Bitcoin and DATs poised for explosive 2026 growth
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Bitcoin and DATs growth leads 2026 outlook
Bitcoin and DATs growth continue to shape global finance as experts forecast a major expansion of digital assets in 2026. Following record-breaking highs in 2025, institutional inflows and corporate treasuries are pushing cryptocurrencies further into mainstream finance.
At LONGITUDE event during Token2049 in Singapore, industry leaders discussed how digital assets are redefining global financial systems. Speakers included Maelstrom CIO Arthur Hayes, Ethereum co-founder Joseph Lubin, author Neal Stephenson, and Aave Labs founder Stani Kulechov.
LONGITUDE was co-hosted by Unlimit, a global fintech company offering payment processing, banking-as-a-service, and crypto on-ramp solutions. Partners included Rayls, Flipster, and ICB Labs.
Hayes predicts $3.2 million Bitcoin surge
Arthur Hayes shared a bold forecast for Bitcoin, predicting a price of $3.2 million based on continued U.S. Treasury expansion. He argued that growing liquidity will drive capital into Bitcoin, making it the dominant digital store of value.
Hayes also said that digital asset treasuries, or DATs, will soon become a key investment vehicle. He believes that early leaders like Strategy and Bitmine will attract the majority of institutional capital due to brand recognition and liquidity advantages.
Evolving digital asset treasury models
A key discussion at LONGITUDE centered around how DATs are evolving across different blockchains. SharpLink Gaming CEO Joseph Chalom highlighted Ethereum’s strength, describing it as the foundation for future finance.
He stated that Ethereum and its Layer 2 networks will drive “civilization-level” changes, transforming how markets and governance operate.
Meanwhile, The Smarter Web Company CEO Andrew Webley reaffirmed Bitcoin’s unmatched position in treasury management. He emphasized Bitcoin’s fixed supply and decentralized control as its defining advantages.
BNC’s David Namdar discussed his $500 million BNB treasury initiative, citing Binance’s dominant exchange volume and BNB Chain’s active ecosystem as major adoption factors.
Vision for a decentralized metaverse
Joseph Lubin and Neal Stephenson discussed how decentralized networks will define future metaverse development. Stephenson’s classic novels Snow Crash and Cryptonomicon envisioned many of today’s blockchain concepts.
Lubin credited these works as inspiration for Ethereum’s early builders and revealed that SWIFT is using Consensys’ Ethereum tools to integrate blockchain into traditional banking infrastructure.
Crypto infrastructure entering trillion-dollar territory
The final panel explored how traditional finance (TradFi) and decentralized finance (DeFi) are merging. Aave founder Stani Kulechov said Aave’s deposits now exceed $70 billion, comparable to a mid-sized U.S. bank.
He added that Aave’s infrastructure supports fintechs and financial institutions looking to integrate DeFi rails. Unlimit founder Kiril Eves agreed, noting that customer demand for crypto and stablecoin services has become impossible to ignore.
Rayls CEO Marcos Viriato said privacy and security are driving banks toward blockchain-based solutions. Rayls helps institutions tokenize assets while maintaining a seamless user experience.
