Headline: Bitwise Predicts ICO Resurgence Driven by Coinbases New Platform by 2026 Translation: Bitwise Predicts ICO Resurgence Driven by Coinbases New Platform by 2026

The cryptocurrency industry is entering a new stage of evolution — a rethinking of the capital raising process. Bitwise’s CIO, Matt Hougan, believes that the launch of an ICO platform by Coinbase will be a pivotal moment in this trend.

The expert pointed out that digital assets have already begun transforming three areas of finance: Bitcoin as a gold equivalent, stablecoins as an alternative to dollar transfers, and tokenization as an innovative concept in trading. The fourth area will be fundraising for businesses.

According to him, the current IPO system is slow, expensive, and unprofitable for retail investors, who gain access to company shares at late stages, when major funds have already captured most of the profits.

Hougan recalled the ICO boom of 2017–2018, which he called a «complete disaster» due to fraud and a lack of regulations. However, that period proved that cryptocurrencies can swiftly and cost-effectively attract capital by connecting entrepreneurs directly with investors.

A significant development has been the new platform introduced by Coinbase. The exchange plans to select and launch one vetted project each month. This platform implements mandatory requirements: team verification, disclosure of information, and a six-month moratorium on token sales by insiders after the launch. This is an attempt to rectify the mistakes of the previous ICO era through self-regulation.

The expert predicted that by 2026, there would be at least six initial coin offerings on similar platforms, each exceeding one billion dollars in volume. This would demonstrate the efficacy of the new fundraising model.

In Hougan’s view, the revival of ICOs will positively impact Coinbase’s stock, as well as blockchain platforms like Ethereum and Solana, where projects will be launched. He advised investors to focus not on individual assets but on the overall market growth through diversified funds.

It is worth noting that in November, a top executive at Bitwise stated that companies with crypto assets on their balance sheets should shift towards implementing complex strategies, or they risk losing out to ETFs altogether.