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|6 min Read# Crypto’s Next Step: The Only Path is to Become the Mainstream World Itself
Tariq Al-Saidi
Senior Analyst
Published
Jan 16, 2026
For Crypto, there is only one path ahead—no longer existing on the fringes, but becoming part of the mainstream world itself.
On October 29, when Nvidia's market value surpassed 4 trillion), but Nvidia, representing the AI industry, is actively working to push the boundaries of the world in new ways. In contrast, the crypto industry often feels like a zero-sum game, where many people haven't made wealth, and the future still feels uncertain.
AI professionals are constantly discussing the disruptive impact AI will have on industries like autonomous driving, robotics, medicine, and space travel. On the other hand, crypto professionals seem to spend their time discussing cats, dogs, frogs, memes, which celebrity liked or shared a post, and which tokens got listed on Binance. After all the excitement, there’s often little to show for it.
The constant crashes of altcoins and the meme coin hype might just help crypto enthusiasts realize where the future lies. Crypto’s future must be about merging with technology and the real world—not remaining a casino for gamblers.
Crypto’s Role in Reshaping Global Finance
Stablecoins are gradually replacing traditional fiat currencies; crypto exchanges are now competing with traditional stock exchanges like Nasdaq; Bitcoin is emerging as the next global store of value, alongside gold; and Ethereum and other public blockchains are attempting to replace SWIFT, building a new international value exchange network. From the currency, securities, and gold markets to international trade and payment systems, cryptocurrencies are reshaping the entire financial landscape.
Along this journey, the crypto industry itself is evolving. Stablecoins are moving toward decentralization, with USDT and USDC leading the charge and new decentralized projects like Ethena emerging. Crypto exchanges are transitioning to decentralized models. After the success of centralized exchanges like Binance and Coinbase, platforms like Uniswap, Phantom, and Hyperliquid are joining the decentralized exchange space. Bitcoin is now approaching one-tenth of gold’s market value. More and more countries are considering Ethereum as the foundation for new international trade networks.
Every one of these developments is a technological transformation of the real world.
The internet once caused a complete overhaul of the global financial system. Now, blockchain is driving the second transformation, and this time, it is a more systemic and structured change. Crypto has moved beyond the peripheral financial system and is now integrated into the mainstream, commanding one-tenth of the global financial system across several key domains.
For example, the market cap of US dollar stablecoins is approximately one-tenth of the total supply of US dollars, at 2.4 trillion. Bitcoin’s market cap is one-tenth of gold’s, at 27 trillion. Binance’s daily trading volume is one-tenth of Nasdaq’s, with 100 billion in combined spot and contract trading, while Nasdaq’s daily volume stands at around $500 billion.
Becoming the Next Nasdaq: Crypto as a Tech-Driven Exchange for Innovation
In the early days, Nasdaq, like today’s Binance or other crypto exchanges, was dominated by speculative, low-quality stocks. Nasdaq wasn’t always the home of tech giants—it focused on smaller tech stocks and emerging companies. It revolutionized the market by providing transparent pricing and electronic trade matching, while the NYSE still relied on human brokers and auction floors.
In the 1970s and 1980s, Nasdaq was full of scams, penny stocks, and manipulation. Just like the crypto market today, this was the time when characters like Jordan Belfort in The Wolf of Wall Street thrived, selling worthless “junk stocks” to investors.
“Gentlemen, I have a company here developing revolutionary aerospace technology. They’ve got Boeing and NASA on board. You don’t want to miss this opportunity,” Belfort would say.
Much like today’s crypto market, where KOLs (Key Opinion Leaders) hype up the next big project or meme token, back then, investors were sold these scams under the same logic: "This is a revolutionary new token with backing from Google, Visa, and Coinbase. Don’t miss out."
However, many of these early projects and tokens eventually faded. Just like Nasdaq, it took time for crypto to find its footing. With time, Nasdaq gained credibility and attracted major companies like Microsoft, Apple, and Intel, eventually becoming one of the largest exchanges in the world.
The early days of Nasdaq should serve as a lesson for crypto enthusiasts. Despite the market's chaos, crypto’s future lies in its unique strengths: fair launches, global liquidity, and early community involvement—much like Nasdaq’s early advantages, such as transparent pricing and electronic trading. The noise of the meme coins and altcoins will eventually quiet down, and the true value will emerge in the foundational projects like Tether, Ethereum, Polymarket, and Hyperliquid.
Binance already processes daily trading volumes approaching those of Nasdaq, with several hundred billion dollars traded daily. It is not far-fetched to imagine crypto exchanges surpassing Nasdaq and becoming the world’s largest capital markets in the future.
The End of the Meme Era: Crypto’s “iPhone Moment” is Near
Binance’s daily trading volume is already one-tenth of Nasdaq’s. The market cap of US dollar stablecoins is one-tenth of the total circulating dollars, and Bitcoin’s market cap is nearing one-tenth of gold’s market cap. Crypto’s next step is clear: it will become the mainstream.
Just as Apple and Microsoft were once niche products, crypto—through Ethereum, Tether, Solana, Binance, Hyperliquid, and others—remains in its developmental phase. But just as the internet took time to mature, so too will crypto. Once the foundational projects mature, Web3 will undergo a dramatic leap, and products like Amazon, Facebook, and TikTok will emerge in the crypto space, experiencing mass adoption.
Crypto, like the internet, is a broad concept that goes beyond cryptocurrencies themselves. It encompasses underlying protocols and companies like Hyperliquid and Binance. It will give rise to new application-driven companies, potentially transforming entire industries.
Technology is the ultimate driver of human progress, and crypto’s future will be intertwined with the next generation of tech. It will not just become part of the technology landscape but could even become the backbone of the next wave of technological advancement.
Disclaimer: This document is intended for informational and entertainment purposes only. The views expressed in this document are not, and should not be taken as, investment advice or recommendations. Recipients should do their own due diligence, taking into account their specific financial circumstances, investment objectives and risk tolerance, which are not considered here, before investing. This document is not an offer, or the solicitation of an offer, to buy or sell any of the assets mentioned.