Barclays expects a extra tepid yr for crypto in 2026, with buying and selling volumes trending down and investor enthusiasm waning. In a wide-ranging year-end report printed Friday, the financial institution flagged a troublesome backdrop for digital asset exchanges like Coinbase (COIN), citing unclear catalysts for renewed exercise and a sluggish begin to token adoption efforts.
Retail-facing exchanges, which benefited from surging buying and selling curiosity throughout the crypto bull runs of prior years, are actually dealing with a extra subdued setting. Barclays analysts famous that buying and selling quantity in spot markets — key income drivers for corporations like Coinbase and Robinhood (HOOD) — has cooled sharply. Without a transparent spark to reignite demand, volumes might stay muted.
“Spot crypto trading volumes […] appear to be trending towards a down-year in FY26, and it is not clear to us what might reverse this trend,” the analysts wrote.
Crypto markets have a tendency to maneuver on massive occasions: coverage bulletins, product launches or political adjustments. Barclays pointed to previous bursts of exercise, just like the March 2024 spot bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) inflows or the pro-crypto presidential win in November as key drivers of short-term spikes. However within the absence of such occasions, the financial institution sees structural progress as missing.
One space that would stir the market is regulation. Barclays highlighted the pending CLARITY Act, laws that might assist outline the road between digital commodities and securities and make clear which U.S. company — the U.S. Securities and Trade Fee (SEC) or the smaller Commodity Futures Buying and selling Fee (CFTC) — regulates which property. Whereas not a assured market mover, the invoice might ease operational uncertainty for crypto corporations and traders alike. If handed, it might open the door for clearer product launches, particularly in tokenized property.
Coinbase stays a focus in Barclays’ evaluation. Whereas the corporate is increasing into derivatives and tokenized fairness buying and selling, the financial institution sees headwinds from shrinking spot volumes and rising working prices.
“COIN has a number [of] growth initiatives as well as recent acquisitions that could start to become more impactful,” the report acknowledged. However, analysts revised their value goal for the inventory all the way down to $291, citing a extra conservative earnings outlook.
Tokenization continues to achieve consideration from each crypto-native and conventional finance corporations. BlackRock (BLK), Robinhood (HOOD), and others have been piloting merchandise on this area. However Barclays cautions the pattern is early-stage and unlikely to materially influence earnings in 2026.
In the meantime, the U.S. political setting has turned extra favorable for digital property following latest elections. Nonetheless, Barclays sees a lot of this optimism already priced into the market. Any legislative motion, just like the CLARITY Act, would wish to move via the Senate and survive doable authorized challenges earlier than having any sensible influence.
In sum, 2026 could also be a transitional yr for crypto. With declining retail exercise and no rapid tailwinds, corporations are specializing in long-term bets like tokenized finance and compliance upgrades. Whether or not these investments bear fruit subsequent yr or additional out stays unsure.
