Institutions are cautiously optimistic about 2026, with the "Crypto Market Structure Act" becoming a focal point of concern

BlockBeats News, January 10 — A team led by Goldman Sachs analyst James Yaro stated in a report: “We believe that the improvement in the regulatory environment is a key driver in encouraging ongoing institutional adoption of cryptocurrencies, especially for buy-side and sell-side financial institutions. At the same time, new use cases for cryptocurrencies beyond trading are also developing.” The report specifically mentions the long-awaited U.S. Market Structure Act currently being promoted in Congress, viewing it as a critical catalyst.

Goldman Sachs analysts warn that the bill needs to be passed by the first half of 2026, as the November U.S. midterm elections could cause delays in the process.

Others have echoed Goldman Sachs’s predictions for Bitcoin and the crypto market. Jim Ferraioli, Director of Crypto Research and Strategy at Charles Schwab’s Center for Financial Research, commented via email: “After the sharp sell-off at the end of 2025, the pace of institutional adoption may slow in the first half of this year, but the passage of the ‘Clarity Act’ could accelerate the entry of genuine institutional investors.”

The anticipated wave of positive crypto legislation has prompted Bitcoin bulls to raise their price forecasts for 2026. Youwei Yang, Chief Economist at Bit Mining, stated: “2026 could be a strong year for Bitcoin, with potential rate cuts and a more accommodating regulatory attitude toward the crypto sector providing support.” He predicted that Bitcoin’s price in 2026 could reach as high as 22.5K@E5, but also noted: “Given ongoing macroeconomic and geopolitical uncertainties, market volatility could intensify.”