On January 1st, a16z crypto stated in its latest New Year forecast that 2026 will be a key year for the deep integration of crypto technology with finance, the internet, and legal systems. The 17 trends released show that the crypto industry is shifting from being "transaction-driven" to "infrastructure-driven." Key points include: · Stablecoins will see more efficient fiat on/off ramps and drive upgrades to banking ledgers and payment systems; · Tokenization of Real-World Assets (RWA) will develop in a more "native crypto" manner, with stablecoins becoming key infrastructure; · Crypto is reshaping wealth management, expanding from high-net-worth individuals to "accessible to all"; · Privacy is regarded as the most important long-term moat in the crypto space; · New paradigms such as decentralized, quantum-resistant communication and "Secrets-as-a-Service" will emerge; · AI will be widely used in serious research scenarios, and "Know Your Customer (KYC)" is evolving into "Know Your Agent (KYA)"; · New application forms like prediction markets and staked media are expected to expand their influence; · As legal frameworks gradually align with technical architectures, the full potential of blockchain can truly be unleashed. a16z crypto believes that transactions will no longer be the end point of crypto business, but merely a "transit station" toward a broader application ecosystem, with crypto becoming the underlying new primitive for the internet and financial systems.