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Heading Towards 2026: Top Blockchain Companies to Watch According to VanEck

By: blockbeats|2025/11/27 15:00:00
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Original Author: Drew Anderson, VanEck
Original Title: Top Blockchain Companies to Watch Leading into 2026
Original Translation: Lüdòng Xiǎogōng, BlockBeats

Key Points:

- Leaders in the blockchain industry are no longer limited to a single field but are spread across mining, fintech, energy, and even semiconductor industries.

- Major companies like Coinbase, Nvidia, and Block are fully committed to driving the real-world application of blockchain technology.

- As we move towards 2026, asset tokenization, stablecoins, and on-chain settlement are fundamentally reshaping the capital markets.

What is Blockchain? Why is It Important to the Crypto Space?

Blockchain is essentially a decentralized digital ledger that records transactions via a computer network, ensuring transparency, security, and immutability without the need for a centralized authority. Each "block" on the chain contains a set of validated transactions that, once added, cannot be altered—creating a trusted, tamper-proof record.

This technology is the cornerstone of all cryptocurrencies, enabling peer-to-peer value transfer, smart contracts, and decentralized applications (DApps). By eliminating intermediaries and reducing fraud risks, blockchain has become a key enabler of crypto-economic growth and trust-building.

As blockchain technology matures and integrates into the mainstream financial system, the "on-chain economy" is rapidly evolving. Against this backdrop, a growing ecosystem of companies and investment tools is driving this transformation: they are building infrastructure to support digital assets, expanding access to tokenized markets, and creating new investment channels for blockchain innovation. These leaders are not only shaping the future of decentralized finance (DeFi) but also redefining how value is created, exchanged, and protected in the global economy.

Top Blockchain Companies to Watch

The on-chain economy spans multiple industries, each playing a unique role in supporting, expanding, and innovating within the blockchain ecosystem. From digital asset exchanges facilitating transactions to mining firms securing networks, and to fintech companies bridging traditional finance with DeFi, here are various key leaders worth watching as we move towards 2026:

(Note: The NODE mentioned in the article is the on-chain ETF code under VanEck)

Trading Platform

Coinbase Global Inc. (COIN) (holding 2.58% of NODE's assets)

As the largest cryptocurrency exchange platform in the United States, Coinbase is the gateway for millions of investors to access, trade, and custody digital assets. Its institutional-grade services and regulatory leadership continue to make it a cornerstone of the crypto economy.

Robinhood Markets Inc (HOOD) (holding 2.24% of NODE's assets)

Known for "democratizing stock trading," Robinhood has expanded into the crypto space, providing a convenient entry point for retail investors into digital assets. By integrating traditional stocks and cryptocurrencies on the same platform, it is blurring the boundaries between the traditional financial world and the blockchain industry.

Mining

Core Scientific Inc. (CORZ) (holding 3.93% of NODE's assets)

As one of the largest Bitcoin miners in North America, Core Scientific is transcending mere cryptocurrency mining, transforming its infrastructure to support artificial intelligence (AI) and high-performance computing workloads—successfully bridging two of the fastest-growing digital frontiers.

Cipher Mining INC. (CIFR) (holding 6.42% of NODE's assets) & Bitfarms Ltd (BITF) (holding 1.10% of NODE's assets)

These two companies have recently shown impressive performance. With the strengthening of the Bitcoin price and network activity, they represent a strong rebound in the mining industry.

Traditional Finance Enablers and FinTech

Mercadolibre Inc. (MELI) (holding 1.07% of NODE's assets)

Often referred to as the "Latin American Amazon," MercadoLibre has grown into a fintech giant. It has integrated digital payments and crypto services into its e-commerce ecosystem, accelerating financial inclusion across the entire Latin American region.

Asset Management Companies and "Hodlers"

MicroStrategy Inc. (MSTR) (holding 0.24% of NODE's assets)

As the largest corporate holder of Bitcoin, MicroStrategy has transformed from a software company into a de facto Bitcoin investment vehicle. Its treasury strategy highlights a steadfast belief in Bitcoin as a long-term store of value.

Galaxy Digital Inc (GLXY) (comprising 4.35% of NODE holdings)

A diversified digital asset financial services firm, with business lines spanning the transactional, asset management, and investment banking services of the crypto economy, it is a key gateway for institutional investors entering the blockchain market.

