Coinbase Ventures Unveils 2026 Outlook: RWAs, Next-Gen DeFi, and AI-Driven Smart Contracts

• Coinbase has disclosed that 2026 could see companies breaking through in AI and Robotics, RWA Perpetuals, and more. 
• Coinbase has declared its willingness to invest actively in these areas, calling on companies to reach out. 

In a blog post, Coinbase unveiled some of the exciting ideas that could be pushed by the next big breakout companies and protocols in 2026. According to the post, 2025 has already witnessed a massive shift with real interoperability, deeper liquidity, smarter privacy, and on-chain rails complementing artificial intelligence (AI).

Details of Coinbase’s Expectations for 2026

In 2025, Coinbase noted a significant improvement in settlement times due to cross-chain proofs. Additionally, there is a sustained mainstream adoption of prediction markets and the embracement of New Decentralized Exchange (DEX) models.

According to Coinbase, 2026 could be completely different. In the post, they highlighted that Real-World Asset (RWA) Perpetuals would be one of the several areas of focus for companies. They argued that investors are looking out for a new form of exposure alongside the rising interest in on-chain RWAs.

RWA perpetuals are reported to ensure that exotic asset exposure is brought on-chain. Explaining this point, Coinbase noted that markets will be able to form around virtually anything since perpetuals do not require the securing of an underlying asset. Apart from this, there has been a rising demand for macro asset exposure on-chain, which ensures that traders are able to hedge through instruments tied to credit spreads, oil, etc.

The exchange believes that companies would work around specialized exchanges and trading terminals. Specifically, this includes trading terminals for prediction markets and alternative “Props AMM.”

The justification for this inclusion is that the existing prediction market is suffering from the same fragmentation that happened to the early Decentralized Finance (DeFi).

Companies are also expected to enter into the Next Generational DeFi. Coinbase further explains that this includes perpetual market composability, unsecured lending or credits, and on-chain privacy. As indicated in our previous publication, platforms like Chainlink have made headway in DeFi infrastructure, as Grayscale research points out, an expansion of liquidity.

Another area to expect massive breakthroughs is AI and robotics. This would include Proof of Humanity, Robotics and Humanoid Data Collection, and AI for On-chain Development and Security. AI firms are already dominating in 2025 with the likes of Internet Computers and Near Protocol emerging as some of the big names, as discussed earlier.

In the post, Coinbase disclosed that while they anticipate big potential from these categories, exciting projects could also come from areas no one expects. Also, they encouraged companies and individuals building in these areas to contact them as they seek to actively invest. As mentioned in our earlier news brief, Coinbase has already built Everything Exchange with new Solana tech, talent, and on-chain tools.