Fidelity Digital Assets: Integration with Wall Street will drive the next phase of cryptocurrency development

PANews January 18 News, according to CoinDesk, Fidelity Digital Assets Vice President of Research Chris Kuiper stated in an interview that digital assets are quietly and irreversibly transforming from a niche experiment into a structural financial layer, and 2026 may be the year when the broader market finally takes notice. Kuiper believes that digital assets are entering their “container moment,” comparing it to standardized metal containers that revolutionized global trade by transforming ports, logistics, and supply chains. He said the same is happening in the financial sector.

Fidelity’s research report pointed out that although the price charts in 2025 showed mediocre performance, the industry has been quietly reshaping infrastructure, regulatory frameworks, and institutional workflows, laying the groundwork for a breakthrough year in 2026. Most of this evolution is happening behind the scenes, achieved through regulated products, custody solutions, and institutional strategies. Kuiper added that every major bank announced plans to establish some form of capability in the digital asset space last year. He believes 2025 was the first year in history when market participants stopped claiming that Bitcoin was “dead,” symbolizing broader acceptance.