Will 2026 Be the Year of Bitcoin Financialization? | Markets Outlook

Exploring the memecoin index's ability to gauge the markets with CoinDesk's Jennifer Sanasie and Andy Baehr. After a rocky end to 2025, the New Year is off to a fast start with the memecoin index jumping 25% in just five days. In today's Markets Outlook, CoinDesk's Jennifer Sanasie and Andy Baehr break down the return of retail demand, the impact of the October 10th event, and what's ahead for 2026. - This episode was hosted by Jennifer Sanasie.

Bitcoin's major test in 2026 with Bitlayer Co-Founder Charlie Hu. In today's Markets Outlook, Bitlayer Co-Founder Charlie Hu joins CoinDesk's Jennifer Sanasie to discuss the major test bitcoin faces following the US military operation in Venezuela. Plus, he analyzes the 2026 market outlook, exploring how hyperinflation and geopolitical shifts are driving bitcoin adoption, and the rise of decentralized finance. - Check out CoinDesk’s research report on the State of Blockchain 2025 commissioned by Input Output Group: https://www.coindesk.com/research/state-of-the-blockchain-2025 - Timecodes: 01:27 - Analyzing the "Relief Rally" 02:21 - Bitcoin as a Lifeline Against Hyperinflation in Venezuela 05:39 - Digital Gold vs. Precious Metals in 2026 08:22 - Biggest Bottleneck Preventing Bitcoin from Entering DeFi 12:36 - Does the Rise of Stablecoins Change the Value Prop of Bitcoin in Emerging Markets? 15:49 - Why Charlie Still Believes Bitcoin is Headed to Another ATH 17:25 - What Charlie is Watching in 2026 - This episode was hosted by Jennifer Sanasie.

Gold's outlook for 2026 with SchiffGold Founder Peter Schiff. Euro Pacific Asset Management Chief Economist Peter Schiff has been named to CoinDesk’s 50 Most Influential list. In this interview with CoinDesk’s Jennifer Sanasie, the SchiffGold founder reflects on gold's record highs, and shares his skepticism of bitcoin, asserting that the cryptocurrency lacks the properties of sound money. He also predicts the collapse of Strategy’s business model and unveils his own pivot to the blockchain: a new tokenized gold product. - For more, check out CoinDesk’s 50 Most Influential article on Peter Schiff: https://www.coindesk.com/business/2025/12/16/most-influential-peter-schiff.  To see the full list, visit: https://www.coindesk.com/most-influential-2025. - Timecodes:  01:14 - Peter Schiff: The Unlikely Bitcoin Influencer 04:44 - Key Moments that Drove Gold to a Record High 06:23 - Where is Gold Headed in 2026?  10:33 - Why Scarcity Doesn't Make Bitcoin Sound Money 13:23 - The Myth of Government & Central Bank BTC Adoption 15:29 - Peter Warns About the Vulnerability of Bitcoin ETFs and Predicts Strategy’s Collapse 18:56 - Peter Continues to Challenge Michael Saylor to a Debate 20:18 - The Tokenized Gold Future 23:24 - Peter’s Reaction to CZ’s Comments on Tokenized Gold - Break the cycle of exploitation. Break down the barriers to truth. Break into the next generation of privacy. Break Free. Free to scroll without being monetized. Free from censorship. Freedom without fear. We deserve more when it comes to privacy. Experience the next generation of blockchain that is private and inclusive by design. Break free with Midnight, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠midnight.network/break-free⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - This episode was hosted by Jennifer Sanasie.

Where bitcoin is headed and other predictions for the New Year with BitMEX Co-Founder and Maelstrom CIO Arthur Hayes. BitMEX Co-founder and Maelstrom CIO, Arthur Hayes has been named one of CoinDesk’s 50 Most Influential People. He joins CoinDesk's Jennifer Sanasie, to discuss his famous and persistent $250,000 bitcoin forecast and the macro forces driving it. Plus, he explains why Zcash is his best investment and reveals his top three assets for 2026. To hear more from Arthur Hayes, visit:  X - https://x.com/cryptohayes  IG - https://www.instagram.com/cryptohayes/ Web - https://www.cryptohayes.com  LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/arthur-hayes-b493b42/  Substack - https://cryptohayes.substack.com/  – For more, check out CoinDesk’s 50 Most Influential article on Arthur Hayes: https://www.coindesk.com/business/2025/12/11/most-influential-arthur-hayes.  To see the full list, visit: https://www.coindesk.com/most-influential-2025.  – Timecodes:  00:52 - Why What Arthur Says Resonates  01:32 - His Best Spat of 2025 02:25 - Why Zcash Finally Popped Off 04:49 - Arthur’s Zcash Prediction 07:03 - His Top Three Investments of 2025 08:07 - “It Doesn’t Matter Who Wins” - The Election Cycle and Massive Money Printing 12:02 - Is Bitcoin’s Rise Worrisome for the U.S. Economy? 12:55 - Arthur’s BTC Price Predictions 13:45 - The Biggest Crypto Trend of 2026 15:18 - The Biggest Challenge & Biggest Win for the Crypto Industry - Break the cycle of exploitation. Break down the barriers to truth. Break into the next generation of privacy. Break Free. Free to scroll without being monetized. Free from censorship. Freedom without fear. We deserve more when it comes to privacy. Experience the next generation of blockchain that is private and inclusive by design. Break free with Midnight, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠midnight.network/break-free⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - This episode was hosted by Jennifer Sanasie.

