Crypto Infrastructure Matures as Regulators Raise Standards in 2026

[bonk]

PwC’s 2026 report highlights that crypto is increasingly becoming part of mainstream finance, with infrastructure maturing and institutions embedding digital assets into core operations. Exchanges, custodians, and stablecoin issuers are now subject to rigorous prudential and operational resilience standards, including capital, liquidity, segregation, and recovery planning similar to traditional financial market infrastructure.

Decentralized finance (DeFi) is also under scrutiny, with regulators applying expectations around market integrity, transparency, and conflict management to both on-chain and centralized trading platforms. Meanwhile, local adoption continues to vary, shaped by economic needs and regional financial infrastructure.

The report signals a major evolution: crypto is no longer just a speculative market. Stablecoins, tokenized cash, and real-world asset tokenization are positioning digital assets as integral to global financial systems, supported by maturing infrastructure and clearer regulatory standards.

[chainsniff]

lol crypto no longer just for gamblers… now it’s boring finance infrastructure