**Vitalik Buterin has pledged that 2026 will be the year the Ethereum community begins to reverse the 'backsliding' of personal autonomy in crypto.**

In a recent X post, Buterin declared, **'2026 is the year that we take back lost ground in terms of self-sovereignty and trustlessness.'** This announcement signals a major shift for Ethereum, focusing on reclaiming core values that have eroded over time.

### Key Improvements on the Horizon

Buterin outlined several critical areas for enhancement:
- **Boosting onchain privacy** through initiatives like the **Kohaku effort** at the Ethereum Foundation.
- Making it easier to **run a full node**, **use dapps**, and **take control over personal data**.
- Implementing **social recovery wallets and timelocks** to prevent loss of funds from misplaced seed phrases, a feature that started gaining traction with **EIP-7702** during Ethereum's Pectra upgrade.
- Improving **privacy UX** to enable private payments with the same ease as public ones.

### Ongoing Efforts and Future Upgrades

Ethereum developers have been laying the groundwork for these improvements, targeting upcoming upgrades like **Glamsterdam**. The Ethereum Foundation has refocused its **Privacy Cluster** and is working on the **Kohaku wallet framework**. Other proposals, such as **ERC-4337 for account abstraction** and **FOCIL**, aim to enhance censorship resistance.

Buterin emphasized the importance of using **dapps from onchain UIs with IPFS** to avoid reliance on trusted servers, which could compromise asset recovery or security. He also highlighted tools like the **Helios client**, which allows trustless interaction with Ethereum without running a full node, and cryptographic techniques like **Oblivious RAM (ORAM)** and **Private Information Retrieval (PIR)** to prevent privacy leaks.

### Addressing Past Compromises

Buterin acknowledged that Ethereum has seen **serious backsliding** in recent years, with nodes becoming harder to run, dapps leaking data, and increased centralization in block building. He stated, **'In 2026, no longer. Every compromise of values that Ethereum has made up to this point... we are making that compromise no longer.'**

This vision aims to restore Ethereum's foundational principles, ensuring it remains a robust and user-centric ecosystem.

Buterin said major improvements are underway to make it easier to run a full node, use dapps, and take control over personal data.

Vitalik Buterin's Bold Vision: 2026 Marks Ethereum's Comeback to Self-Sovereignty and Trustlessness

Cryptocurrency credit and debit card spending is experiencing rapid growth as digital payments become increasingly mainstream. These innovative payment solutions allow users to spend **stablecoins** and other cryptocurrencies like **Bitcoin (BTC)** and **Ethereum (ETH)** at traditional merchants, bridging the gap between crypto and everyday commerce.

### Crypto Card Volumes Skyrocket

New data from Artemis reveals that crypto cards have emerged as one of the fastest-growing segments in the payments industry. Monthly crypto card volumes have surged dramatically from **$100 million in 2023 to over $1.5 billion by the end of 2025**. The annual market for crypto cards now exceeds **$18 billion**, nearly matching the volume of peer-to-peer stablecoin transfers.

### Visa Leads the Crypto Card Revolution

The crypto card market largely operates on the same infrastructure as traditional **Visa and Mastercard payment networks**, but Visa has established a dominant position. Through strategic partnerships with various crypto companies, Visa captures more than **90% of on-chain card volumes**. In 2025 alone, Visa's stablecoin card spending reached **$3.5 billion**, representing 19% of total crypto card volumes.

### Popular Cryptocurrencies for Card Spending

The most widely used stablecoins linked to crypto cards are **USD Coin (USDC)**, administered by Circle Internet Group, and **Tether's USDT**. However, many crypto cards also enable users to spend fractions of **Bitcoin or Ethereum**, providing flexibility for crypto holders.

### Market Outlook and Growth Expectations

Artemis anticipates continued expansion of the crypto card market as adoption increases. This growth benefits established payment companies like Visa, which has positioned itself at the forefront of this financial innovation.

### Analyst Perspective on Visa Stock

Wall Street analysts maintain a bullish outlook on Visa's stock, with a consensus **Strong Buy rating** among 26 analysts. This rating is based on 23 Buy and three Hold recommendations issued over the last three months. The average price target of **$405.00 suggests 23.59% upside potential** from current levels.

