Прогнозы a16z: будущее интеграции криптоинструментов в традиционный бизнес и новые форматы медиа Translation: a16z Predictions: The Future of Integrating Crypto Tools into Traditional Business and New Media Formats

Experts have also predicted the emergence of a new media format.

By 2026, the digital asset market will focus on integrating tools such as prediction platforms and cryptographic proofs into traditional business frameworks and infrastructure. This forecast was shared by analysts at a16z crypto.

According to them, cryptocurrency-native tools are increasingly penetrating sectors that expand far beyond decentralized finance. This trend is fueled by advancements in cryptography, artificial intelligence, and the development of new economic systems and regulations, allowing blockchains to act as foundational infrastructure rather than merely end products.

As per a16z’s predictions, prediction markets are expected to grow larger, broader, and more complex due to the intersection of crypto technologies and AI.

By the end of 2025, the total trading volume on the two largest platforms—Polymarket and Kalshi—is projected to reach $28 billion.

The company’s scientific advisor, Andy Hall, noted that future developments will not just be determined by the increase in contracts, but by the enhancement of methods for establishing truth in resolving disputed outcomes.

As an example, he cited recent conflicts surrounding political and geopolitical markets, which clearly demonstrated that centralized arbitration mechanisms struggle to keep up with scaling demands. This has created a sustained need for decentralized governance models and AI-driven oracles to define outcomes more objectively and transparently.

a16z also believes that 2026 could be a turning point for zero-knowledge (ZK) proof technologies, which are poised for widespread adoption in traditional sectors unrelated to blockchain.

Justin Taller, a participant in the company’s research team, emphasized that advancements in zkEVM technology have significantly reduced the costs associated with generating proofs. This makes it economically viable to use computations even for cloud CPU tasks, and potentially for consumer devices in the long term.

According to the expert, such a technological shift will pave the way for long-discussed applications like verifiable cloud computing. Businesses will be able to obtain cryptographic guarantees that computations are conducted correctly without the need for redundant runs or costly audits.

As the overhead costs of generating proofs continue to decline and hardware performance improves, cryptographic verification may transition from being an «exotic» feature of blockchains to a standard component of digital infrastructure as a whole.

The third trend is the emergence of staked media. The concept is that content creators can establish publicly verifiable commitments through tokens and smart contracts, directly linking their reputational incentives to their own statements and forecasts.

«Given that AI has made it cheap and easy to generate endless content—asserting anything from any perspective or on behalf of any character, real or fictional—simple trust in people’s (or bots’) words may prove insufficient,” explained Robert Hackett from a16z’s editorial division.

He stated that such a mechanism would enable media figures to demonstrate their neutrality and objectivity. For instance, when expressing their position or prediction, an expert could stake tokens to show they are not engaging in speculation or a Pump & Dump scheme.

“Alternatively, an analyst could tie their forecasts to public markets, thereby creating a verifiable track record,” added Hackett.

He stressed that this new format will not displace traditional media but will “serve as a significant complement” to them.

It is worth recalling that a16z has named privacy as the main focus of the crypto market in 2026.