A look at Forward Industries' strategy leveraging Solana's ecosystem with Multicoin Capital Co-Founder & Managing Partner Forward Industries Chairman Kyle Samani. Speaking with CoinDesk from Solana Breakpoint, Multicoin Capital Co-Founder & Managing Partner Forward Industries Chairman Kyle Samani discusses the biggest news from the event, including major financial firms launching tokenized products on the network. He explains how Forward Industries is actively leveraging Solana's thriving DeFi ecosystem to generate yield—a strategy fundamentally different from bitcoin treasury models, and reveals his prediction for the inevitable consolidation of digital asset treasury companies. - This episode was hosted by Jennifer Sanasie and Marissa Trew.

Solana predictions with Founder and Managing Partner of SkyBridge Capital, Anthony Scaramucci. Anthony Scaramucci, Founder and Managing Partner of SkyBridge Capital and author of the new book Solana Rising, joins CoinDesk Live from Solana Breakpoint in Abu Dhabi to lay out his prediction for the Solana ecosystem. He explains why Solana is poised to become a core layer for global tokenization, his belief that SOL will flip ETH in market cap, and how regulatory clarity (or lack thereof) in the U.S. will affect the next cycle. - This episode was hosted by Jennifer Sanasie and Marissa Trew.

Ondo's launch of tokenized US stocks and ETFs within the Binance wallet with Ondo Finance President Ian de Bode. Ondo Finance President Ian de Bode joins CoinDesk Live, presented by Celo, from Binance Blockchain Week to announce the launch of tokenized US stocks and ETFs within the Binance wallet, giving 280 million global users 24/7 access to US capital markets. Plus, he explains why tokenized assets are superior to traditional brokerage accounts, offering seamless transferability, DeFi utility, and lower fees for international investors. - This episode was hosted by Jennifer Sanasie and Sam Ewen.

The first traditional exchange-listed bitcoin and ether perpetual futures in Asia with Laurent Poirot, SGX Group's Head of Strategy for Derivatives. In today's Markets Outlook, SGX Group's Head of Strategy for Derivatives, Laurent Poirot, joins CoinDesk's Andy Baehr to discuss the launch of the first traditional exchange-listed bitcoin and ether perpetual futures in Asia. He breaks down how this groundbreaking product merges crypto-native innovation with trusted TradFi infrastructure to meet surging institutional demand. - Break the cycle of exploitation. Break down the barriers to truth. Break into the next generation of privacy. Break Free. Free to scroll without being monetized. Free from censorship. Freedom without fear. We deserve more when it comes to privacy. Experience the next generation of blockchain that is private and inclusive by design. Break free with Midnight, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠midnight.network/break-free⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - Need liquidity without selling your crypto? Take out a ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Figure Crypto-Backed Loan⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, allowing you to borrow against your BTC, ETH, or SOL with 12-month terms and no prepayment penalties. They have the lowest rates in the industry at 8.91%, allowing you to access instant cash or buy more Bitcoin without triggering a tax event. Unlock your crypto’s potential today at Figure! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://figuremarkets.co/coindesk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - This episode was hosted by Andy Baehr.

SchiffGold Founder Peter Schiff on CoinDesk Live from Binance Blockchain Week. SchiffGold Founder and Euro Pacific Asset Management Chief Economist Peter Schiff joins CoinDesk Live, presented by Celo, at Binance Blockchain Week to discuss his views on the current crypto market and his debate with CZ. In a no holds barred interview, Schiff compares the modern digital asset boom to the 2005-2006 subprime mortgage bubble and argues that most crypto companies are headed for bankruptcy. - This episode was hosted by Jennifer Sanasie and Sam Ewen.

Unveiling Nansen's new agentic trading platform with CEO Alex Svanevik. Speaking on CoinDesk Live, presented by Celo, at Binance Blockchain Week, Nansen CEO Alex Svanevik unveiled plans for a new agentic trading platform. By merging Nansen’s premier on-chain data with a conversational AI, the tool can independently discover, vet, and execute trades. This new model—dubbed "vibe trading"—replaces complex dashboards with a streamlined interface, aiming to make on-chain trading accessible to 100x more users while prioritizing safeguards against AI hallucinations. - This episode was hosted by Jennifer Sanasie and Sam Ewen.