Three Financial Giants Predict Why Crypto Faces Its Hardest Test Yet in 2026
This year, crypto looked less like an experiment and more like a maturing market, shaped by institutional consolidation, faster-moving regulation, and growing macroeconomic pressure.
As the industry moves toward 2026, its direction will depend on which assets can withstand institutional scrutiny and how recession risk, monetary policy shifts, and stablecoin adoption reshape cryptos place within the dollar-based financial order.
Institutional Capital Forces Crypto Consolidation
Throughout 2025, BeInCrypto spoke with veteran investors and leading economists to assess where the crypto industry is headed and what lies ahead for a sector long defined by uncertainty.
Shark Tank investor Kevin OLeary starts from a simple premise. As institutional capital moves in, crypto shifts away from endless token hunting and toward a narrow set of assets that can justify long-term allocation.
He pointed to his own experience as a case study. OLeary began as a crypto skeptic, but as regulation started to take shape, he chose to gain exposure.
At first, that meant buying broadly. His portfolio grew to 27 tokens. He later concluded that the approach was excessive. Today, he holds just three cryptocurrencies, which he said are more than enough for his needs.
If you statistically look at the volatility of just Bitcoin and Ethereum and a stablecoin for liquidity Thats all I need to own, OLeary told BeInCrypto in a podcast episode.
For OLeary, each asset serves a specific function. He described Bitcoin as an inflation hedge, often comparing it to digital gold defined by scarcity and decentralization.
Ethereum, by contrast, serves not as a currency but as core infrastructure for a new financial system, with long-term growth tied to its technology. Stablecoins, he noted, were held for flexibility rather than upside.
🦈 Kevin OLeary says Ethereum is not just a trend but a market shift.What drives this shift: scalability, trust, or something bigger? pic.twitter.com/yLV5sE7Bhi
BeInCrypto (@beincrypto) September 9, 2025
That framework informs his outlook for 2026. As regulation advances and institutional participation deepens, OLeary expects capital to concentrate around Bitcoin and Ethereum as the markets core holdings. Other tokens will struggle to justify sustained allocation and will compete largely on the margins.
In that environment, crypto investing shifts away from speculation and toward disciplined portfolio construction, closer to how traditional asset classes are managed.
But even as investors narrow their holdings, the issue of who ultimately controls cryptos monetary rails is becoming more complicated.
Dollar Control Moves Onchain
While investors like OLeary focus on narrowing exposure, Greek economist and former finance minister Yanis Varoufakis pointed to a different shift.
In a BeInCrypto podcast episode, he argued that control over cryptos monetary infrastructure is tightening, particularly as stablecoins move under closer state and corporate oversight.
Varoufakis pointed to recent US policy as a turning point. By advancing legislation such as the GENIUS Act, Washington is embracing a stablecoin-based extension of the dollar system. Rather than challenging the existing financial order, stablecoins are being positioned to reinforce it.
Wall Streets next move to control crypto https://t.co/ixPa4ZoOZh
Yanis Varoufakis (@yanisvaroufakis) October 30, 2025
He linked this approach to the logic of the so-called Mar-a-Lago Accord, which seeks to weaken the dollars exchange value while preserving its dominance in global payments. That contradiction sits at the center of his concern.
Varoufakis warned that this model outsources monetary power to private issuers, increasing financial concentration while reducing public accountability. The risks, he said, extend beyond the US, as dollar-backed stablecoins spread across foreign economies.
As we speak, there are Malaysian companies, Indonesian companies, and companies here in Europe that increasingly use Tether which is a huge problem. Suddenly, these countries end up with central banks that do not control their money supply. So their capacity to effect monetary policy diminishes and that introduces instability, Varoufakis said in a BeInCrypto podcast episode.
Looking ahead to 2026, he described stablecoins as a systemic fault line.
A major failure could trigger a cross-border financial shock, exposing cryptos deepest vulnerability, not volatility, but its growing entanglement with legacy power structures.
These risks remain largely theoretical in calm conditions. The real test comes when growth slows, liquidity tightens, and markets begin to strain.
Former economic advisor to Ronald Reagan, Steve Hanke, warned that such a stress test is approaching.
Economic Slowdown Stress Tests Markets
In a BeInCrypto podcast episode, the Johns Hopkins professor of applied economics said the US economy is heading toward a recession, driven not by inflation but by policy uncertainty and weak monetary growth.
Hanke pointed to inconsistent tariff policy and expanding fiscal deficits as key drags on investment and confidence.
When you have that, investors that are investing in, lets say, a new factory or something, hunker down and say, well, were going to wait and let the dust settle to see whats going to happen. They stop investing, Hanke said.
As economic conditions deteriorate, Hanke expects the Federal Reserve to continue to respond with looser monetary policy.