Energy Infrastructure

Kinder Morgan Inc. (KMI) (comprising 0.54% of NODE assets)

As a major U.S. natural gas supplier, Kinder Morgan plays an indirect yet crucial role in the crypto economy — providing energy to data centers and mining operations that uphold the blockchain network's functioning.

Exploring Investment Ideas: What Real-World Applications Will Blockchain Have by 2025?

Blockchain is often viewed as a backend technology, but by 2025, it is bringing tangible transformations to fund flows, capital market operations, and institutional liquidity management. The current narrative revolves around tokenization, programmable settlements, and bringing interest-bearing assets onto the chain.

Several typical use cases include:

Cross-Border Payments: Imagine a global merchant needing to pay suppliers in dozens of countries but no longer relying on the SWIFT system and banks. Stripe has rolled out USDC payments in over 50 countries, enabling enterprises to settle instantly using stablecoins, eliminating the delays and high forex costs of traditional methods.

On-Chain Financing: In addition to payments, stablecoins are now used for large-scale collateralization and funding of on-chain lending. Visa's analysis shows that by 2025, monthly lending volumes hit new records, underscoring stablecoins' key role in DeFi money markets as operational capital.

Institutional Settlement: Large banks are also rethinking the underlying infrastructure of finance. JPMorgan's Kinexys platform allows institutions to issue tokenized securities as collateral, circulating between different venues, eliminating the friction costs of traditional settlement.

These examples hint at a broader shift: capital markets are becoming more modular, liquidity more dynamic, and assets are gaining a 'programmable layer.' In this new world, blockchain is no longer an experiment — it is becoming infrastructure.

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Is XRP a Good Investment in 2026? Why Is It Stuck at $1.45

XRP is up 6.7% this week, but exchange reserves remain high. Is a volatility spike imminent? We analyze price trend, ETF inflows, whale activity, and regulatory catalysts to answer: will XRP go up, why is XRP dropping, and is XRP a good investment right now?

TL; DR

What is XRP: XRP is a digital asset built for fast, low-cost international payments. It runs on the XRP Ledger and is used by Ripple for its On-Demand Liquidity (ODL) service. Unlike Bitcoin, XRP settles transactions in 3-5 seconds with near-zero fees.Why is XRP Dropping: XRP is not actively dropping, but it is struggling to rise. On the monthly chart, XRP has seen six consecutive months of decline. Currently, the price faces an additional supply wall at $1.45. About 1.24 billion XRP were bought in that range, and those holders sell when the price approaches, creating selling pressure that prevents a recovery.Will XRP Go Up: Potentially yes. XRP is trading near $1.43 and showing its best weekly performance since September 2025. If the price breaks above the $1.45 resistance, analysts expect a move toward $1.90, supported by strong institutional demand.Is XRP a Good Investment: The answer is not simple. Short-term traders may see opportunity in the coming volatility spike. Long-term investors face a bigger question that depends on one key regulatory event. However, the data reveals a surprising signal that most retail buyers are missing right now. To understand whether XRP is a smart buy or a trap at $1.43, you will need to read the full analysis below.What is XRP? A Digital Asset for Global Settlement

Before analyzing the charts, it is crucial to understand the asset in question. What is XRP? Unlike Bitcoin, which was designed as a decentralized digital gold, XRP operates on the XRP Ledger (XRPL). It was created to facilitate fast, low-cost international payments. Traditional bank transfers take days and incur high fees. XRP transactions settle in 3-5 seconds, costing fractions of a penny.

Ripple, the company associated with XRP, uses this asset for its "On-Demand Liquidity" (ODL) service. Banks and financial institutions use ODL to source liquidity during cross-border transactions without pre-funding accounts. This utility is the primary driver for institutional interest. Recently, the network hit a milestone of over 8 million active wallets, signaling growing usage despite recent price stagnation . Furthermore, Ripple is proactively preparing for the future, releasing a four-stage roadmap to make the XRPL "quantum-resistant," aiming to secure the ledger against future quantum computing threats by 2028 .

XRP Price Analysis: The Battle for $1.45

The XRP price trend over the last month tells a story of exhaustion followed by cautious recovery. On the monthly chart, XRP experienced six consecutive months of decline. However, April shows signs of a bottoming process. Weekly charts reinforce this view: after four weeks of lower closes, the last two weeks have seen small rebounds.

