a16z just dropped its annual report, and the message is clear: crypto isn’t slowing down. The firm covers everything shaping the next wave , stablecoins, tokenization, payments, privacy, security, AI agents, and a new global expansion strategy.
The ideas land fast. The tone is urgent. And the numbers show how quickly the sector is shifting.
This year, stablecoins take the spotlight. Tokenized assets move from theory to action. AI agents step into the real market. And a16z plants its flag in Asia with its first regional office. It’s a stacked update, and it paints a vivid picture of what 2026 may look like.
It's time for our annual big ideas.
Here are 17 things that various a16z crypto partners (plus a few guest contributors) are excited about for what’s ahead in 2026.
On topics ranging from agents and AI; stablecoins, tokenization, and finance; privacy and security; to prediction… pic.twitter.com/9PRce5Bk1Y
— a16z crypto (@a16zcrypto) December 11, 2025
Stablecoins Hit $46 Trillion and Rewrite Payments
The biggest headline from the report is the stablecoin surge. Stablecoin transaction volume hit $46 trillion in 2024. That number is massive. It’s more than 20× PayPal’s annual throughput. It’s almost 3× Visa’s. And it happened without the world realizing a shift this big was already here.
Stablecoins now live at the center of global crypto payments. The industry treats them as fast, predictable payment rails that work across borders without friction. They settle instantly. They reduce overhead. They run on open networks.
This isn’t speculation anymore. This is real adoption showing up in raw volume.
For a16z, the message is simple: stablecoins are the first breakout crypto product to operate at a scale larger than existing financial platforms. The momentum heading into 2026 looks even stronger.
Tokenization Finally Moves Real Financial Products On-Chain
The report also points to a quiet transformation happening in traditional finance. Tokenization is no longer a pilot program. It’s a transition.
U.S. equities, commodities, and indices are now moving onto blockchain rails using crypto technology. This shift isn’t coming from hype. It’s coming from efficiency. Tokenized assets settle faster, move easier, and unlock liquidity that legacy systems can’t handle.
Institutions spent years testing. Now they’re deploying.
As more assets migrate to public and private chains, the market becomes programmable. Trades settle automatically. Data audits instantly. Payments stream in real time. Everything becomes more transparent and more global.
The industry has talked about tokenization for nearly a decade. 2024 is when the transition began. 2026 is when we see the full effect.
17 Big Ideas for 2026: AI Agents, Privacy, SNARKs, and New Applications
In classic a16z fashion, the firm also drops its “big ideas” list for 2026. This edition includes 17 themes from partners and guest contributors. The topics stretch across the full landscape:
- AI agents
- Stablecoins
- Tokenized finance
- Privacy tooling
- On-chain security
- Prediction markets
- SNARK applications
- Infrastructure upgrades
- How new founders will build
The strongest current flows toward agents and automation. AI agents live on-chain. They interact with contracts. They manage wallets. They take actions on behalf of the user based on rules and context.
This idea changes how people use crypto. Instead of clicking through interfaces, users rely on agents to trade, move funds, process tasks, or maintain security. It’s crypto, but with a layer of intelligence sitting on top.
Prediction markets also get a spotlight. SNARKs show up again with faster proving systems and lighter verification models. And developers get a new set of building tools that make on-chain actions cheaper, simpler, and more modular.
The big ideas list isn’t just theory. It’s framing what the next two years of shipping may look like.
a16z Crypto Opens in Seoul: Asia Becomes the Next Frontier
The next major announcement isn’t technical. It’s strategic. a16z Crypto is finally expanding into Asia.
The firm has opened its first Asian office in Seoul, South Korea, marking its push into the region’s fast-growing crypto economy. The office will be led by Sungmo (SeongMo) Park, formerly Head of Asia-Pacific at the Monad Foundation and previously in business development at Polygon Labs.
The mission is simple: get closer to the founders, users, and partners who are shaping crypto adoption in the region.
The fund’s own internal data shows why this matters:
- 11 out of the top 20 crypto-adopting countries are in Asia.
- Korea and Singapore have some of the world’s highest crypto ownership rates.
- Japan’s on-chain activity is climbing fast.
Asia isn’t a side mission. It’s the growth engine of global crypto usage.
The new office will help founders build distribution, land partnerships, and tap into local communities. It’s also designed to support startups that want to build for Asian markets from day one.
For Park, the move is personal. This isn’t “just a new location.” He wants to help teams understand the cultural rhythms, user behavior, and product expectations that shape the region. Asia moves fast. It rewards creativity. And it’s already home to some of the world’s most active on-chain users.
Why Asian Adoption Matters for the Next Cycle
The decision to expand into Asia lines up with everything the report highlights. The region already leads global crypto adoption, but it also leads in experimentation.
Korea drives massive trading volume and early consumer use cases. Singapore attracts institutions, developers, and regulatory clarity. Japan is reviving its crypto ecosystem with stronger rules and more support for innovation.
These markets experiment quickly. They embrace new models. They scale winners faster than most Western markets. If stablecoins are rewriting payments, Asia is where consumer payments are already shifting on-chain. If tokenization is taking off, Asia’s regulators and exchanges are among the first to integrate it. If AI agents go mainstream, Asian user bases will likely adopt them early.
For a16z, this is a chance to build in the world’s most active crypto corridor.
Closing Thoughts: 2026 Looks Like a Breakout Year
This year’s a16z report feels different. Stablecoins hit massive scale. Tokenization starts reshaping finance. AI agents begin to operate on-chain. Privacy and security tools improve. Prediction markets evolve. And the firm plants its first flag in Asia to be closer to real global adoption.
Crypto isn’t waiting for the next cycle. It’s already changing how money moves, how assets settle, and how users interact with digital systems. With Asia in the picture, that acceleration only gets faster.
The next two years won’t be about recovery. They’ll be about expansion.
Disclosure: This is not trading or investment advice. Always do your research before buying any cryptocurrency or investing in any services.
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