![Visa Stock Forecast Chart](https://blog.tipranks.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/image-1625.png)

Visa is leading the pack when it comes to digital payments. 


Crypto Card Spending Explodes to $18 Billion: Visa Dominates as Digital Payments Go Mainstream

Crypto sentiment took a sharp downturn toward the end of 2025, with Bitcoin sliding into a $70,000–$80,000 range as leverage unwound and enthusiasm faded. However, by early January, the tone began to shift. As of now, crypto is pushing to fresh highs once again: **Bitcoin is trading above $96,600**, and **Ethereum has climbed past $3,350**—despite major equity indices being broadly lower today.

![Bitcoin Price Chart](https://blog.tipranks.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/image-1483.png)

The macro backdrop is amplifying the long-term crypto narrative. Iran’s rial collapsed overnight and is now barely usable abroad, serving as a real-time reminder of **fiat fragility** and reinforcing the case for **BTC**. Meanwhile, spot ETFs, always-on derivatives markets, and early tokenized products are pulling ETH deeper into mainstream finance and institutional asset-allocation workflows. If this marks the first chapter of a new up-cycle, **Strategy (MSTR), BitMine (BMNR), and Coinbase (COIN)** provide three distinct ways to position for the rebound.

## Strategy (NASDAQ:MSTR)

Strategy has become a listed **Bitcoin vacuum cleaner**. Today, it controls roughly **687,410 BTC**, after adding 13,627 coins in its largest weekly purchase, funded once again mainly with at-the-market equity and perpetual preferred issuance.

The key variable here is the stock’s premium relative to the value of the coins. For most of the second half of last year, the premium investors were willing to pay for MSTR compressed. Even so, the stock still trades above NAV at about 1.1x today, meaning **Bitcoin accumulation remains accretive** on a per-share basis even when funded through common stock issuance. As long as Bitcoin appreciates by more than roughly 10%-13% per year, which is the cost of capital for preferreds, BTC accumulation from this capital-raising avenue should be accretive and generate value.

![MSTR Stock Analysis](https://blog.tipranks.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/image-1346.png)

While MSTR will continue to be incredibly volatile, if you want public-equity exposure to a team that has shown it will use capital markets relentlessly to keep adding BTC through thick and thin, the stock remains the loudest **“applified BTC” pure-play**.

### Is MSTR Stock a Buy, Hold, or Sell?

Analyst sentiment remains quite positive on Strategy. The stock carries a **Strong Buy** consensus rating, based on 121 Buy and two Hold ratings on Wall Street. No analyst rates the stock a Sell. Also, **MSTR’s average stock price target of $448.18** implies ~156% upside potential over the next twelve months.

![MSTR Analyst Ratings](https://blog.tipranks.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/image-1484-1024x761.png)

That said, and coming from someone who remains bullish on the stock, this price target should be taken with a grain of salt, as it is of limited significance given the far more dynamic nature of the business.

## BitMine (NYSE:BMNR)

BitMine Immersion Technologies has been steadily building a large **ETH position** rather than adopting the maximalist posture you see with MSTR. It now reports holding about **4.17 million ETH**, or roughly 3.4 to 3.5 percent of total supply, plus a smaller BTC position and enough cash, for a total crypto and cash balance of around $14 billion. Mining, consulting, and power hosting increasingly exist to support that Ethereum-centric treasury rather than to define the business.

The twist is that BitMine is not content to let that ether sit idle. It has staked over a million ETH already and has recently made additional deposits, bringing total staked balances to the 1.25–1.5 million range as it builds out its **“Made in America” MAVAN validator network**. With staking yields in the low single digits, that kind of position could still generate something like high eight-figure or even low nine-figure annual rewards, assuming ETH prices and network conditions stay roughly where they are. And for a company this exposed to crypto, the balance sheet looks surprisingly clean.

