Recently, I saw an observation on the future trends of the encryption industry, which is quite interesting. It summarized several key directions worth following in 2026.

First, let's talk about stablecoins and RWA (Real World Asset tokenization). The integration of traditional finance and the on-chain world is happening faster than expected. Stablecoins are no longer just a medium of exchange; they are gradually evolving into a part of the financial infrastructure, deeply linked with traditional payment networks. RWA has moved from concept to practical application, with real assets like real estate, bonds, and commercial paper being brought on-chain. What does this mean? The barriers between on-chain liquidity and traditional finance are collapsing.

Payment infrastructure is another battlefield. It’s not about defeating traditional payment systems, but about providing more efficient solutions in specific scenarios. Cross-border payments, micro-settlements, instant clearing—these are pain points that blockchain technology is naturally good at. More and more projects are focusing on this direction.

The combination of AI and encryption is the hot topic of 2026. From on-chain data analysis to smart contract optimization, from automated market making to risk management, the application of AI is no longer a hypothesis. This intersection has just begun to explode.

The common characteristic of these directions is that they are all solving real problems, rather than speculating on concepts. Stablecoins, RWA, payments, AI — each track has clear user demand and business logic. Whoever can establish a foothold in these areas by 2026 will hold the market's discourse power.