According to data from April 22, 2026, XRP is trading at approximately $1.44. Over the last seven days, XRP has outperformed both Bitcoin and Ethereum, rising 6.7% while the broader market rose only 3.2%. Spot trading volume surged 23% to $3.79 billion, and derivative markets saw $40 billion in futures volume on a single day.

Despite this, the price remains 60% below its July 2025 high of $3.65. The current technical picture shows a "low volatility grind" higher. The 20-day EMA is at $1.3924, and the 50-day EMA is at $1.4119, both acting as support . However, the immediate hurdle is the $1.45 resistance level. This price point has rejected every rally attempt in 2026.

Why is XRP Dropping? And Will XRP Go Up?

The primary reason for the recent "drop" (or lack of upward momentum) is not active selling, but rather the "supply wall." Data indicates that roughly 1.24 billion XRP tokens were purchased by investors in the $1.45 to $1.47 range. These investors have been waiting months to "break even." Every time the price approaches $1.45, these holders sell to exit their positions, creating a massive wall that retail buying cannot easily absorb.

However, the underlying momentum is shifting. Analysts suggest a xrp volatility spike imminent because the absorption capacity of buyers is increasing. Historically, when exchange reserves are high but the price refuses to drop significantly, it signals that buyers are absorbing the supply. The price has held above $1.39 despite the overhang, which is a sign of relative strength.

So, will XRP go up? Yes, potentially. But it needs a catalyst, if the price closes a daily candle above $1.45. If that happens, the next targets are $1.60 to $1.65, and eventually $1.90 .

XRP Exchange Netflow and XRP ETF Netflow: A Tale of Two Markets

The current market dynamic is best understood by looking at two opposing data streams: XRP Exchange netflow and XRP ETF flows.

Exchange Dynamics (Retail / Whales):

Data shows a complex pattern of "large inflows and increasing reserves." Recently, a Ripple-associated wallet moved 75 million XRP (approx. $108 million) to Coinbase. This initially looks like a dump, but context matters. These transfers are likely to provide liquidity for Ripple’s ODL business, not necessarily spot market selling. However, the result is that exchange reserves have climbed to 2.76 billion XRP .

The Good News: While reserves are high, the rate of increase is slowing. Specifically, "whale" transfers to exchanges have dropped 98% from their April 11 peak. The Binance reserve has slightly decreased from 27.7 to 27.6 billion. The aggressive selling from large holders appears to have stopped.

Institutional Dynamics (ETF):

While whales were sending coins to exchanges, institutions were buying XRP ETF products. XRP ETF net flow is strongly positive.

US-listed XRP ETFs recorded four consecutive days of inflows totaling $38.86 million recently .The weekly inflow for mid-April hit $119.6 million, a multi-month high .Cumulative net inflows stand at $12.8 billion, with Assets Under Management (AUM) at roughly $10.8 billion.Analyzing the Divergence: Why Both Flows Are Positive

It seems contradictory that exchange reserves are high (suggesting selling) while ETFs are buying (suggesting buying). However, this phenomenon reveals the current market structure.

Different Investor Profiles: The exchange inflows likely come from short-term traders, market makers, or Ripple itself providing ODL liquidity. These are "hot" coins ready to be sold. The ETF inflows represent "sticky" capital. Institutions buying ETFs are typically long-term holders (LTHs) or asset managers who do not day-trade. They are removing liquidity from the spot market by buying through custodians.The "De-risking" Trade: Sophisticated funds might be engaging in basis trading. They buy the ETF (taking a long position) while simultaneously shorting XRP futures or selling spot inventory to capture the funding rate. This keeps the price stable while volume increases.Absorption: The most likely scenario is that the market is simply absorbing the excess supply. The fact that the price is stable ($1.43) and not collapsing to $1.20 despite 2.76 billion coins sitting on exchanges is a massive win for the bulls. The ETF inflows are acting as a sponge, soaking up the selling pressure from the ODL wallets.The Regulatory Catalyst: The SEC and the CLARITY Act

Fundamentally, the recent price action cannot be separated from regulation. For years, the primary answer was the SEC lawsuit. That narrative is dying.

Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse recently praised SEC Chair Paul Atkins as "a breath of fresh air and sanity" . This regulatory thaw is critical. The SEC is reportedly considering dropping the long-standing lawsuit, and five XRP ETF applications are awaiting review.

The major catalyst on the horizon is the CLARITY Act. A Senate markup is expected before the end of April. Standard Chartered analysts project that if the bill advances, it could unlock $4 to $8 billion in institutional flows . Polymarket gives the bill a 60-66% chance of passing in 2026. If the CLARITY Act classifies XRP as a non-security (commodity), the institutional floodgates will open, likely overwhelming the $1.45 supply wall instantly.

Is XRP a Good Investment in 2026?

Given all this data, is XRP a good investment? The answer depends entirely on your risk tolerance and time horizon.

The Bull Case (Why it is a good investment): The risk/reward ratio is asymmetrical to the upside. The price is near multi-year lows relative to its utility. Whale selling has stopped, ETF demand is rising, and the network is expanding (8 million wallets, quantum resistance roadmap). If the CLARITY Act passes, XRP could realistically trade between $1.60 and $1.80 in the short term, with a potential run to $3.00+ if the lawsuit is officially dropped.The Risk Case (Why it is NOT a good investment): There is a clear resistance wall at $1.45. If the CLARITY Act fails or is delayed past May (due to midterm election dynamics), the "buy the rumor, sell the news" dynamic could reverse. If the price fails to break $1.45 and loses support at $1.33, a drop back to $1.15 is technically possible .

Verdict: XRP is a speculative buy for traders looking for a volatility spike. It is a hold for current investors. For new investors, it is only a good investment if you believe in regulatory clarity within the next 30 days. Technically, waiting for a confirmed break above $1.55 (to avoid the fakeout) is safer than buying at $1.43.

FAQ

Q: Will XRP go up if the CLARITY Act passes?

A: Yes, historically. Analysts predict that if the CLARITY Act passes, signaling that XRP is a commodity, it would remove the regulatory overhang. This could trigger a surge in institutional buying, pushing the price from the current $1.43 range to test the $1.80 - $2.00 resistance levels quickly.

Q: Why is XRP dropping when Bitcoin is going up?

A: XRP has specific supply dynamics. Unlike Bitcoin, which has a fixed supply issuance, XRP faces periodic sell-pressure from Ripple's treasury wallets used to fund ODL (liquidity) services. Additionally, the $1.45 "break-even" wall causes XRP to drop relative to BTC when short-term traders exit.

Q: Is a volatility spike imminent for XRP?

A: Yes. The Bollinger Bands on the daily chart are squeezing. The price is stuck between support at $1.33 and resistance at $1.45. Historically, when XRP volume surges 23% in a week (as it did on April 21), it precedes a violent move. The direction depends on whether the $1.45 resistance breaks.

Q: What is the XRP ETF netflow status?

A: As of late April 2026, XRP ETFs are seeing positive netflows. The US ETFs recorded a single week inflow of $119.6 million in mid-April. Cumulative inflows are strong at $12.8 billion, indicating that institutions are accumulating during this dip, which is a long-term bullish signal for price stabilization.

Q: Is XRP a good investment for beginners?

A: XRP is less volatile than "meme coins" but more volatile than Bitcoin. For beginners, it is a moderate-risk investment. Its value is tied to real utility (bank payments). However, beginners should wait to see if the price can close a weekly candle above $1.55 before entering, to avoid buying into the current resistance wall.

Disclaimer: None of the information in this article constitutes, or is intended to constitute, investment advice. Trading cryptocurrencies carries a high level of risk and may not be suitable for all investors. Always do your own research.

About WEEX

Founded in 2018, WEEX has developed into a global crypto exchange with over 6.2 million users across more than 150 countries. The platform emphasizes security, liquidity, and usability, providing over 1,200 spot trading pairs and offering up to 400x leverage in crypto futures trading. In addition to the traditional spot and derivatives markets, WEEX is expanding rapidly in the AI era — delivering real-time AI news, empowering users with AI trading tools, and exploring innovative trade-to-earn models that make intelligent trading more accessible to everyone. Its 1,000 BTC Protection Fund further strengthens asset safety and transparency, while features such as copy trading and advanced trading tools allow users to follow professional traders and experience a more efficient, intelligent trading journey.

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