Sygnum Sygnal Report: What we think will shape the global digital asset ecosystem in 2026

2026 is set to be the year of institutional adoption. Many areas, ranging from on-chain banking, DeFi, Bitcoin financialization, tokenization and AI, will move from innovative experimentation to real-world execution. Below are summaries of our team’s bold predictions for the year ahead, and trends and drives that are shaping their momentum.

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Token rails go mainstream and banking moves on-chain  
Mathias Imbach, Sygnum Co-Founder and Group CEO 

By 2026, token rails are expected to shift from parallel systems to part of the default financial stack. Banks, exchanges and custodians are embedding token-based custody, issuance and settlement into core operations through gradual build-out rather than headline-grabbing launches. While a full transition will take several years, institutional momentum should become visible as on-chain services integrate into treasury, trading and risk management frameworks. 

Dubai’s real-estate tokenization set to ignite Middle East RWA growth 
Giulia Finkbeiner-Bertoni, Sygnum Senior Executive Officer Middle East 

Dubai is on track to make real-estate tokenization feel like a normal market layer rather than an experiment. By 2026, repeatable tokenized property issuance and secondary market activity could position Dubai as a template for real-world asset growth across the Middle East. If legal enforceability, distribution and liquidity continue to mature, property tokenization may become the legitimacy anchor for broader RWA adoption in the region. 

DeFi rebounds to new heights  
Lucas Schweiger, Sygnum Digital Asset Ecosystem Research Lead 

Decentralised Finance has evolved into a more resilient and sophisticated ecosystem, capable of supporting large capital flows and heavy liquidation events. Despite mixed token performance, on-chain activity, user growth and stablecoin circulation continue to reach new highs. By 2026, healthier tokenomics, deeper liquidity and greater regulatory clarity are likely to support larger-scale institutional participation in DeFi markets.  

Bitcoin actively enters 3+ sovereign balance sheets  
Fabian Dori, Sygnum Chief Investment Officer 

Bitcoin’s path towards sovereign reserve adoption appears gradual, but a tipping point may emerge in 2026. Regulatory clarity and operational readiness, rather than ideology or price action, could enable governments to treat Bitcoin as a legitimate reserve instrument. The expectation is that at least three G20 or G20-equivalent economies publicly add Bitcoin to their reserves, signalling a structural shift in how digital assets are viewed at the state level. 

Tokenized treasury assets become important part of core cash management toolkit  
Gerald Goh, Sygnum Singapore CEO 

By the end of 2026, family offices and ultra-high-net-worth investors in Asia-Pacific may hold a meaningful share of liquid reserves in stablecoins and tokenized yield-bearing assets. Regulatory legitimacy, integration into banking settlement rails and more predictable tokenized yields are converging. As tokenized instruments begin to function like familiar money market tools, they are expected to move from alternative allocations into core treasury practice. 

AI will execute a third of all DeFi transactions  
Dom Castley, Sygnum Chief Marketing Officer 

AI is set to reduce the operational complexity that has limited broader DeFi adoption. By 2026, a significant share of DeFi transaction volume could be defined and executed by agentic AI systems, initially focused on routing, arbitrage and automated treasury optimisation. As governance, risk controls and accountability mature, delegated AI execution may transform DeFi into a more scalable, institutional-style asset management workflow. 

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About Sygnum
Sygnum is a global digital asset banking group, founded on Swiss and Singapore heritage. We empower professional and institutional investors, banks, corporates and DLT foundations to invest in digital assets with complete trust. Our team enables this through our institutional-grade security, expert personal service and portfolio of regulated digital asset banking, asset management, tokenization and B2B services.

In Switzerland, Sygnum holds a banking license and has CMS and Major Payment Institution licences in Singapore. The group is also regulated in the established global financial hubs of Abu Dhabi and Luxembourg and is registered in Liechtenstein.

We believe that the future has heritage. Our crypto-native team of banking, investment and digital asset technology professionals are building a trusted gateway between the traditional and digital asset economies that we call Future Finance. To learn more about how Sygnum’s mission and values are shaping this digital asset ecosystem, please visit sygnum.com and follow us on LinkedIn and X.

Sygnum Media Contact:
Dominic Castley, Chief Marketing Officer
[email protected]

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Disclaimer: The information in this publication pertaining to Sygnum Bank AG (“Sygnum”) is for general information purposes only, as per date of publication, and should not be considered exhaustive. This publication does not consider the financial situation of any natural or legal person, nor does it provide any tax, legal or investment advice. This publication does not constitute any advice or recommendation, an offer or invitation by or on behalf of Sygnum to purchase or sell any assets. No elements of precontractual or contractual relationship are intended. While the information is believed to be from accurate and reliable sources, Sygnum makes no representation or warranties, expressed or implied, as to the accuracy of the information. Sygnum expressly disclaims any and all liability that may be based on such information, omissions, or errors thereof. Any statements contained in this publication attributed to a third party represent Sygnum‘s interpretation of the data, information and/or opinions provided by that third party either publicly or through a subscription service, and such use and interpretation have not been reviewed by the third party. Sygnum reserves the right to amend or replace the information, in part or entirely, at any time, and without any obligation to notify the recipient of such amendment / replacement or to provide the recipient with access to the information. Simultaneously, there is no obligation of Sygnum to inform recipients of information, if before provided information later becomes outdated, inaccurate or obsolete, unless otherwise provided by applicable law. The information provided is not intended for use by or distributed to any individual or legal entity in any jurisdiction or country where such distribution, publication or use would be contrary to the law or regulatory provisions or in which Sygnum does not hold the necessary registration, approval authorisation or license. Except as otherwise provided by Sygnum, it is not allowed to modify, copy, distribute or reproduce, display, license, or otherwise use any content for commercial purposes.

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The information in this publication pertaining to Sygnum Bank AG (“Sygnum”) is for general information purposes only, as per date of publication, and should not be considered exhaustive. This publication does not consider the financial situation of any natural or legal person, nor does it provide any tax, legal or investment advice. This publication does not constitute any advice or recommendation, an offer or invitation by or on behalf of Sygnum to purchase or sell any assets. No elements of precontractual or contractual relationship are intended. While the information is believed to be from accurate and reliable sources, Sygnum makes no representation or warranties, expressed or implied, as to the accuracy of the information. Sygnum expressly disclaims any and all liability that may be based on such information, omissions, or errors thereof. Any statements contained in this publication attributed to a third party represent Sygnum‘s interpretation of the data, information and/or opinions provided by that third party either publicly or through a subscription service, and such use and interpretation have not been reviewed by the third party. Sygnum reserves the right to amend or replace the information, in part or entirely, at any time, and without any obligation to notify the recipient of such amendment / replacement or to provide the recipient with access to the information. Simultaneously, there is no obligation of Sygnum to inform recipients of information, if before provided information later becomes outdated, inaccurate or obsolete, unless otherwise provided by applicable law. The information provided is not intended for use by or distributed to any individual or legal entity in any jurisdiction or country where such distribution, publication or use would be contrary to the law or regulatory provisions or in which Sygnum does not hold the necessary registration, approval authorization or license. Except as otherwise provided by Sygnum, it is not allowed to modify, copy, distribute or reproduce, display, license, or otherwise use any content for commercial purposes.

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