Coinbase CEO's Top 3 Crypto Trends for 2026 + More from Davos!

with Brian Armstrong, CEO of Coinbase

23 Jan 2026 14 min read 1h 29m

TL;DR

The crypto industry has fundamentally shifted from adversarial to collaborative with regulators under the new administration, with the Genius Act establishing clear stablecoin rules requiring 100% U.S. Treasury backing. Three major trends are reshaping crypto in 2026: tokenization of all assets (equities, bonds, funds), explosion in stablecoin payments for cross-border B2B commerce, and prediction markets becoming mainstream financial infrastructure.

Key Moments

Brian Armstrong

“the Biden administration really tried to unlawfully kill this industry in America from my point of view. And Donald J. Trump, you got to give him credit. I mean, he campaigned on this idea of making the United States the crypto capital of the world. He's kept his promises.”

Armstrong contrasts the regulatory approach of the Biden and Trump administrations on crypto policy

▶ 2:58

Brian Armstrong

“Under the Genius Act that got passed into law last year, US regulated stable coins have to have 100% of the assets stored in short-term US treasuries. So I something like 30 days. 30-day treasuries are the max I believe. So um that's pretty much the safest thing you can get.”

Armstrong explains the regulatory framework for stablecoins that now protects consumers from bank-run scenarios

▶ 6:20

Brian Armstrong

“the biggest trends happening in crypto right now is number one it's the everything exchange. So it's not just crypto you can trade um you're getting equities you know are increasingly getting closer to being able to trade uh onchain you know um prediction markets are”

Armstrong identifies the three major crypto trends for 2026 during discussion of market evolution

▶ 15:00

Brian Armstrong

“there's actually 4 billion adults who are unbrokered as well, which means they don't have any ability to invest in these highquality assets. So, it's like this is the engine of wealth creation for capitalists, you know, like you and I. A lot of people are just stuck.”

Armstrong articulates the wealth inequality problem that blockchain-based markets could solve by democratizing access to investments

▶ 22:25

Jason Calakanis

“the history of the last 10 years in California is that the budget has gone up dramatically and the services have gotten worse. It's like it's actually creating the wrong incentives. Like the more ser the more money we spend on homelessness, the more homeless people are.”

Calakanis and Armstrong discuss the failure of California's spending policies and incentive structures driving talent and businesses out of the state

▶ 27:11

About Brian Armstrong

›

Brian Armstrong is the CEO and co-founder of Coinbase, the leading U.S. cryptocurrency exchange platform. He has appeared multiple times on the All-In podcast to discuss crypto regulation, industry trends, and Coinbase's expansion into institutional partnerships. Armstrong is a key figure shaping how crypto integrates with traditional finance and government policy.

Takeaways

**Stablecoin Regulation Finally Stabilizes Market** The Genius Act mandates 100% backing in short-term U.S. Treasury bills, eliminating the fractional reserve bank-run risk that plagued Tether. This creates a legally distinct product category that doesn't require bank licensing but provides equal safety guarantees. This removes regulatory uncertainty that has blocked institutional adoption for years.

**Everything Goes On-Chain in 2026** Tokenization of equities, private fund shares, REITs, and prediction markets is moving from concept to reality as major institutions (BlackRock, Apollo) publicly commit to on-chain products. Cross-border B2B payments via stablecoins are already growing significantly, solving the 7-day settlement and high FX fee problem. The infrastructure (Coinbase Developer Platform, tokenization tools) now exists for any asset class to trade 24/7 globally.

**4 Billion Unbrokers Need Access to Wealth** Armstrong highlights that 4 billion adults globally lack access to investment markets, creating a massive addressable market for tokenized assets. Small retail investors ($100–$1,000 allocations) could build wealth by owning fractions of S&P 500 index funds, private equity, or startup rounds—something impossible in traditional finance due to minimum investment requirements. On-chain capital formation democratizes wealth creation mechanisms previously reserved for accredited investors.