Coinbase Ventures reveals top areas to watch in 2026
Perpetual contracts, next-gen DeFi, and privacy-focused tools could redefine capital efficiency and blockchain adoption next year.
Coinbase Ventures has shared the ideas its team is most excited about for 2026, highlighting areas with high potential for innovation in crypto and blockchain. Key sectors include asset tokenisation, specialised exchanges, next-generation DeFi, and AI-driven robotics.
The firm is actively seeking teams to invest in these emerging opportunities.
Perpetual contracts on real-world assets are set to expand, enabling synthetic exposure to private companies, commodities, and macroeconomic data. Specialised exchanges and trading terminals aim to consolidate liquidity, protect market makers, and improve the prediction market user experience.
Next-gen DeFi will expand with composable perpetual markets, unsecured lending, and privacy-focused applications. These developments could redefine capital efficiency, financial infrastructure, and user confidentiality across the ecosystem.
AI and robotics are also a focus, with projects targeting advanced robotic data collection, proof-of-humanity solutions, and AI-driven innovative contract development. Coinbase Ventures emphasises the potential for these technologies to accelerate on-chain adoption and innovation.
Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!