Bitcoin, Fiat & Rock'n'Roll Industry Expert Outlooks for 2026 with Blockstories
In this special 2026 predictions episode, host Alex is joined by Stefan (Zühlke) and Maximilian Vargas (Blockstories) for a forward-looking discussion based on Blockstories’ new report: “25 Predictions from 25 Digital Asset Experts”.
Instead of presenting their own forecasts, the trio picks standout expert takes across five key themes—tokenization, digital money, regulation, markets & investments, and infrastructure—and pressure-tests them from a pragmatic, institution-first perspective.
A central debate: tokenized deposits vs. stablecoins. Stefan challenges the idea that tokenized deposits will “go through the roof” in 2026, arguing that market pull may favor stablecoins, yield-bearing stablecoins, and tokenized money market funds, especially in a world increasingly obsessed with yield. Max adds a crucial banking reality check: many banks still view stablecoin enablement as partly defensive—driven by corporate treasurers expecting 24/7 money movement—while tokenized deposits feel more compatible with existing models (and balance sheet logic). Alex highlights the strategic dilemma: banks may need to integrate stablecoins even though doing so could accelerate deposit flight.
The conversation broadens into the “unbundling vs. rebundling” of financial services—particularly how stablecoins and on-chain products could fragment banking value chains, and whether banks can reclaim the “orchestrator” role across rails (stablecoins, tokenized deposits, CBDCs, e-money) while keeping client ownership.
A major DeFi thread emerges around on-chain vaults: smart-contract-based “depots” that package strategies and yield. The guests explore why vaults could become a breakout distribution mechanism for stablecoins—and potentially a disruptive force for traditional asset management as “vault curation” grows into a new layer of financial intermediation.
Other highlighted themes include the rise of tokenized equities (with a narrative flip: liquid assets may tokenize before illiquid ones), the push toward core infrastructure integration inside institutions (production > experimentation), and why privacy could shift from “nice-to-have” to “institutional requirement”—even if scalability trade-offs remain unresolved.
The episode closes with a lively macro riff: is the classic four-year crypto cycle ending, and will institutional allocators (even Ivy League endowments) meaningfully increase crypto exposure by end-2026? As always: not investment advice—just a sharp, insider-grade map of what might shape the next phase of digital finance.
Bitcoin, Fiat & Rock'n'Roll Website
Bitcoin, Fiat & Rock'n'Roll Telegram Channel
Relai*: Buy Bitcoin with Relai – you can do a one-time purchase or savings plan: Click here. Use the referral code "ROCK" to reduce transaction fees by 0.1% while supporting Bitcoin, Fiat & Rock'n'Roll.
Value4Value Podcast Streaming: Support our podcast by listening to our episodes on the Fountain Podcast App. This way, if you wish, you can support us "Value4Value" while listening to the podcast. You can find us on the Fountain Podcast App here: Click here
Disclaimer: The content of this podcast reflects the private opinions of the hosts, serves exclusively for general information purposes and does not constitute investment advice. Always remember: Do your own research - inform yourself before making any investment decisions, such as buying Bitcoin. First try to understand what Bitcoin is and how to store it. This podcast does not provide financial advice. Note that the co-hosts might be invested in crypto assets. Read more on our website: Click here
All links marked with "*" are affiliate links. If you use these links for purchase, the podcast receives a small share of the revenue without any additional costs to you. On the contrary, affiliate links often include discount promotions, so you can even save money. We would appreciate it if you use these links to support us. Thank you very much!