Bitwise Predicts ICO Boom in 2026

The crypto industry is entering a new phase of development—redefining capital-raising, said Bitwise CIO.

The crypto industry is entering a new phase of development—redefining the capital-raising process. CIO of Bitwise, Matt Hougan, believes that the launch of a platform for ICOs by Coinbase will be a pivotal event in this trend.

The expert noted that digital assets have already begun to transform three areas of finance: Bitcoin as a gold equivalent, stablecoins as a replacement for dollar transfers, and tokenization as a new concept in trading. The fourth direction will be raising funds for businesses.

According to him, the current IPO system is slow, costly, and disadvantageous for retail investors. They gain access to company shares at later stages, after major profits have been secured by large funds.

Hougan recalled the ICO boom of 2017–2018, describing it as a “complete disaster” due to fraud and lack of regulation. However, that period demonstrated that cryptocurrencies can quickly and cost-effectively raise capital, directly connecting entrepreneurs with investors.

The key change is the new platform by Coinbase. The exchange will select and launch one vetted project per month. The platform introduces mandatory requirements: team verification, information disclosure, and a ban on insiders selling tokens within six months of launch. This is an attempt to correct the mistakes of the previous ICO era through self-regulation.

The expert predicted that by 2026, similar platforms will host at least six initial coin offerings, each exceeding one billion dollars. This will prove the effectiveness of the new fundraising model.

In Hougan’s view, the resurgence of ICOs will positively impact Coinbase shares, as well as blockchains like Ethereum and Solana, where projects will be launched. He advised investors to bet not on individual assets but on the growth of the entire market through diversified funds.

Back in November, a top manager at Bitwise stated that companies with crypto assets on their balance sheets should adopt complex strategies, or else they will ultimately lose to ETFs.