According to industry experts interviewed at Hong Kong Web3 Festival, serious investors in 2026 are prioritizing tokenized real-world assets, stablecoins, institutional trading systems, and AI-linked compute networks over traditional crypto exposure. As reported by BeInCrypto, Ciara Sun, founder and managing partner of C² Ventures, emphasized that investors are now seeking real demand and better understanding of liquidity mechanics rather than speculative upside. The focus has shifted toward sectors where crypto provides real solutions to operational problems rather than creating new narratives.
The regulatory landscape for digital assets has evolved significantly with the US SEC issuing an interpretive release on how federal securities laws apply to crypto assets and related transactions. As reported by DLA Piper, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) indicated it will administer the Commodity Exchange Act consistent with the SEC's interpretation. Additionally, on April 10, 2026, the US Department of the Treasury's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) and Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) published a joint notice of proposed rulemaking that would implement anti-money laundering and sanctions compliance provisions under the Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for US Stablecoins Act (GENIUS Act). These developments are expected to provide clearer regulatory frameworks for institutional participation in digital asset markets.
The capital journey into crypto remains challenging due to four main operational blockers: custody, mandate, due diligence, and sizing. According to Michael Ivanov, CEO of Arcanum, institutions require full control over assets and cannot hand assets to counterparties they cannot audit. Family offices face additional hurdles as less than 5% of client capital is allocated to crypto, with most investments concentrated in BTC, ETH, and ETFs. As reported by BeInCrypto, Ivan Ivanov noted that traditional banks reject crypto account applications and compliance remains a significant barrier for institutional participation.
Platforms like Arcanum are addressing capital entry challenges through investor control, real-time reporting, and documented strategies. As reported by BeInCrypto, the platform provides clear strategies with strong historical data and automated processes while maintaining user control through Bybit subaccounts that remain in allocator hands. Michael Ivanov explained that Arcanum operates above the exchange with intuitive functionality while providing transparent trade history and documented strategy data. The platform offers white-label solutions for B2B partners and clear real-time statistics for allocators.
Industry experts predict tokenized real-world assets will lead over the next couple of years due to their regulated nature, substance, and legal protection. According to Ivan Ivanov, Asian family offices are conservative with crypto allocations, while hedge funds focused on crypto asset management show the most activity. As reported by BeInCrypto, serious capital will flow to sectors where crypto becomes real financial technology, including tokenization, stablecoins, institutional trading systems, and AI-related compute networks. The consensus among experts is that trust in crypto market players and reliable systems will be the primary drivers of increased institutional participation, with regulatory clarity under the GENIUS Act potentially accelerating this trend.
