Cathie Wood, CEO of Ark Invest, is known for making bold predictions—and this time, she’s zeroing in on the crypto networks she believes will define the next market cycle. According to Wood, institutional capital has permanently transformed the digital-asset landscape. Market volatility already behaves differently than in previous cycles, and three networks stand out as long-term winners: Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana. Each plays a uniquely important role in the future of crypto investing.

Why Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana Lead the List

1. Bitcoin (BTC): The Institutional Base Layer

Bitcoin remains Wood’s top pick, driven largely by liquidity. Large institutions require deep, stable markets before allocating serious capital—and Bitcoin still offers the strongest entry point. As the first and largest crypto asset, Bitcoin sets the tone for the entire industry.
Its fundamentals remain powerful. The most recent halving on April 20, 2024, reduced mining rewards to 3.125 BTC per block, slowing supply growth. Historically, each halving has triggered multi-year appreciation cycles. With issuance now lower than ever, long-term structural demand continues building.

2. Ethereum (ETH): The Institutional Innovation Layer

Ethereum takes second place thanks to its growing role in institutional infrastructure. Enterprises, banks, and funds already build applications on Ethereum’s base layer, while Layer-2 networks offer scalable throughput without compromising security.
Ethereum may seem less flashy than newer chains, but for professional capital, reliability outweighs hype. Its ecosystem supports stable, predictable development—an attractive trait for institutional portfolios.

3. Solana (SOL): The Consumer Adoption Engine

Solana ranks third as the most user-friendly major network. Its speed, low fees, and simple architecture allow developers to create games, social apps, and payment tools without navigating complex layers.
This consumer-first experience is driving adoption at a rapid pace. Users interact with Solana apps the way they interact with traditional web platforms—making it an ideal network for mainstream onboarding.

How Institutions Are Redefining Crypto Cycles

Wood argues that the classic four-year Bitcoin boom-and-bust cycle is fading. Institutional involvement is replacing speculative trading behavior. Long-term holders now dominate the supply, reducing volatility and dampening extreme price swings.
Bitcoin increasingly behaves like a macro-sensitive risk asset—reacting to economic growth, stock-market trends, and global liquidity conditions. This signals maturity, not weakness.

Ethereum and Solana show similar patterns. Valuations are now more closely tied to broader market forces rather than retail-driven hype. Crypto is effectively becoming part of global portfolio construction.

A Clear Roadmap for the Next 3–5 Years

Cathie Wood’s rankings outline a disciplined new structure for crypto investing:

• Bitcoin offers liquidity and macro-level durability.
• Ethereum delivers secure, institutional-grade innovation.
• Solana powers mainstream consumer adoption.

Together, these networks form a stronger foundation for a maturing digital-asset ecosystem—one defined less by wild speculation and more by long-term utility, integration, and professional capital.

The United Kingdom has introduced a sweeping new regulatory framework designed to reshape how Bitcoin and the broader crypto market operate within the country. Led by the Treasury and the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), the framework is expected to be fully implemented by late 2026, marking one of the most significant shifts in the UK’s approach to digital assets.

Key Takeaways

• The UK has set a formal regulatory structure for Bitcoin and cryptocurrency markets.
• The framework introduces newly regulated activities across the crypto sector.
• Digital assets are now officially recognized as personal property under UK law.

A New Era of Crypto Regulation in the UK

Instead of issuing a broad crackdown, the UK has released a detailed regulatory regime covering Bitcoin, stablecoins, and a range of cryptoassets. This structured approach brings oversight to areas previously left unregulated, creating clearer rules for companies and investors.

The FCA will take the lead in writing and enforcing the rulebook governing crypto operations. Meanwhile, HMRC will introduce new tax-reporting requirements. In parallel, the Ministry of Justice has passed new legislation confirming that digital assets now qualify as personal property, giving crypto assets stronger legal protections in cases involving theft, fraud, or disputes.

What the New Framework Means for the Industry

Crypto exchanges, custodians, token issuers, and service providers operating in the UK will be required to obtain FCA authorization. They must follow rules focused on safekeeping customer assets, maintaining proper financial resources, and adhering to conduct and governance standards.

