Since the advent of Bitcoin fifteen years ago, crypto assets have gradually evolved from fringe experiments into a sizable alternative asset class. Currently, the total market capitalization is approaching $3 trillion, but more significant changes are happening behind the scenes — market dominance is shifting from retail-driven sentiment to institutional capital leadership.
According to industry research, 2026 will be the year of this acceleration. Two core forces are driving this process: the ongoing demand for alternative store-of-value instruments at the macro level, and the increasing clarity of regulatory frameworks bringing certainty. These factors combined will attract new sources of capital, expand the application scope of digital assets, and promote deeper integration between public blockchains and mainstream financial infrastructure.
Market Turning Point: Saying Goodbye to the Four-Year Cycle Theory
Over the past fifteen years, Bitcoin has experienced four major cyclical adjustments, each roughly four years apart. Interestingly, in three of these cases, the price