2026 Predictions: Stablecoins, Tokenization and RWAs

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Jan 5, 2026

Rob Hadick, General Partner at Dragonfly, shares his insights on the future of stablecoins and tokenization. He predicts that Visa's stablecoin settlement will surge to over $100 billion by 2026. The discussion also explores the shift of tier-two banks towards on-chain settlement and the impact of tokenizing loyalty programs to enhance merchant revenues. With skepticism around AI and blockchain integration, the guests anticipate significant growth in on-chain lending backed by real-world assets over the next few years.

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INSIGHT

Visa Stablecoin Settlement Scale-Up

Visa's stablecoin settlement volume jumped rapidly and may reshape settlement reporting.
Rob Hadick predicts Visa stablecoin settlement could exceed $100B annualized by end of 2026.

INSIGHT

Stablecoin-Linked Cards Accelerate

Stablecoin-linked cards are growing via new issuer processors like RAINN.
Cuy Sheffield and Rob expect bank partners and GSIBs to publicly adopt stablecoin-backed cards next year.

INSIGHT

Bank Consortia For Instant Settlement

Tier-two banks are exploring closed-loop stablecoin settlement rails to avoid slow correspondent banking.
Simon Taylor expects consortia like Cavallis to pilot bank-to-bank settlement in 2026, though scale timing is uncertain.

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On Ep. 64 of Tokenized, Simon Taylor, GTM @ Tempo and Cuy Sheffield, Head of Crypto @ Visa, are joined by Rob Hadick, General Partner @ Dragonfly and Tyler Moebius, CEO and Co-Founder @ SmartMedia Technologies to discuss their predictions for 2026.

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction
06:12 Grading previous year's predictions on stablecoin and AI narratives
07:18 Skepticism on the near-term viability of AI and blockchain crossover
10:16 Visa stablecoin settlement to exceed $100 billion annualized by 2026
18:30 Tier two banks adopting closed-loop stablecoin settlement rails
22:09 Tokenizing loyalty programs versus creating merchant stablecoins
32:23 $1 billion in tokenized loyalty collateral by end of 2026
34:29 Regulatory clarity and competition in tokenized money market funds
41:00 $2 billion in annualized merchant stablecoin payment volume by 2026
48:30 5x growth in on-chain lending using tokenized real-world assets as collateral

Tokenized is sponsored by Visa

A world leader in digital payments, Visa is bridging the gap between traditional financial institutions and innovative blockchain networks, helping players in the payments ecosystem navigate the ever-evolving world of tokenized fiat currencies with confidence and ease. Learn more at visa.com/crypto.

Tokenized is presented by Bridge, a Stripe company.

Just like the internet made information global, stablecoins are making money global. And Bridge, a Stripe company, is the infrastructure powering that shift. Built for speed, scale, and simplicity, Bridge helps businesses send, store, convert, and spend stablecoins instantly, all without borders or having to navigate the complexities of crypto. Learn more at bridge.xyz

Tokenized is also presented by Centrifuge

With over $1 billion in total value locked, Centrifuge works with major institutional partners to tokenize and distribute their funds — and with capital allocators onchain to invest and manage yield. Through every crypto cycle, Centrifuge has been building — and today, it’s the market leader in tokenizing real-world assets. Learn more at centrifuge.io

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We’d also like to remind you that the views or opinions of our contributors today are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the companies they are representing. Nothing we say should be taken as tax, financial, investment or legal advice, do your own research!

Music by Henry McLean