a16z Crypto: Crypto Enters the "Infrastructure Era," Predicting Markets, Verifiable Computing, and Staking Media to Reshape 2026

Odaily News a16z Crypto stated in its new outlook report that the next phase of industry development this year will no longer primarily depend on the emergence of new blockchains, but more on how this technology reshapes markets, computing infrastructure, and the media landscape. a16z Crypto indicated that as prediction markets converge with crypto technology and artificial intelligence, by 2026, prediction markets will be larger in scale, broader in scope, and more complex; the next phase of growth will not only involve more contracts but also better ways to resolve the determination of truth in disputed outcomes. Furthermore, 2026 could be a turning point for the expansion of cryptographic proofs into non-blockchain industries. Advances in zero-knowledge virtual machine technology are significantly reducing the cost of generating proofs, making verifiable computing feasible for cloud CPU workloads and eventually even on consumer-grade devices.

At the same time, the industry is poised for transformation as prediction markets scale up, cryptographic proofs integrate into enterprise systems, and "real money at stake" in the financial sector becomes a new cornerstone of trust. Driven by advancements in cryptography, artificial intelligence, and market design, crypto-native tools are increasingly permeating numerous industries beyond decentralized finance. Blockchain will function as underlying infrastructure rather than as an independent application scenario or end goal. (The Block)