What are the opportunities in the crypto market in 2026? Many people's attention is focused on two directions: one is the tokenization wave of RWA (real-world assets), and the other is the deep integration of AI and encryption technology. These two tracks not only have the endorsement of TradFi but also enjoy the dividends of Blockchain innovation, making them key areas that require in-depth research for those looking to invest accurately.

The issue is that the research logic of these two tracks is completely different from traditional crypto projects. If we still follow the old routine for due diligence, it is easy to fall into pitfalls. Today, let's break down how to scientifically assess the true value of these projects.

**How to check RWA projects? Starting from asset authenticity**

What is the essence of the RWA project? It is the real asset that it is anchored to. Therefore, the first step in the research must be to verify whether the "asset anchoring is truly solid."

Take the tokenization of government bonds project as an example. This type of project claims to be backed by government bonds, but how can we confirm it's not just empty talk? You need to keep an eye on three documents:

First document: Asset Custody Agreement. Look closely - are these government bonds really held in the custody of a formal financial institution, and is there a clear custody certificate? There is no need to look at anything else; without this, it’s just an illusion.

Second document: Reserve asset audit report. This is crucial. A good project should conduct at least one third-party audit each quarter, and the audit report should detail the face value of the treasury bonds, maturity dates, and the method of income distribution. If the numbers in the report are vague, then it's concerning.

Third document: Regulatory filing documents. This is a new requirement for 2026. As the regulatory environment tightens, RWA projects must obtain financial regulatory approval from the corresponding country or region. If the project does not obtain a regulatory license, then do not participate—this is how the so-called "pseudo RWA projects" come about.

Verifying these three documents is not enough. You also need to look at the "circulation efficiency" of the project's assets. Use tools like TokenTerminal to check: how active is the trading of the tokens? Can they smoothly circulate across chains? If there is a contradictory phenomenon of "assets anchored in reality, but liquidity is extremely scarce," then you should proceed with caution—this may indicate that the market's actual recognition of this project is not high.

**RWA Risk List**

In addition to verifying the assets themselves, several risk points should be noted. First is the promised yield - if the yield promised by the project is significantly higher than that of similar government bonds, there must be something behind it, so it's essential to ask why. Secondly, check if the operating team has experience in the RWA industry and sufficient financial compliance experience. Finally, the security of the smart contract is crucial, especially the custody mechanism and withdrawal logic; it is best to have it reviewed by a security audit company.

**Research Framework for the AI + Encryption Integration Track**

The situation in the AI encryption integration track is different. There is no clear asset anchoring here; instead, it tests the project's practical application ability of AI technology.

First, we need to distinguish between real demand and pseudo-innovation. When projects claim they are doing AI + blockchain analysis, AI-driven trading, or distributed AI computing, it sounds impressive, but the question to ask is — is there a usable product for this functionality right now, and are there actual users utilizing it? Or is it still stuck at the white paper stage?

Secondly, consider the team's technical accumulation. Do the founder and core members have real product experience in the AI field or the blockchain field, rather than just paper honors? It is best to find projects they have worked on or papers they have published before, as these can demonstrate their capabilities.

Next, pay attention to the project's data and metrics. Is the number of active users increasing? How is the frequency of on-chain interactions? If this AI + encryption project claims to be very popular, but the on-chain activity data is mediocre, then it is worth questioning.

**Final words**

In 2026, crypto investment will no longer rely on information asymmetry or emotional fluctuations, but rather on the thoroughness of research and the rigor of logic. Whether it's RWA or AI integration, you will need to possess more professional evaluation skills. Utilizing the checklist mentioned above can help avoid many pitfalls.