The cryptocurrency market in 2026 is anticipated to transition from narrative-driven growth to a focus on cash flow and sustainability. This shift is facilitated by innovations like Hyperliquid’s HIP-3, which removes technical barriers for new perpetual markets, allowing expansion into non-crypto assets and real-world data. Projects demonstrating real income and token flows, such as Hyperliquid and Pump.fun, are expected to lead this new cycle. Additionally, prediction markets are evolving, transforming private betting into on-chain data that financial institutions and AI models can utilize. Despite these advancements, regulatory differences between Western countries and Asia are creating a fragmented market landscape. As the market shifts towards fundamentals, traders are advised to monitor altcoins closely.