Crypto in ’26: Hold Your Horses!

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Now, Miss Monica Long, the President of Ripple – a fine establishment, no doubt – has been makin’ pronouncements about the future of these here “cryptocurrencies.” Says we’re enterin’ a “production era,” which sounds suspiciously like work, and I reckon most folks lookin’ to get rich quick ain’t overly fond of that. She figures by 2026, banks and big companies’ll be usin’ these digital whatsits for real, not just kickin’ the tires and wonderin’ if they’ll explode.

According to Miss Long, crypto is fixin’ to be a core part of modern finance, and could wind up in a good half of them Fortune 500 companies. Fifty percent, mind you! Why, that’s nearly enough to cause a proper excitement. Though I suspect a good many of them companies are already invested in findin’ ways to confuse their accountants.

Here’s what Miss Long’s fancy prediction points to. Seems a bit optimistic, if you ask me, but then, I’m just a humble observer.

Stablecoins May Become a Core Payment Tool

She’s predictin’ these “stablecoins” – sounds like somethin’ a blacksmith would make – will be runnin’ the global payment system. Not alongside the regular money, mind you, but instead of it. Visa and Stripe are already dabblin’, naturally. Businesses want to get their hands on their money faster… which mostly means they want it from your hands faster.

Business-to-business payments are expected to lead this growth, because, apparently, businesses like makin’ and recieving money as quick as a hummingbird’s wings.

2/ Crypto is no longer speculative – it’s becoming the operating layer of modern finance. By 2026, ~50% of Fortune 500 companies will have crypto exposure or formalized DAT strategies, actively holding tokenized assets, onchain T-bills, stablecoins, and programmable financial…

– Monica Long (@MonicaLongSF) January 20, 2026

And by 2027, the banks might even let you move money around any time of day! Imagine the possibilities for late-night bargains and regrettable purchases. Progress, I suppose, though a man needs his sleep.

Crypto to Reach 50% of Fortune 500 Companies

Seems these big companies are already messin’ around with “blockchain projects.” Coinbase says 60% of ’em are fiddlin’, and over 200 already got Bitcoin stashed away. Makes you wonder what they’re hidin’ from the tax man. So, by 2026, says Miss Long, we’re lookin’ at around 50% directly involved. Holdin’ digital assets, stablecoins, and these “tokenized financial products”… sounds like a whole lot of nothin’ to me, but who am I to judge?

ETFs, Custody, and AI Shape the Future

Now they’re makin’ it easier for folks to jump into this crypto business with these “ETFs.” Over 40 of ’em popped up in 2025, but it’s still a small piece of the market. Plenty of room for growin’, and for makin’ a good deal of money for someone. Custody services are gettin’ bigger too, because somebody has to keep track of all this digital nonsense. By 2026 more banks might form crypto custody ties. And get this – they’re talkin’ about mixin’ in “artificial intelligence” to automate things. Lord help us.

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FAQs

Why does geopolitical news affect crypto prices so quickly?

Well now, that’s a right good question. Folks get spooked when the world looks like it’s fixin’ to blow up, and they naturally run for cover. Crypto, bein’ a bit flighty to begin with, tends to feel the trouble first.

Who is most impacted by large-scale crypto liquidations?

The fellas playin’ with borrowed money, naturally. When the market dips, they’re the first ones to get a frightful shock. It can make things a bit jumpy for everybody else, too, for a spell.

What signals will traders watch next to gauge a possible recovery?

They’ll be lookin’ at the flow of money into these ETFs, the state of the economy, and all sorts of complicated numbers on a computer screen. If those things start lookin’ stable, maybe, just maybe, we can breathe a sigh of relief.

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2026-01-21 11:02