Share
Share this article
Copy linkX (Twitter)LinkedInFacebookEmail
Markets
Share
Share this article
Copy linkX (Twitter)LinkedInFacebookEmail
Famed Coinbase backer Fred Wilson predicts 2
Markets
Share
Share this article
Copy linkX (Twitter)LinkedInFacebookEmail
Famed Coinbase backer Fred Wilson predicts 2
Famed Coinbase backer Fred Wilson predicts 2026 UX pivot for crypto
Famed Coinbase backer Fred Wilson predicts 2026 UX pivot for crypto
The VC mogul has previously said crypto apps must hide blockchain complexity or risk missing mass-market adoption.
By Helene Braun, AI Boost|Edited by Cheyenne Ligon
Jan 5, 2026, 5:49 p.m.
(Noam Galai/Getty Images for TechCrunch)
What to know:
- Fred Wilson predicts crypto will become more user-friendly in 2026.
- Wilson, who was an early investor in Coinbase, wrote his first post about bitcoin in 2011, calling it an "interesting investment opportunity."
Fred Wilson, one of the most influential venture capitalists in the U.S., thinks crypto’s breakthrough moment in 2026 won’t come from new blockchains — but from making them invisible to their end users.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW
Don't miss another story.Subscribe to the Crypto Daybook Americas Newsletter today. See all newsletters
Sign me up
“Blockchains disappear behind better consumer interfaces that allow users to use, spend, trade, and send tokens without concerning themselves with which blockchain they are on,” Wilson, who called bitcoin BTC$93,949.62 an "interesting investment opportunity" back in 2011, wrote in a blog post published last week.
The prediction, tucked into a longer set of Wilson's tech forecasts for 2026, reflects a view he has held for years: blockchain’s promise depends on ease of use, not technical horsepower.
Wilson is a founding partner of Union Square Ventures (USV), the New York-based VC firm behind early bets on Twitter, Etsy, and Tumblr. In crypto, he was early to Coinbase (COIN), Ethereum ETH$3,200.30, and Filecoin FIL$1.6021, and remains a consistent voice in long-term conversations about how blockchain could reshape the internet.
Wilson, who has often described blockchains as the “next big thing” after social and mobile, has also been openly critical of the crypto industry’s worst habits. He’s pushed back against the culture of hype and token speculation, warning that short-term greed threatens the long-term credibility of the space.
That real work, in Wilson’s view, includes things like decentralized identity, peer-to-peer finance, and open protocols that anyone can build on.
In past posts, he’s compared the current state of crypto to the early internet, when even sending an email required a level of technical know-how.
The path forward, he seems to believe, lies in better design. Apps should handle the infrastructure details — like what chain a transaction is on — in the background, so that users can focus on what they want to do, not how they’re doing it.
For Wilson, this isn’t just a UX issue — it’s the difference between crypto staying a niche technology and achieving broad adoption.
Fred Wilson
AI Disclaimer: Parts of this article were generated with the assistance from AI tools and reviewed by our editorial team to ensure accuracy and adherence to our standards. For more information, see CoinDesk's full AI Policy.
More For You
KuCoin Hits Record Market Share as 2025 Volumes Outpace Crypto Market
Commissioned byKuCoin
KuCoin captured a record share of centralised exchange volume in 2025, with more than $1.25tn traded as its volumes grew faster than the wider crypto market.
What to know:
- KuCoin recorded over $1.25 trillion in total trading volume in 2025, equivalent to an average of roughly $114 billion per month, marking its strongest year on record.
- This performance translated into an all-time high share of centralised exchange volume, as KuCoin’s activity expanded faster than aggregate CEX volumes, which slowed during periods of lower market volatility.
- Spot and derivatives volumes were evenly split, each exceeding $500 billion for the year, signalling broad-based usage rather than reliance on a single product line.
- Altcoins accounted for the majority of trading activity, reinforcing KuCoin’s role as a primary liquidity venue beyond BTC and ETH at a time when majors saw more muted turnover.
- Even as overall crypto volumes softened mid-year, KuCoin maintained elevated baseline activity, indicating structurally higher user engagement rather than short-lived volume spikes.
View Full Report
More For You
Filecoin surges 6%, outperforms wider crypto markets
The storage token outperformed the broader crypto market during a volatile session.