These rules represent a major shift from the UK’s previous AML-only oversight. The broader framework now includes market-abuse rules, investor protection requirements, and operational risk guidelines — more in line with traditional financial regulation.

While compliance costs will increase, firms operating within the UK market will benefit from clearer regulations and greater legal certainty. Additionally, Bitcoin, Ethereum, stablecoins, and other digital assets will receive improved safeguards under UK law.

Aligning With Global Regulatory Trends

The UK’s new crypto regime reflects a global movement toward full-spectrum regulation, similar to what the European Union is implementing under MiCA. By aiming for a late-2026 rollout, the UK positions itself as a leader among major financial hubs modernizing their digital-asset oversight.

These changes will influence how BTC, ETH, and stablecoins operate in the UK, shaping long-term market strategy, company resource allocation, and consumer protection standards.

State Street and Galaxy Asset Management are taking tokenized finance to a new level with the announcement of the State Street Galaxy Onchain Liquidity Sweep Fund (SWEEP), set to launch on Solana in early 2026. The initiative represents a major leap for institutional blockchain adoption, marking the first time a global systemically important bank issues a product directly on Solana. Backed by Ondo Finance’s $200 million commitment, SWEEP aims to deliver an institutional-grade, fully onchain cash-management solution powered by PYUSD.

SWEEP Becomes the First Solana-Based Offering From a Global Bank

SWEEP will issue its initial tokens on Solana, chosen for its fast settlement times, low fees, and strong ecosystem for institutional-grade tokenization. The companies noted that this marks the first Solana-issued product from a top-tier global bank — a milestone that underscores how quickly the blockchain is becoming a preferred platform for real-world assets (RWAs).

While Solana will serve as the launch network, State Street and Galaxy confirmed that future expansions will support Stellar and Ethereum, with Chainlink infrastructure enabling secure cross-chain data and asset transfers.

24/7 Investor Flows Powered by PYUSD

Unlike traditional financial products limited by banking hours, SWEEP will operate around the clock, offering continuous subscription and redemption flows using PayPal’s PYUSD. This design provides institutions with a cash-like onchain product that preserves the liquidity and accessibility of traditional sweep accounts, but with blockchain-native transparency and automation.

Only Qualified Purchasers who meet regulatory standards will be eligible to invest in SWEEP.
State Street Bank and Trust Company will serve as the custodian for the fund’s underlying treasury assets, preserving the compliance and security institutions expect.

A New Era of Onchain Cash Management for Institutions

SWEEP is tailored specifically for institutions seeking to manage liquidity onchain without sacrificing the stability of traditional cash instruments. Kim Hochfeld, State Street’s global head of cash and digital assets, said the collaboration signals a major shift in how banks and crypto-native firms work together, allowing them to jointly push forward the evolution of onchain financial infrastructure.

Galaxy’s global head of asset management, Steve Kurz, emphasized that the product is designed to give digital-first investors a new operational liquidity tool, supported by Galaxy’s digital infrastructure for issuance and lifecycle management.

Ondo Strengthens Tokenization Momentum With $200M Investment

Ondo Finance President Ian De Bode highlighted that the firm’s $200 million seed commitment reinforces the accelerating convergence between traditional finance and blockchain-based markets. Tokenized funds like SWEEP, he noted, offer more efficient operating models and unlock new liquidity pathways for institutions.

State Street, Galaxy, and Ondo already share a history of collaboration, including partnerships around digital asset ETFs launched in 2024. SWEEP continues that trajectory while signaling growing confidence in tokenization as a core pillar of institutional finance.

A Transformative Step for Institutional Onchain Products

With SWEEP, State Street and Galaxy are positioning themselves at the forefront of tokenized asset innovation. By combining institutional-grade custody, blockchain-native liquidity, and a public network like Solana, the fund demonstrates how traditional finance and crypto infrastructure can now operate side by side — and in many cases, enhance one another.

As 2026 approaches, SWEEP could become one of the most influential institutional tokenization launches yet, paving the way for more real-world assets to move onchain.