What Dragonfly's Crypto Outlook Looks Like for 2026: Haseeb Qureshi's Bold Predictions

Dragonfly partner Haseeb Qureshi just dropped his crystal ball moment for 2026, and it’s packed with takes that’ll reshape how we think about crypto and AI this year. The industry is bracing for some serious shifts.

Bitcoin’s Rally Hits a Plateau—Dominance Era Ends

Bitcoin might hit $150,000 by year-end, but here’s the catch: its market dominance could slip significantly. Currently trading around $91,080, BTC’s climb to six figures has been the narrative all cycle, yet Qureshi reckons the real action shifts away from Bitcoin maximalism. While price appreciation matters, the declining dominance suggests smart money diversifying into other ecosystems.

Ethereum and Solana Stay in the Spotlight

Two names dominate 2026: Ethereum and Solana. Both networks are expected to keep firing on all cylinders, capturing developer mindshare and ecosystem growth. Meanwhile, the wave of “Fintech public chains” won’t live up to the hype—many will underperform and fade into obscurity.

Big Tech Finally Makes Its Crypto Move

Fortune 100 companies aren’t sitting idle anymore. Expect at least one major tech giant to launch or acquire a crypto wallet in 2026. More Fortune 100 firms will roll out their own blockchains, signaling mainstream adoption isn’t just a buzzword anymore. Avalanche and the OP ecosystem stand to benefit most from this institutional pivot.

DeFi Gets Serious—And Messy

The DeFi space is consolidating fast. Perpetual DEXs are expected to shrink down to roughly three dominant platforms, creating a far cleaner competitive landscape. Perpetual stock trading could explode to over 20% of the market, but with consolidation comes scandal—Qureshi hints that a DeFi insider trading controversy is likely brewing.

Stablecoin Explosion Incoming

Stablecoins are having their moment. Total stablecoin supply could surge by 60%, while USDT’s market share slides to around 55%—losing ground to competitors. The real surprise? Stablecoin card business could skyrocket by as much as 1000%, turning stablecoins into everyday payment rails.

Regulatory Clarity Might Actually Happen

The Clarity Act could pass in 2026, offering the policy framework crypto has desperately needed. Prediction markets will keep expanding aggressively, while AI becomes the backbone of development and security efforts. Paradoxically, security incidents might increase in frequency, but individual losses could shrink thanks to better detection systems.

The 2026 playbook is becoming clearer: consolidation in some areas, explosive growth in others, and institutions finally taking the plunge. Whether these predictions materialize depends on market momentum and macro conditions—but Qureshi’s track record makes this worth watching.