What to know:
- FIL jumped 6% on Monday to $1.59 outpacing the broader crypto market.
- The CoinDesk 20 index was 2.2% higher.
Read full story
Latest Crypto News
Filecoin surges 6%, outperforms wider crypto markets
Tom Lee calls for a new bitcoin ATH in January, while warning of a volatile 2026
BNB token ticks higher as technical upgrades frame tight price compression
Goldman Sachs sees regulation driving next wave of institutional crypto adoption
Robinhood leaning into advanced traders as crypto volatility reshapes user behavior
Bitcoin rally masks fragile liquidity as spot volumes hit year-long lows
Top Stories
Tom Lee calls for a new bitcoin ATH in January, while warning of a volatile 2026
Bitcoin eyes $94,000 as crypto prices manage early U.S. gains for second straight session
Goldman Sachs sees regulation driving next wave of institutional crypto adoption
Bitcoin rally masks fragile liquidity as spot volumes hit year-long lows
Crypto wallet firm Ledger faces customer data breach through payment processor Global-e
Memecoin comeback talk builds as DOGE, SHIB, BONK rally in early 2026
Market Opportunity
Fred Price(FRED)
$0.0009917
$0.0009917$0.0009917
USD
Fred (FRED) Live Price Chart
Disclaimer: The articles reposted on this site are sourced from public platforms and are provided for informational purposes only. They do not necessarily reflect the views of MEXC. All rights remain with the original authors. If you believe any content infringes on third-party rights, please contact service@support.mexc.com for removal. MEXC makes no guarantees regarding the accuracy, completeness, or timeliness of the content and is not responsible for any actions taken based on the information provided. The content does not constitute financial, legal, or other professional advice, nor should it be considered a recommendation or endorsement by MEXC.
You May Also Like
SUI Surges From Consolidation, Buyers Regain Control Above $1.78
SUI had a good start to 2026 after a long consolidation, finally breaking higher above pivotal support. On the 4-hour timeline, the coin transitioned from relative
Share
Tronweekly2026/01/12 18:05
Trove ICO Rule Changes Allegedly Impact Trader Losses
Allegations of modifications to Trove's ICO rules reportedly influenced significant market reactions, leading to notable trader losses and concerns about fairness
Share
coinlineup2026/01/12 18:44
SUI Price Eyes Breakout, Targets $11 Says Analyst
The post SUI Price Eyes Breakout, Targets $11 Says Analyst appeared on BitcoinEthereumNews.com. SUI price shows a technical setup for a macro breakout with analyst Dan Gambardello targeting $10-$11 levels. Recent partnership with Google’s Agentic Payments Protocol adds fundamental support to the technical analysis as SUI moves closer to potential breakout levels. SUI Price Analysis Points to $10-$11 Breakout Target Dan Gambardello has identified a clear ascending triangle formation on SUI price daily chart with upside targets around $10.79. The analyst simplified this target range to $10-$11 for practical trading purposes. The pattern shows sustained higher lows meeting resistance at current levels before a potential breakout. VanEck maintains more aggressive SUI crypto targets ranging from $13-$25 according to Gambardello’s research. SUI Price Analysis | Source: Dan Gambardello, X The $10 level is a more conservative higher high area for the current cycle. Midterm targets point to $7.50 in the 1.618 Fibonacci extension zone before longer-term objectives. The monthly RSI shows extreme compression that Gambardello describes as “screaming for a macro breakout to the upside.” This momentum oscillator behavior typically precedes major price movements in the crypto market. SUI crypto risk model currently sits at 51 and matches pre-bull market levels seen in coins like Ethereum. Gambardello compared this to Ethereum’s December 2020 reading of 51 before its major breakout. The March 2017 Ethereum reading of 53 preceded that cycle’s parabolic move. The analyst also noted that SUI price trades near the same levels from almost a year ago in November 2024. Bollinger Bands Signal Historic Compression CryptoBullet has identified the tightest Bollinger Bands in SUI’s entire trading history on the weekly chart. The BBW indicator compression reached levels that were historically followed by major price movements. This setup mirrors conditions before SUI’s previous major rallies. Historical data shows SUI price delivered +253% gains between December 2023 and March 2024 following similar compression. SUI…
Share
BitcoinEthereumNews2025/09/18 11:32