He did not address crypto directly. His macro outlook, however, defines the conditions under which crypto will be tested.
Tight liquidity followed by sudden easing has historically exposed weaknesses across financial markets, particularly in systems reliant on leverage or fragile confidence.
For crypto, the implication is structural rather than speculative.
In an environment shaped by recession risk and policy volatility, stress reveals what growth conceals. What endures is not what expands fastest, but what is built to withstand contraction.
Read the article at BeInCrypto
Ethereum Nears $3,000 as Bitmine Expands Holdings to 4 Million ETH
Ethereum is once again attempting to reclaim the $3,000 level after several failed efforts this month. ETH briefly pushed higher during early trading but continues facing resistance amid fragile broader market conditions.
Despite muted momentum, on-chain data suggests investors may be positioning to support a potential recovery.
Ethereum Holders Continue To Grow
Ethereums network growth has surged to a four-year and seven-month high. This metric reflects the pace at which new addresses are joining the network. The increase signals renewed interest at current price levels, even as ETH struggles to break higher.
Rising network growth often introduces fresh capital. New participants expand liquidity and strengthen demand foundations. For Ethereum, this trend is particularly important as price recovery depends on sustained inflows rather than short-term speculative trading. Strong address growth suggests long-term confidence remains intact.
Want more token insights like this?Sign up for Editor Harsh Notariyas Daily Crypto Newsletterhere.
Ethereum Network Growth. Source:Santiment
Bitmine Could Be Aiding Price Recovery
A major contributor to this growth is Bitmine. The firm has quickly accumulated Ethereum through its treasury strategy. Bitmine now holds approximately 4.066 million ETH, representing 3.37% of the total supply within six months.
The company has publicly targeted ownership of 5% of all ETH, a move that could further tighten circulating supply and support price appreciation.
Macro indicators present a mixed backdrop. The MVRV Long/Short Difference remains at low negative levels, indicating neither long-term holders nor short-term traders are currently in profit. This lack of profitability often slows transaction activity, as participants hesitate to move assets at a loss.
Low profit conditions can suppress velocity across the network. However, such environments also reduce sales pressure. If broader macro conditions improve, long-term holders typically act as stabilizers. Their reluctance to sell at unfavorable prices can provide a base for recovery when demand returns.
Ethereums current setup reflects this balance. Weak profitability limits enthusiasm, yet it also prevents aggressive distribution. A positive external catalyst could shift sentiment quickly, allowing stronger hands to absorb supply and push ETH higher.
Ethereum MVRV Long/Short Difference. Source:Santiment
ETH Price Faces Its Challenge
Ethereum trades near $2,968 at the time of writing, sitting just below the $3,000 resistance. The level has capped price action repeatedly in recent weeks. Continued failure to reclaim it keeps ETH vulnerable to volatility and short-term pullbacks.
To revisit Decembers high of $3,447, ETH requires a recovery of roughly 16%. The first hurdle remains $3,131, a key resistance zone. Sustained network growth and continued accumulation by large entities like Bitmine could provide the buying pressure needed to reach this level.
ETH Price Analysis. Source: TradingView
Downside risks persist if Ethereum fails to secure $3,000 as support. A rejection could send the price back toward $2,798, a level previously tested. Given ETHs tendency for sharp moves in this range, a breakdown could accelerate losses before stability returns.
Read the article at BeInCrypto

📉 𝐁𝐓𝐂 𝐔𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞 — 𝟒 𝐂𝐫𝐲𝐩𝐭𝐨 𝐀𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐭 𝐊𝐞𝐲 𝐋𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐬 𝐑𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐍𝐨𝐰
Bitcoin ( $BTC ) and the broader market are trading lower as strong U.S. data and fund selling weigh on risk assets. BTC is holding near $87,000, while ETH stays below $3,000 and XRP consolidates around $1.88.
Several assets are now sitting at important technical zones 👇
🔹 XRP ( $XRP )
XRP remains range-bound between $1.80 support and $2.00 resistance. Buyers defend the lower bound, but momentum is weak, with RSI at 43 and a bearish MACD. A break above $2.00 could open a move toward $2.20.
🔹 Solana ( $SOL )
SOL is consolidating between $120 and $130, trading near $122. A loss of $120 risks a slide toward $112, while a strong bounce with volume could refocus attention on $130–$140.
🔹 WhiteBIT Token ($WBT)
WBT trades near $56.6, about 11% below ATH. Recent declines look controlled, with mild intraday stabilization suggesting sellers aren’t aggressive.
🔹 Ethereum ( ETH)
ETH stays technically weak after a death cross and a bearish flag breakdown. Downside targets sit near $2,622 and $2,500, while a move above the 200-day MA at $3,400 would invalidate the bearish setup.
Bottom line: With BTC consolidating under pressure, these levels are likely to shape the next market move.