Balance-sheet risk looks non-existent for a company this exposed to crypto. The company is essentially debt-free, so there is no liquidation risk even if Ethereum experiences significant drops. In the meantime, management claims that share issuances to continue stacking ETH occur above NAV. Thus, similar to MSTR, they are accretive to common shareholders. Therefore, if you are looking to buy into the **“tokenize everything” idea** and think Ethereum remains the core settlement layer, BMNR is a concentrated way to express that view.

### Is BMNR Stock a Good Buy?

On Wall Street, BMNR stock features a **Moderate Buy** consensus rating, based on two Buy ratings. Not a single analyst rates the stock a Hold or a Sell, though coverage remains rather limited. Also, **BitMine’s average stock price target of $43** implies ~35% upside potential over the next 12 months. However, for the same reasons discussed in the MSTR case, this price target should be treated with caution.

![BMNR Analyst Ratings](https://blog.tipranks.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/image-1485-1024x711.png)

## Coinbase (NASDAQ:COIN)

Where MSTR and BMNR are asset-level conviction bets, **Coinbase is the infrastructure trade**. Last year, it became the first crypto-native member of the **S&P 500 (SPX)**, forcing index trackers to own at least a slice of the sector and giving the company a different kind of Wall Street credibility. In addition, it closed the acquisition of derivatives heavyweight Deribit and launched 24/7 CFTC-regulated futures in the U.S., bringing spot, futures, perpetuals, and a major options business under one listed roof.

Management’s ambition is to turn that roof into an **“everything exchange”** where users can trade crypto, tokenized stocks, ETFs, and regulated prediction markets inside a single app. In practical terms, this is already evident in zero-commission U.S. stock and ETF trading for eligible users and in an expanding lineup of perpetual contracts. It’s also showing in the agreement to acquire The Clearing Company to accelerate its push into prediction markets. All of this aligns with Coinbase’s broader institutional view that, by 2026, crypto will have faded into the background and become simple market infrastructure rather than a standalone product.

![COIN Stock Analysis](https://blog.tipranks.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/image-1354.png)

Surely, none of this makes COIN a low-drama hold. Even with the SEC case behind it, the company is not completely out of the woods on the regulatory front, and its earnings are still heavily tied to trading volumes and spreads. That means the stock can trade like a high-beta bet on risk appetite when markets turn ugly. But for investors who think more assets, more trading, and more institutional flows are heading onto on-chain rails and 24/7 markets, owning the biggest listed gateway to that system is a defensible, if jumpy, way to play it.

### Is COIN Stock a Good Buy?

On Wall Street, Coinbase stock has a **Moderate Buy** consensus rating, based on 18 Buy, seven Hold, and one Sell ratings. Also, **COIN’s average stock price target of $352.08** implies ~36% upside potential over the next 12 months.

![COIN Analyst Ratings](https://blog.tipranks.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/image-1487-1024x764.png)

Whether you prefer Bitcoin maximalism, an Ethereum yield-bearing treasury, or picks-and-shovels infrastructure, the common thread is that **crypto is reasserting itself as a macro asset class**. Volatility will remain high, but the direction of travel is clear: more institutional adoption, greater financialization, and more ways for public-market investors to participate.

Sentiment in crypto deteriorated sharply into the back end of 2025. Over the holiday period, Bitcoin slid into a $70,000–$80,000 range as leverage was unwound and e...

Crypto Mania Returns: How MSTR, BMNR, and COIN Stocks Are Poised to Ride the Next Wave

## The Unregulated Crypto Industry: A Breeding Ground for Corruption

Cryptocurrency, once viewed with skepticism by many political leaders, has become a powerful tool for **political corruption** and a source of unprecedented financial power for those in office. This new financial frontier is reshaping American politics while leaving ordinary investors vulnerable to devastating losses.

### A Victim's Story: $3 Million Vanished Overnight

Brandon LaRoque, a veteran and former bar owner from Raleigh, North Carolina, discovered his life savings had disappeared from his cryptocurrency wallet. "I clicked on the app, and I noticed that my XRP had all been just disappeared," he recounted. "1,210,000 XRP. It was worth approximately $3 million. It was our life savings."

