Trend Research Head Yi Lihua Eyes Major 2026 Opportunities, Boosts ETH Exposure

Trend Research founder Yi Lihua has made a significant move in positioning for what he views as a pivotal year ahead. According to recent insights shared on X, the research firm is substantially increasing its Ethereum (ETH) exposure, adding 11,520 tokens to its portfolio. This strategic allocation reflects strong conviction in the cryptocurrency’s trajectory throughout 2026.

The timing of this move aligns with notable developments in the derivatives markets. ETH futures positions have reached fresh peaks, signaling strong institutional and sophisticated trader participation. At current levels, Ethereum is trading around $3.15K with a 24-hour gain of +1.16%, reflecting ongoing market momentum in the sector.

Market Environment Shaping 2026 Strategy

Yi Lihua highlighted several macroeconomic and policy factors that underpin his bullish outlook for the year, particularly emphasizing the first quarter as a critical period. The anticipated rate cut environment, combined with increasingly favorable cryptocurrency regulatory developments, is expected to create tailwinds for on-chain finance infrastructure and stablecoin adoption.

The convergence of these factors—monetary easing, regulatory clarity, and institutional interest—suggests a favorable backdrop for blockchain-native financial products. This perspective aligns with why Trend Research is maintaining substantial positions across a diversified portfolio of major assets.

Portfolio Positioning and Key Holdings

Beyond the ETH allocation increase, the firm is sustaining significant commitments to Bitcoin (BTC), currently trading at $92.84K (+2.34%), and several other strategic holdings. Bitcoin’s 24-hour surge underscores the broader market conviction. The portfolio also includes meaningful positions in BCH (trading at $646.62, +1.80%), BNB (at $903.50, +2.20%), and WLFI (priced at $0.17, +1.59%).

Yi emphasized that Trend Research intends to continue its aggressive ETH accumulation strategy while preserving heavy allocations in these complementary assets. This multi-asset approach reflects a comprehensive bet on both established cryptocurrencies and emerging DeFi-related tokens that could benefit from the anticipated market conditions in 2026.