What To Expect in Crypto Market in 2026? Haseeb Qureshi Explains

As 2025 comes to a close, investors and enthusiasts are looking ahead to what’s looming in the crypto market. Amid growing speculation, Haseeb Qureshi, the managing partner at the crypto-based venture firm Dragonfly, explains his expectations for 2026, from macro trends to regulatory shifts.

Analyzing Haseeb Qureshi’s 2026 Crypto Market Predictions

“I think 2026 is going to surprise, both to the upside and to the downside,” wrote crypto expert Haseeb Qureshi in an X post earlier today. In a detailed thread, he shared his predictions for the crypto market in the coming year after 2025’s mixed sentiments.

One of his notable forecasts was the Bitcoin price’s future surge to a new all-time high of $150,000 by the year-end. While this bullish projection has sparked widespread optimism, it starkly contrasts with the prediction of expert Peter Brandt, who predicted the potential Bitcoin price crash until 2029.

Haseeb Qureshi further wrote about his thoughts on fintech chains’ future performance. He believes that blockchain platforms like Ethereum and Solana will exhibit a remarkable year. At the same time, chains like Tempo, Arc, and Robinhood are likely to fall short of meeting expectations.

According to the expert’s statement, tech giants like Google, Facebook, and Apple are expected to launch a crypto wallet next year. Fortune 100 companies, including Avalanche, OP stack, Orbit, and ZK Stack, are likely to launch blockchains.

In DeFi, Haseeb Qureshi foresees the future consolidation of the perp DEX market, with three major venues dominating. Equity perps may surge, possibly accounting for over 20% of total DeFi perp volume. He also warns that the DeFi-related hacks and threats are expected to soar in the year despite growing scrutiny and regulations.

Interestingly, Haseeb Qureshi’s 2026 crypto market prediction comes hot on the heels of Bitwise and Bitfinex analysts’ major crypto ETFs projection. As CoinGape reported yesterday, these industry giants see increased adoption of crypto ETFs next year.

Stablecoin Scene Looks Promising

Significantly, Haseeb Qureshi has outlined the potential growth of the stablecoin sector in 2026. As per his statement, the crypto market is likely to see a 60% surge in stablecoins, with USD-backed tokens remaining dominant.

However, he added that the market share of Tether’s USDT token is likely to dip to 55%. But this decline will be offset by the massive growth of stablecoin-backed cards. He believes stablecoin cards will potentially grow by a staggering 1,000%.

This projection aligns with the prevailing positive sentiment surrounding stablecoins. Global governments, including the US, are exploring more opportunities for stablecoin adoption. For instance, US banks are planning to issue stablecoins through subsidiaries.

Regulatory Developments and Implications

In his thread, Haseeb Qureshi elaborates on the potential developments within the crypto regulatory space and their potential implications. He believes that the US Clarity Act will become law in 2026. He adds that crypto projects related to Trump, including the World Liberty Financial, will face increased scrutiny as Democrats are expected to win the House.