Grayscale Predicts US Crypto Bill by 2026: The Regulatory Breakthrough We’ve Been Waiting For?

Grayscale just dropped a bombshell—a US crypto bill could land by 2026. That's not a prediction; it's a countdown.

The Long Game

Forget the daily price swings. This is about institutional chess. Grayscale's call isn't based on market hype but on a slow, grinding legislative process finally hitting its stride. The 2026 timeline isn't pulled from thin air; it's the logical endpoint of pressure from Wall Street, Silicon Valley, and a voter base that increasingly owns digital assets.

Why This Time Is Different

Previous attempts fizzled out in committee purgatory. Now? The financial establishment wants in, and they're bringing their lobbyists. The bill Grayscale envisions won't be written by crypto-anarchists—it'll be shaped by the same suits currently trading Bitcoin futures. Expect clarity, but don't expect a free pass.

The Domino Effect

Pass a clear federal framework, and watch the floodgates open. Pension funds currently dipping a toe could dive in headfirst. Global capital, sidelined by US uncertainty, would re-route through New York and Chicago. It's the ultimate legitimacy play—the kind that turns a speculative asset class into a mainstream allocation.

A Cynical Footnote

Of course, Wall Street only embraces regulation once it's sure it can write the rules—and collect the fees. The same institutions that called crypto a scam five years ago are now positioning themselves as its wise stewards. How convenient.

The bottom line? Grayscale isn't just making a prediction; it's setting the agenda. The race to 2026 is on. Whether this brings the innovation boost crypto needs or just another layer of financial middlemen remains to be seen. Place your bets.

Grayscale’s 2026 Outlook

Pandl also mentioned that these macro imbalances will remain. And that portfolio shifts will continue until at least 2026. The third key factor of the crypto bull market, Grayscale anticipates that there will be a US crypto market structure bill with a clear regulatory framework for the crypto market by early 2026, after politicking and shutdown delays. 

Pandl pointed out that although the bill was not passed in 2025, the momentum has returned and that lawmakers from both sides of the aisle are showing more and more signs of wanting to set clearer federal rules for digital assets.

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Regulatory Hope

“We have expanded the operating environment for crypto businesses in the U.S. significantly this year,” he commented. “Unfortunately, there is still a lot of work to be done.” According to Pandl, regulatory clarity could lead young startups, established firms, and even Fortune 500 companies to tokenise their capital structure as a combination of stocks and bonds. Token issuance, he argued, might become a regular financing vehicle once the legal status of digital assets is clearly defined. 

Crypto Mainstream Push

Haseeb Qureshi, a managing partner at Dragonfly, also echoed the sentiment of Pandl. He said that by 2026, a big tech company is likely to have a crypto wallet integrated that will make it very easy for billions of users to onboard. He speculated that a company like Google, Meta, or Apple might start a wallet or acquire one.