a16z Crypto: Crypto Enters the "Infrastructure Era"; Prediction Markets, Verifiable Computation, and Staked Media Will Reshape 2026

According to ChainCatcher, a16z Crypto stated in its new outlook report that the next stage of industry development this year will no longer mainly depend on the emergence of new blockchains, but rather on how this technology reshapes markets, computing infrastructure, and the media sector.

a16z Crypto noted that as prediction markets converge with crypto technology and artificial intelligence, by 2026, prediction markets will be larger in scale, broader in scope, and more complex; the next phase of growth will not only involve more contracts, but also address the issue of truth determination in disputed outcomes in a better way. In addition, 2026 may mark a turning point for cryptographic proofs to expand into non-blockchain industries, as advances in zero-knowledge virtual machine technology are significantly reducing the cost of generating proofs, making verifiable computation feasible for cloud CPU workloads and eventually on consumer-grade devices.

Meanwhile, as prediction markets expand, cryptographic proofs are integrated into enterprise systems, and "real money investment" in the financial sector becomes a new cornerstone of trust, the industry will undergo transformation. Driven by advances in cryptography, artificial intelligence, and market design, crypto-native tools are increasingly penetrating industries beyond decentralized finance, with blockchain serving as the underlying infrastructure rather than as a standalone application scenario or ultimate goal.