Why 2026 Is 'Too Chaotic' to Make Crypto Predictions

Unchained

Laura Shin

News, Tech News, Business News

4.6 • 1.3K Ratings

🗓️ 9 January 2026

⏱️ 71 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Thank you to our sponsor, Mantle! In this Unchained podcast episode, guests Alex Thorn and Ryan Graham share their 2026 outlook for Bitcoin and the broader crypto market, exploring why the year looks unusually uncertain. The conversation also digs into questions around Ethereum’s long-term value, whether killer apps are enough to drive adoption, prediction markets’ push into sports betting, and why the privacy meta could continue in 2026. Hosts: Laura Shin Guests: Ryan Graham, Research Analyst at Messari Alex Thorn, Head of Firmwide Research at Galaxy Digital Links: DAT Stocks Are on Sale. Are They a Buy? Plus, Why Crypto Is Dead Ethereum’s Vitalik Buterin Says Blockchain Trilemma ‘Has Been Solved’ Solana Withstands Week-Long DDoS Attack Solana Mulls Proposal to Lower Inflation Rate Western Union Files ‘WUUSD’ Trademark After Solana Stablecoin Reveal Why the Privacy Coins Mania Is Much More Than Price Action The Chopping Block: Hyperliquid vs. Tarun, ADL Transparency & The Coming Perps Arms Race How to Trade Prediction Markets Without an Opinion on the Event Why Wall Street Banks Need to Launch Their Own Stablecoins How the GENIUS Act Creates a Built-In Advantage for Banks and Deposit Tokens Klarna Launches Stablecoin Built on Stripe’s Tempo Chain How the x402 Standard Is Enabling AI Agents to Pay Each Other Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	Now with the regulatory burden easing on crypto, it's kind of put up or shut up.
0:03.5	Like, we've got to deliver something here that, you know, the average person really wants to use.
0:07.6	Privacy is probably in a super trend.
0:10.0	And I think that's just because, like, fundamentally privacy is important.
0:13.1	And it never was not important.
0:14.6	It was just like you ran the risk of going to jail to actually, like, support these projects and work on them and be an investor.
0:19.8	That is seeming to...
0:20.9	Hey, everyone.
0:26.9	Happy New Year.
0:27.9	Welcome to Unchained.
0:28.9	You're no hype resource for all things crypto.
0:30.9	I'm your host, Laura Shin.
0:32.5	Thanks for joining this live stream.
0:34.5	Before we get started, a quick reminder, nothing you hear on Unchained is investment advice.
0:39.0	This show is for informational and entertainment purposes only. And my guest and I may hold assets
0:43.7	discussed in the show. For more disclosures, visit Unchained Crypto.com.
0:48.4	Mantel is launching the global hackathon 2025 to accelerate the future of real-world assets with a $150,000 prize pool, backing from a $4 billion treasury.
1:01.0	Why do growing businesses love working in Slack? Let's ask Christia Ari Bikes.
1:05.6	Running things in Slack saves me so much time.
1:08.3	AI summaries save 97 minutes per week.
1:11.4	What say you?
1:12.3	Rocks from Gosney.
	...

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