Dragonfly managing partner presents his expectations for the 2026 crypto market.

Dragonfly’s Haseeb Qureshi Forecasts Key Crypto Trends for 2026

Haseeb Qureshi, managing partner at Dragonfly, says 2026 will favor established crypto infrastructure while select high-growth segments reshape the industry. In a Dec. 29 post on X, he emphasized durability, distribution, and real-world adoption over rapid experimentation, reflecting investor recalibration after recent volatile cycles.

Markets and Blockchains
Qureshi expects Bitcoin (BTC) to end 2026 above $150,000, even as its market share shrinks, signaling growth elsewhere without challenging its role as the sector’s anchor. He is skeptical of newer fintech-branded blockchains, citing weaker wallet engagement, stablecoin flows, and tokenized asset adoption. Ethereum and Solana are positioned to outperform due to strong, composable infrastructure.

Corporate adoption is expected to deepen, especially in payments and financial services, with at least one major tech company launching or acquiring a crypto wallet. Avalanche and certain rollup frameworks are poised to benefit.

DeFi, Payments, and Stablecoins
DeFi is likely to consolidate, with dominant venues capturing most on-chain trading. Stablecoin supply will grow, supported by new payment rails accelerating adoption, particularly in emerging markets.

Regulation, Prediction Markets, and AI
A U.S. crypto market structure bill is expected, though some sectors may remain dissatisfied. Prediction markets will expand, while AI adoption focuses on developer tooling and security improvements.

Qureshi disclosed investments in many of the assets mentioned.