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Yat Siu, the co-founder and executive chairman of Animoca Brands, outlined his predictions for the cryptocurrency industry in 2026. In a statement, Siu emphasized a maturing market defined by regulatory clarity, the rise of Real World Assets (RWAs), and a shift in investment strategy toward liquid assets.
Altcoins and Market Structure
Siu drew a parallel between the current crypto market and traditional finance. While he acknowledged that Bitcoin has cemented its status as “digital gold,” he posited that the broader altcoin market represents the locus of global innovation and utility.
He compared this dynamic to the relationship between gold and the equities market:
“There is no company in the world with a market cap even close to that of gold; however, collectively, the global stock market is vastly larger than the total market cap of gold.”
Regulatory Outlook
The executive highlighted the legislative landscape in the United States as a key driver for corporate adoption.
- Siu referenced the “GENIUS Act,” which provided an initial framework for stablecoins, and pointed to the proposed “Clarity Act” as a critical development for 2026.
- He anticipates the Clarity Act will pass the U.S. Congress this year.
- He noted that the legislation aims to establish a framework defining the jurisdictional boundaries between the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC).
This legal certainty will “trigger a wave of tokenization” for U.S. companies of all sizes, Siu shared.
Investment Cycle Shift
Siu observed that the industry’s funding cycle has evolved, comparing the current period to the post-dotcom era. He suggested that the investment opportunity has shifted from unreleased tokens to liquid assets that are already trading.
“In web3, investing in tokens that are already on the market (and already have liquidity) is becoming the norm,” Siu said. He predicted that major web2 technology giants will likely enter the space, following a pattern of consolidation and growth seen in tech companies after the dotcom crash.
The Rise of RWAs and Utility
Siu expressed a strong bullish stance on tokenization, estimating that the sector for tokenized Real World Assets (RWAs) — including intellectual property and royalties — could be worth up to US$30 trillion by the coming decade.
He argued that frameworks like the European Union’s Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA) are making RWAs compelling for banks and asset managers. Siu described the environment as “tokenize or die,” suggesting that businesses failing to adapt to web3 liquidity and AI accessibility risk obsolescence.
Additionally, Siu predicted a move away from “memecoins” toward tokens with tangible utility.
He argued that clearer regulations will allow projects to openly declare their value propositions, differentiating them from tokens meant solely for entertainment.
Web3 Integration
Looking at consumer adoption, Siu stated that blockchain technology will eventually recede into the background of the user experience, similar to how “digital music” eventually just became “music.” He noted that future adoption will be driven by the utility of services, such as faster payments or digital ownership, rather than the novelty of the technology itself.
This article is published on BitPinas: Animoca Brands’ Yat Siu Predicts Regulatory Clarity, RWA Surge, and Web3 Maturity by 2026
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