LaRoque's experience highlights the **lack of consumer protections** in the crypto space. When he contacted law enforcement, he found no cybercrimes units equipped to handle his case, and the FBI offered little hope of recovery. "I think there's, like, less than a 1 percent chance of getting any of our crypto back," he said.

### The Regulatory Rollback and Political Profiteering

President Donald Trump, who once called bitcoin "seems like a scam," has since made a dramatic reversal. His administration has **rolled back regulation** of the crypto industry while he and his family have earned billions from their own crypto ventures.

**World Liberty Financial**, a cryptocurrency platform created by Trump, his sons, and external partners in August 2024, has become particularly controversial. The platform sells WLFI tokens that "don't really do much, but allow people to buy favor with the president, essentially," according to crypto researcher Molly White.

### Buying Influence and Evading Justice

The connections between crypto investments and political favors have become alarmingly clear:

* **Justin Sun**, a foreign national prohibited from contributing to U.S. campaigns, made a $75 million purchase of WLFI tokens. Shortly after, his SEC lawsuit alleging fraud was paused and essentially dropped. Trump and his family take a 75 percent cut of token sales.

* **Coinbase** spent millions on political contributions, including sponsorship of Trump's military parade and $1 million to his inauguration fund. After Trump took office, the SEC enforcement case against them was dismissed with prejudice.

"We're talking **billions of dollars** at this point" in profits for the Trump family from crypto businesses, White estimates.

### The Scale of Consumer Losses

Molly White maintains a running tally of money lost in crypto schemes and scams since 2021. "The running total on my website for the money that's been lost is almost **$80 billion**, and that's actually a very conservative estimate," she revealed.

These losses stem from various risks in the unregulated crypto space:

* **"Rug pulls"** where creators artificially inflate token prices before selling everything
* **Exchange collapses** like FTX in 2022
* **Direct theft** through hacking
* **Lack of insurance** or government protection for deposits

### Crypto's Role in Undermining Democracy

The crypto industry has become a **major political force**, spending unprecedented amounts to influence elections:

* Over **$150 million** contributed to pro-cryptocurrency super PACs in 2024
* Approximately **$130 million** spent influencing congressional races
* At one point, almost **half of all corporate spending** came from the cryptocurrency industry

"The industry saying, 'If you don't support us, we are going to crush you with millions and millions of dollars,'" White described. This spending often targets pro-consumer protection legislators, with plans already underway for the 2026 midterms.

### The "Bitcoin Strategic Reserve" and Government Speculation

The Trump administration has created a **"Bitcoin Strategic Reserve"** and **"Digital Asset Stockpile"** through executive order. These initiatives take crypto assets seized through law enforcement and pledge to hold them rather than sell them, essentially having the U.S. government engage in crypto speculation.

This creates concerning possibilities:

* **Reduced congressional oversight** over government spending
* **Potential slush funds** for presidential use without allocation approval
* **Government endorsement** of specific crypto assets driving market demand

### International Parallels: El Salvador's Failed Experiment

El Salvador's experience with making bitcoin a national currency offers a cautionary tale. President Nayib Bukele unilaterally decided to create a national bitcoin fund, forcing businesses to accept cryptocurrency and citizens to download crypto wallets.

"It was ultimately not very beneficial to Salvadoran people," White explained. "There were technical problems with the bitcoin wallet... that resulted in people's assets being stolen from them. It was, frankly, fairly disastrous."

### The Revolving Door and Regulatory Capture

The Trump administration has installed former crypto industry executives in regulatory positions, creating a **revolving door** between the industry and its supposed overseers. Executive orders have instructed the SEC, CFTC, and Department of Justice to "back off from the cryptocurrency industry."

### The Future of Crypto in Politics

As the 2026 elections approach, the crypto industry shows no signs of reducing its political involvement. New super PACs have already committed to spending **$100 million** in the midterms, with politicians openly encouraging the industry to "fire the legislators that are in your way."

The anonymity of cryptocurrency transactions also raises concerns about **foreign influence** and **untraceable political contributions**, potentially creating new channels for corruption that bypass traditional campaign finance laws.

This new source of money is giving the administration unprecedented new powers.

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