStocks as a foundation for the next generation of digital capital markets.

Adoption trends demonstrate growing confidence in fully collateralized tokenized models. Retail and institutional participation continues to expand, as more platforms integrate xStocks. 

Interoperable assets reduce fragmentation and increase real-world utility. The milestone illustrates the evolving intersection between traditional U.S. capital markets and blockchain technology.

The platform’s onchain ecosystem now includes over 80,000 unique holders. Active trading across multiple blockchains highlights global demand. 

xStocks combine regulatory transparency with crypto-native infrastructure. The milestone signals maturation of tokenized equities as scalable market solutions.

AAVE is holding the $120 demand zone as real-world asset deposits on Aave cross $1 billion, indicating rising institutional demand.

Aave (AAVE) was trading at $123 at press time, up 0.6% in the past 24 hours. The token sits near the middle of its weekly range between $110.29 and $131.29.

It has gained 10% over the past week, though it is still down 21% in the last 30 days. The larger trend has been corrective since December highs near $200.

Spot activity cooled slightly. Trading volume reached $280 million in the last 24 hours, down 21% in the last day. In derivatives markets, CoinGlass data shows futures volume down 31% to $274 million, while open interest rose 2.53% to $203 million.

Rising open interest alongside softer volume suggests traders are building positions carefully rather than chasing momentum.

RWA deposits double as institutional interest grows

On Feb. 19, Aave revealed that deposits of real-world assets on its Horizon market surpassed $1 billion. According to posts from Aave and founder Stani Kulechov, deposits have doubled since January. This makes Aave the first lending protocol to cross the $1 billion mark in tokenized real-world assets.

Real-world assets include tokenized bonds and treasury-like products. Their rise shows that more institutional players are entering decentralized finance. For Aave, more RWA deposits can mean more borrowing and higher fees.

Revenue has grown sharply. In 2025, Aave DAO’s revenue surged to $142 million, exceeding the sum of the last three years prior. With more funds in its treasury, the DAO can invest in development, improve risk controls, and support token holders.

There is also a proposal called “Aave Will Win.” It would send all revenue from Aave-branded products to the DAO treasury. In exchange, Aave Labs would receive funding to build Aave V4 and hand over intellectual property to the community. If approved, the structure could tighten alignment between builders and token holders.

In addition, Grayscale Investments has filed to convert its Aave Trust into an exchange-traded fund listed on NYSE Arca. If approved, the move could expand access to traditional investors.

Aave also handled more than $450 million in liquidations between Jan. 31 and Feb. 5 without creating bad debt. That performance supported confidence in the protocol’s risk controls during volatile market conditions.

Aave price technical analysis

On the daily chart, AAVE is attempting to stabilize above the $115 to $120 demand zone. A recent dip toward $105 was quickly bought, forming a long lower wick. Price then reclaimed $115, which suggests buyers absorbed supply in that area.

The broader structure is still bearish. Lower highs and lower lows remain intact. A confirmed reversal would require a daily close above the $135 to $140 zone, which marks the most recent lower high.

Bollinger Bands show price moving back toward the middle band near $119 to $120 after touching the lower band around $103 to $105. The bands are starting to tighten, often a sign that volatility may expand soon.

The relative strength index dropped to near 30 during the recent selloff, but has recovered to around 45. Momentum has improved, but RSI has not crossed above 50. That level would signal stronger buyer control.

If AAVE holds above $120 and breaks $135, the next targets sit near $150 to $175. If $120 fails, price could revisit $105, with $95 to $100 as the next support area.

Bitcoin mining difficulty has climbed to 144.4 trillion (T), up 15%, the largest percentage increase since 2021, when the China mining ban led to a major disruption, which followed a 22% upward adjustment as the network stabilized.

Difficulty adjustments measure how hard it is to mine a new block on the network. It recalibrates every 2,016 blocks, roughly every two weeks, to ensure blocks continue to be produced about every 10 minutes, regardless of changes in the hashrate.

The adjustment follows a 12% decline in difficulty after a drop in the bitcoin hashrate, which is the total computational power securing the network. Mining activity suffered its sharpest setback since late 2021 after a severe winter storm in the United States forced several major operators to scale back operations.
In October, when bitcoin reached an all-time high of around $126,500, the hashrate also peaked at 1.1 zettahash per second (ZH/s). As prices fell to as low as $60,000 in February, the hashrate dropped to 826 exahash per second (EH/s). Since then, the hashrate has recovered to 1 ZH/s while the price has rebounded to around $67,000.
At the same time, hashprice, the estimated daily revenue miners earn per unit of hashrate, remains at multi-year lows ($23.9 PH/s), squeezing profitability.

Despite this profitability pressure, large-scale operators with access to low-cost energy continue to mine aggressively. The United Arab Emirates, for example, is sitting on roughly $344 million in unrealized profit from its mining operations.

Well-capitalized entities that can mine efficiently are helping keep the hashrate elevated and resilient, even amid subdued bitcoin prices.

On-chain analytics firm Parsec is closing down after five years, as crypto trader flows and on-chain activity no longer resemble what they once did.

“Parsec is shutting down,” the company said in an X post on Thursday, while its CEO, Will Sheehan, said the “market zigged while we zagged a few too many times.”

Sheehan added that Parsec’s primary focus on decentralized finance and non-fungible tokens (NFTs) fell out of step with where the industry has now headed.

“Post FTX DeFi spot lending leverage never really came back in the same way, it changed, morphed into something we understood less,” he said, adding that on-chain activity changed in a way he never understood.

NFT sales reached about $5.63 billion in 2025, a 37% drawdown from the $8.9 billion recorded in 2024. Average sale prices also declined year over year, falling to $96 from $124, according to CryptoSlam data.

“Quite the ride,” Parsec says

Parsec, which had received investment from major industry players such as Uniswap, Polychain Capital, and Galaxy Digital, launched in early January 2021, just months before Bitcoin (BTC) surged from around $36,000 to $60,000 by April. 

The company added in its X post that it is “eternally grateful to those that traversed the ups and downs on-chain.” 

“It was quite the ride,” Parsec said.

Alex Svanevik, the CEO of on-chain analytics platform Nansen, said that Parsec “had a great run.”

Crypto industry may be heading for consolidation

It comes just weeks after crypto start-up Entropy announced it is closing down and returning funds to investors, citing scaling issues and a struggle to find product-market fit.