Y Combinator Releases Report on Crypto Startup Directions, Focusing on Stablecoins and Asset Tokenization

In a report on crypto industry startup directions released by Y Combinator in October 2026, it was noted that over the past year, applications in the crypto space have been led by institutions for the first time, with the main driving force shifting from speculation to actual financial needs, such as hedging oil price risks and facilitating cross-border capital transfers for businesses. YC anticipates that assets such as stablecoins, stocks, debts, commodities, and property rights will be further tokenized, and equity in startups as well as small securities valued below $10,000 will also be issued via blockchain, promoting the development of financial services like trading, lending, and derivatives. AI Agents are expected to become one of the main participants in financial activities. In the next six months, YC will focus on financing the AI industry using blockchain, new types of dollar stablecoins and non-dollar stablecoins targeting niche markets, new banks based on stablecoins, tokenization of real-world assets, new trading platforms and interfaces, as well as AI Agent trading and related API infrastructure. YC believes that blockchain technology and stablecoins may pose a threat to traditional stock exchanges and banking systems.