[DigitalToday reporter Yoonseo Lee] The cryptocurrency market in 2026 has entered a "year of verification".

On Feb. 25, local time, blockchain media outlet BeInCrypto said that after the violent volatility of 2024 to 2025, a phase of checking systems against reality has begun in earnest this year. Experts predicted that AI integration, infrastructure growth and macroeconomic uncertainty will act as key variables that determine the market's future direction.

The cryptocurrency market is in a phase where expectations for substantive growth and macroeconomic uncertainty intersect. Fernando Riyo Aranda (페르난도 리요 아란다), marketing director at global cryptocurrency exchange Zoomex, said, "2026 is the year when systems meet reality," and assessed that the market is shifting from a speculative mood to a period of structural stability. In contrast, Mike Williams (마이크 윌리엄스), chief communications officer at Toobit, said, "Political and economic uncertainty will shake the market," and stressed a cautious approach.

With these conflicting views coexisting, a factor the market is commonly focusing on is the convergence of AI and cryptocurrency. Vivian Lin (비비안 린), chief product officer at BingX, said, "AI will use cryptocurrency to strengthen trust and transparency in the financial system," and predicted that AI-crypto integration will become an essential trend. Michael Ivanov (마이클 이바노프), CEO of Arcanum Foundation, added that diversified innovation such as AI blockchain, the adoption of real-world assets (RWA) and Web3 games will be major trends this year.

Changes are also being detected in investment strategies. Dorian Vincileoni (도리안 빈실레오니), growth lead at cryptocurrency exchange Kraken, said, "Now look at the system, not the asset," and recommended broadening perspectives to infrastructure investment from a long-term view. Griffin Adern (그리핀 아더른) of BloFin stressed that a diversified asset portfolio is important amid political uncertainty. Experts advised that strategies are needed that consider the sustainability of systems and the macro environment together, rather than focusing only on short-term returns.

The cryptocurrency market in 2026 is entering a new phase amid AI and blockchain integration, infrastructure expansion and macroeconomic variables. The importance of long-term stability and reality checks is rising over short-term investment.