**Will Digital Assets Really Rise in 2026?**

First, let’s get straight to the point: never use leverage. Seriously, this is not a joke.

Looking back over the past year, traditional asset markets have performed remarkably well. Gold surged by 66%, silver was even more outrageous, rising 160%, and stock markets generally increased around 20%. But if you focus on digital assets, you might get a sense of being forgotten—Bitcoin even fell 5%. This is quite ironic given the current U.S. President’s friendly stance toward cryptocurrencies and the gradual improvement of the regulatory environment.

What does this contrast really indicate? Some are beginning to question whether the traditional four-year cycle theory is already outdated. The answer isn’t so absolute. The key point is that the current digital market is tightly bound by global macro liquidity. Although liquidity gradually released in 2025, there are still limiting factors: the ISM manufacturing index remains sluggish long-term, institutional risk appetite is extremely low, and funds are hesitant to move recklessly.

**But 2026 will be different.**

**The turning point in liquidity has already appeared**

Quantitative tightening (QT) officially ended at the end of 2025. Now, major economies worldwide have entered stimulus mode, and the excess liquidity that was frozen is about to be unlocked. It’s like opening the floodgates of a reservoir—funds will inevitably seek an outlet.

**A rate cut wave is imminent**

Inflation has already broken through the 3% threshold, and the Federal Reserve’s focus has shifted. They are now more concerned with employment data rather than maintaining high interest rates. Large-scale rate cuts in 2026 are now a certainty. In a low-interest-rate environment, funds will naturally flow into higher-yield asset classes.

**Regulatory framework officially established**

Cryptocurrency-related legislation has finally been finalized. This means the previously gray areas are now incorporated into formal market frameworks. Wall Street institutions have been itching to get involved, waiting for this signal. Once rules are clear, institutional capital will accelerate its entry.

**Top institutions are betting heavily**

Recently, major financial institutions like Standard Chartered, JPMorgan Chase, and Citibank have increased their investments in digital assets. Their predictions for Bitcoin generally range between $150,000 and $190,000. This isn’t retail speculation; it’s institutions with real money voting with their wallets.

**So how should we interpret the "cold reception" in 2025?**

Simply put, it’s about building strength in silence. Sometimes, market performance doesn’t align with expectations. Although digital assets didn’t perform as spectacularly as traditional assets last year, this may precisely indicate that the market is brewing a bigger move. When liquidity is fully unleashed, regulatory frameworks are fully implemented, and large amounts of institutional funds flood in, the situation could reverse instantly.

The key is not to give up before dawn. Investors need patience and a cool head, continuously paying attention to macro trends. Remember this: avoid leverage. In such a market environment, leverage is a gambler’s game, and you can’t afford to gamble.

Just wait and see—2026 might really be different.