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According to the accounting company PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), regulatory clarity is no longer the central barrier to the development of the digital currency ecosystem.
In its latest report, the company noted that global crypto regulation is moving towards greater consensus and identified 6 key trends for 2026.
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PwC identifies key global regulatory trends for the cryptocurrency industry in 2026
The first major trend In relation to stable currencies. PwC highlighted that the sector is transforming Its focus is on the formulation of frameworks To apply. Regulators impose binding rules regarding reserves, redemption rights, governance and disclosure.
In some areas, authorities also impose detention limits to reduce the risks associated with fast-moving water.
He entered Report : “Central banks begin testing interoperability between systemic stablecoins and payment systems.”
Second, the report highlighted the growing momentum around tokenized money. Tokenized bank deposits, tokenized cash equivalents, and wholesale central bank digital currencies are moving beyond pilot programs toward wider deployment.
PwC notes that policymakers are prioritizing cross-border settlement systems that combine tokenized assets with operable national payment networks.
On a larger scale, real-world asset (RWA) tokenization has emerged. As a main theme in 2026, with industry participants anticipating significant growth. This trend was also evident at the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, where the tokenization of cryptocurrency funds emerged as the most popular topic. Atsaqa and Broza In discussions related to cryptocurrencies.
Third, PwC identified consumer protection as another key regulatory focus. Licensed companies will face stricter expectations regarding marketing practices, product suitability and customer outcomes, the report said.
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“Financial promotion and product governance obligations are integrated into the digital currency license. Licensed companies will be required to demonstrate fair value results, transparent marketing, fit testing and customer compensation mechanisms,” said PwC.
Fourth, at the institutional level, use cases are also expanding as regulators demonstrate how Approval of digital assets as eligible collateral In frameworks such as UMR.
As long as these assets meet the requirements of liquidity, valuation, tenure, operational flexibility and legal enforceability, approval becomes more achievable. This supports wider institutional use of selected crypto assets in the collateral and derivatives markets.
Fifth, the report also indicates stricter expectations for digital currency brokers. According to PwC,
“Cryptocurrency exchanges, custodians, and stablecoin issuers have been brought into full governance and operational resilience regimes. Supervisors implement capital planning, segregation, liquidity and recovery requirements equivalent to financial market infrastructure standards.”
Finally, PwC added this Decentralized finance is done Always more valued from the same perspective as traditional markets. Regulators are expanding expectations around market integrity, transparency, monitoring and conflict management in centralized and chain trading environments, signaling a convergence towards global behavioral standards.
Forces Affecting Cryptocurrencies Beyond Regulation
Beyond regulatory trends, the report also draws attention to non-regulatory forces shaping the current state of cryptocurrencies:
- Cryptocurrencies have become part of everyday finance: It is increasingly used to move and settle funds through stablecoins, tokenized cash, and on-chain payments.
- I did The institutional implication outweighed the potential reversibility: you get up Major financial institutions and companies Integrate digital assets into core systems and processes.
- The infrastructure matures and specializes: The industry is moving towards standardized services with higher standards of security, reliability and interoperability.
- Local realities shape adoption: Despite global networks, the use of digital currencies varies by region, driven by economic needs and financial infrastructure.
