In 2025, Trump’s impact on crypto was underwhelming, with Bitcoin facing a decline and memecoin liquidity drained into political side quests. Animoca Brands co-founder Yat Siu believes the industry overestimated Trump, giving the year a B-/C+ grade. Moving forward, 2026 will focus on compliance and real use cases, leading to Animoca’s reverse-merger listing for public investors.

Animoca plans to go public in 2026 as a liquid altcoin proxy, aiming to provide public market investors with exposure to a diversified slice of the altcoin and Web3 stack. With over 620 portfolio companies and a history of profitability, Animoca seeks to bridge traditional equity markets and onchain ownership by offering a way to own altcoin upside.

As regulatory clarity solidifies, Siu sees potential for a flood of incumbents entering the market once key US legislation like the Clarity Act and GENIUS Act are in place. He emphasizes the need for companies to tokenize or risk falling behind, with real-world assets and tokenized securities acting as a bridge to a trillion-dollar industry by 2030.

Looking ahead to 2026, Siu predicts a focus on utility tokens and products built around use rather than speculation. The era of “new retail” entering under clearer rules will see a shift towards solutions that solve real problems for gamers, creators, and brands. As the industry matures, the utility token will take center stage, offering tangible use cases for a broader audience.

In summary, the crypto industry has faced challenges and growth spurts in recent years, with the focus shifting towards compliance, real use cases, and utility tokens in 2026. Animoca Brands’ strategic moves to provide public investors with altcoin exposure and bridge traditional markets with onchain ownership reflect the evolving landscape of the digital asset space.

Read more at Cointelegraph: 2026 Will Be the Year of the Utility Token