Asset managers are gearing up for a new fight over the future of digital-asset investing, and it has little to do with whether Bitcoin or Solana wins the spotlight.
Key Takeaways:
Bitwise says crypto index ETFs — not single-asset products — will lead the next wave of adoption.
Matt Hougan expects 100+ new crypto ETFs/ETPs by 2026.
Institutional demand remains strong despite BTC volatility and price pullbacks.
The real competition, according to Bitwise CIO Matt Hougan, will be over who becomes the first to dominate broad-market crypto index funds — not single-coin products.
As spending habits among institutional allocators become clearer, a pattern is emerging: most investors want crypto exposure without the responsibility of deciding which blockchain ecosystems will outperform. That demand is shaping how major ETF issuers are preparing for 2026.
From “Pick a Coin” to “Buy the Whole Market”
Hougan argues that the next phase of adoption resembles the moment in traditional finance when stock-picking gave way to S&P 500-style indexing. Allocators no longer want to debate whether Ethereum beats Solana or which Layer-1 will scale the fastest. They want a basket that captures the sector as a whole — a one-decision product that can be held for years.
He predicts this shift will trigger an enormous expansion in crypto exchange-traded products. Speaking on CNBC, Hougan suggested that more than 100 new ETFs and ETPs could be live by 2026, with index-based strategies becoming the headliners rather than the add-ons.
Market Volatility Isn’t Slowing Product Development
Bitcoin’s recent pullback — which briefly dragged the price below $90,000 and erased a portion of this year’s gains — hasn’t changed Bitwise’s outlook on future ETF demand. The company expects inflows to remain resilient even when sentiment cools. In fact, Hougan believes the willingness of investors to keep allocating during downturns is evidence that the asset class has matured.
Bitwise’s Solana Staking ETF reflects that philosophy: instead of chasing speculative narratives, it stakes the underlying SOL and compounds the yield. The product is still below its launch price, yet it staged a 9% rebound on Tuesday, showing that demand for staking-linked exposure continues even in choppy conditions.
Political Winds May Accelerate the Launch Timeline
The acceleration of crypto regulation under the Trump administration is also influencing expectations. Fundstrat’s Tom Lee argues that a political climate prioritizing innovation could shorten approval timelines, helping the ETF industry scale rapidly instead of incrementally.
Why This Matters
Hougan’s stance is blunt: crypto doesn’t become a multi-trillion-dollar asset class by appealing only to enthusiasts who pick individual coins. It becomes a mainstream portfolio allocation only when investors can buy the entire industry in one trade.
