Coinbase Ventures has released its end-of-year outlook, highlighting the sectors poised to drive cryptocurrency growth in 2026. The report emphasizes real-world asset trading, next-generation decentralized finance (DeFi), advanced market structures, and the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) with blockchain technology. A significant focus is on real-world asset (RWA) perpetuals, which offer synthetic market exposure without the need for asset custody. This approach could revolutionize onchain markets linked to private companies, commodities, and macroeconomic indicators. Additionally, Coinbase Ventures notes innovations in exchange design, such as prop-style automated market makers (AMMs) and advanced trading terminals, which aim to enhance liquidity and market efficiency. In DeFi, the emphasis is on capital efficiency and unsecured, credit-based lending, potentially bringing parts of the trillion-dollar credit market onchain. The report also highlights the role of AI and robotics in crypto, with decentralized data collection and AI-driven tools expected to lower barriers for smart contract development. Overall, 2026 is projected as a year of maturation and integration for crypto infrastructure.