Why 2026 Could Be a Turning Point for Crypto Markets
John Barry | Thu Jan 01 2026
While price performance in 2025 was disappointing, the underlying changes to crypto’s regulatory and institutional framework suggest that the market entering 2026 is fundamentally different from prior cycles.
At Quantify Crypto, we track how these structural shifts translate into relative performance across sectors, trends, and changing market regimes. Our research shows where capital held up during the downturn and why early positioning may matter as volatility begins to normalize.
In our year-end analysis, we identified four key positive developments and two major negative events from 2025 that are likely to have the greatest impact on cryptocurrency markets in 2026, helping frame how the new year is shaping up.
Positive 2025 Events
U.S. Senate Passes GENIUS Act (Stablecoin Regulation)
A major milestone in 2025 was the passage of the GENIUS Act, landmark federal legislation that established a regulatory framework for stablecoins, requiring transparent backing and enhanced disclosures. This marked the first major U.S. national crypto law focused on stablecoins and signaled a shift away from enforcement-first approaches toward infrastructure development and consumer protection.
The full 2025 Year in Review and 2026 Crypto Outlook, including analysis of all key positive and negative events and their market implications, is available to Quantify Crypto subscribers.
Click this link to learn more 2025 Year in Review and 2026 Outlook
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