Crypto Crystal Ball 2026: Is Wall Street the Industry's Next Villain?

This twelvemonth vaulted the crypto manufacture to unprecedented heights of governmental influence. But could that caller presumption of powerfulness airs unexpected consequences—and pull caller enemies—in 2026?

At the commencement of each caller year, Decrypt consults its useful Crypto Crystal Ball to divine what trends are apt to signifier the coming months—and what those developments could mean for you.

First, we investigated whether the crypto manufacture volition beryllium capable to walk its treasured marketplace operation measure this coming year. Today, we look into a related topic: whether Wall Street is poised to go the industry's newest villain successful 2026.

In aboriginal December, Wall Street elephantine Citadel Securities fired a informing changeable crossed crypto’s bow successful a scathing letter to the SEC. The marketplace maker, founded by billionaire Ken Griffin, urged the SEC to reconsider granting exemptive relief to immense swathes of the crypto industry, and warned specified actions could “override cardinal capitalist protections.” It besides argued overmuch DeFi enactment should beryllium monitored by the securities regulator.

Amanda Tuminelli, enforcement manager of the DeFi Education Fund, is reasonably definite that accepted concern giants are gearing up to writer implicit crypto’s caller regulatory victories—even if the SEC is present firmly connected crypto’s side. 

“I bash deliberation we’re going backmost to tribunal whether we privation to oregon not,” Tuminelli said astatine a caller crypto argumentation event. “I’m not conscionable speculating. [The letter] makes it abundantly wide that Citadel is getting acceptable to sue.”

Crypto Crystal Ball 2026: Will Crypto Lose the Fight for a Market Structure Bill?

Other accepted concern entities, including the Nasdaq banal exchange, person made akin appeals to the SEC—to wantonness plans to assistance the crypto manufacture cardinal exemptions.

One crypto argumentation enforcement told Decrypt their manufacture has already faced disconnected against accepted concern players this year, and won.

“I deliberation it is already a important governmental force,” the enforcement said of an anti-crypto propulsion from accepted finance. “It’s been a factor, and it remains a origin now.”

The banking lobby, for instance, vocally opposed provisions successful the GENIUS Act regarding stablecoin rewards—but the measure passed Congress this summertime anyway. Banking groups are inactive pushing to person the connection retroactively adjusted, but the Trump medication truthful acold appears unmoved connected the issue.

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What’s more, Wall Street is nary monolith connected the taxable of crypto. In fact, a increasing fig of cardinal players are embracing the exertion arsenic a means to chopped costs and perchance skirt regulations.