Institutions are cautiously optimistic about 2026, with the "Crypto Market Structure Act" becoming a focal point of concern

On January 10th, a team led by Goldman Sachs analyst James Yaro pointed out in a report: “We believe that the improvement of the regulatory environment is a key driver in promoting continuous adoption of cryptocurrencies by institutions, especially for buy-side and sell-side financial institutions. At the same time, new use cases for cryptocurrencies outside of trading are also developing.” The report specifically mentions the long-awaited U.S. Market Structure Act currently being promoted in Congress, viewing it as a critical catalyst. Goldman Sachs analysts warn that the bill needs to pass in the first half of 2026, as the November U.S. midterm elections may cause delays in the process. Others have echoed Goldman Sachs’s predictions for Bitcoin and the crypto market. Jim Ferraioli, Director of Crypto Research and Strategy at the Charles Schwab Center for Financial Research, commented via email: “After the sharp sell-off at the end of 2025, the pace of institutional adoption may slow in the first half of this year, but the passage of the ‘Clear Act’ could accelerate the entry of genuine institutional investors.” The anticipated positive wave of crypto legislation has driven Bitcoin bulls to raise their price forecasts for 2026. Youwei Yang, Chief Economist at Bit Mining, stated: “2026 could be a strong year for Bitcoin, with potential rate cuts and a more inclusive regulatory attitude towards the crypto sector providing support.” He predicts that Bitcoin’s price in 2026 could reach as high as $225,000, but also notes: “Given ongoing macroeconomic and geopolitical uncertainties, market volatility may intensify.”