HashKey Group and HKUST’s Digital Finance Lab have jointly released a report titled “Top Ten Trends in the Digital Asset Industry in 2026,” based on industry research and a market survey. The key trends identified are:
- AI Agents as On-Chain Executors: Expected to autonomously handle trading and risk management within smart contracts (86.8% support).
- Full-Scale Asset Tokenization: Securities moving on-chain at scale, with infrastructure integrating with DeFi (84.6% support).
- Stablecoin Infrastructure Upgrade: Enhanced systems to bridge stablecoins with real-world finance, enabling innovation by banks (79.4% support).
- Hong Kong’s Regulatory Advancements: Expected progress in stablecoin licensing and tokenized asset markets (77.3% support).
- Exchange Competition: Intensifying competition, with compliance and transparency becoming key barriers (74.2% support).
- Market Allocation Value: Digital assets like BTC/ETH remain key for allocation amid recovering global liquidity, but no broad boom expected (64.7% support).
- Institutional Staking Era: Staking via ETFs and DATs becomes mainstream, while Liquidity Staking faces regulatory pressure (63.6% support).
- Accelerated M&A Activity: Increased mergers and acquisitions focused on infrastructure and compliant assets (62.1% support).
- Public Blockchain Evolution: High-performance scaling and compliant privacy (e.g., ZK, FHE) become standard for institutions (55.3% support).
- Global Regulatory Race: Intensified competition among jurisdictions on stablecoins, tokenized assets, and institutional access (55.2% support).
The report highlights a strong industry focus on blockchain-finance integration, institutional development, and regulatory frameworks. It includes standard disclaimers that the content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice or commitments.
HashKey Holdings Limited (hereinafter known as “HashKey” or the “Company”, inventory code: 3887.HK), in conjunction with the Digital Finance Lab of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, collectively released the “Top Ten Trends in the Digital Asset Industry in 2026”. This commentary is predicated on the outcomes of trade analysis and market surveys, aiming to objectively current the fundamental focus areas of trade members on the future growth of digital belongings and present a analysis reference framework for trade growth.
This trade pattern commentary was collectively initiated by HashKey and the Digital Finance Lab at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. HashKey’s analysis crew supplied analysis assist on macroeconomic atmosphere and trade structural modifications; the Digital Finance Lab at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology was accountable for questionnaire design, a 7-day unbiased survey, and statistical evaluation of the outcomes.
According to the survey outcomes, the prime ten tendencies that trade members are extremely targeted on in 2026 embrace:
1. AI brokers are anticipated to evolve into on-chain executors with autonomous decision-making capabilities, in a position to independently full order placement, settlement, place administration, and danger management inside the sensible contract framework, turning into really native on-chain buying and selling members. (Support charge: 86.8%)
2. Asset tokenization is accelerating throughout the board, and the large-scale on-chaining of securities has grow to be a big milestone for the trade. On-chain registration and clearing infrastructure will likely be progressively improved and built-in with DeFi. (Support charge: 84.6%)
3. The infrastructure for stablecoin deposits and withdrawals has been comprehensively upgraded, enabling stablecoins to speed up their connection to and integration into the real-world monetary system and enter into real-world enterprise actions; banks and giant monetary establishments will leverage stablecoins to realize extra product innovation and enterprise growth. (Support charge: 79.4%)
4. Hong Kong is accelerating the enchancment of its digital asset regulatory system, with stablecoin licensing, normalized asset tokenization, and secondary market circulation anticipated to be carried out (assist charge: 77.3%).
5. Competition between offshore and onshore exchanges is intensifying, however compliance and transparency will grow to be irreversible aggressive obstacles (assist charge: 74.2%).
6. With international liquidity recovering, digital belongings nonetheless possess sturdy market allocation worth, however a complete increase is just not anticipated. Fund consideration will stay targeted on core high-quality belongings resembling BTC/ETH. (Support charge: 64.7%)
7. Staking enters the “institutional era,” with DAT and ETFs turning into mainstream, whereas Liquidity Staking (LSD) faces regulatory stress (assist charge: 63.6%).
8. Industry mergers and acquisitions (M&A) exercise will speed up considerably, with infrastructure and compliance belongings turning into the focus of acquisitions (assist charge: 62.1%).
9. High-performance scaling and compliant privateness have gotten mainstream in public blockchains, with next-generation privateness options resembling ZK and FHE turning into commonplace for institutional-grade infrastructure (assist charge: 55.3%).
10. Global regulation will additional intensify the race, forming a world aggressive panorama round stablecoin clearing, tokenized belongings, and institutional entry (assist charge: 55.2%).
The survey outcomes present that the integration of AI and blockchain, asset tokenization, and stablecoin infrastructure obtained excessive assist, reflecting the trade’s continued give attention to the deep integration of blockchain know-how and finance. Meanwhile, over 70% of respondents supported enhancements in the regulatory system and modifications in market construction, indicating that the trade’s focus is progressively shifting in direction of institutional growth, compliance frameworks, and long-term sustainable growth paths. HashKey will proceed to watch long-term structural tendencies in the digital asset trade and conduct related enterprise analysis inside a compliant framework.
Disclaimer: The content material of this report is predicated solely on joint trade analysis performed by HashKey and the Digital Finance Lab at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. It goals to objectively current the basic observations and expectations of trade members and doesn’t symbolize a dedication to the firm’s future market tendencies, asset costs, or enterprise efficiency. Percentage knowledge cited in this report are from unbiased survey samples and are for reference solely.
This report is for informational functions solely and doesn’t represent, nor ought to it’s construed as, a proposal, solicitation, invitation, recommendation, or inducement to purchase, promote, subscribe for, or in any other case commerce any digital belongings, securities, or monetary merchandise. This report additionally doesn’t represent monetary, funding, authorized, tax, accounting, or different skilled recommendation and shouldn’t be used as a foundation for decision-making. Any descriptions of merchandise, providers, promotions, or plans are for basic informational functions solely. Participation in any merchandise, providers, or promotions talked about is topic to relevant phrases, situations, and regulatory necessities.
This report is proscribed to tutorial dialogue and knowledge sharing on trade know-how tendencies and regulatory developments. It doesn’t contain any monetary forecasts, working aims, or undisclosed materials enterprise developments of the Company or its associates, nor does it replicate the official place or commitments of the Company or its associates. This report could comprise forward-looking statements or indicative data, and precise outcomes could differ materially from these statements. HashKey Holdings Limited assumes no obligation to replace such data.
About HashKey Holdings Limited
HashKey Holdings Limited (“HashKey” or the “Company”, inventory code: 3887.HK) is a mature, complete digital asset firm in Asia with a world presence. It builds a digital asset ecosystem by offering end-to-end monetary infrastructure, know-how, and funding administration. The Company provides transaction facilitation providers, on-chain providers, and asset administration providers by its licensed digital asset platform.