In 2026, Ethereum’s total value locked (TVL) could see a dramatic rise, potentially increasing tenfold, according to predictions from Sharplink co-CEO Joseph Chalom. Currently sitting at approximately $68.20 billion, this surge is expected to be driven by a significant uptick in stablecoin adoption and tokenized real-world assets (RWAs).
Chalom forecasts that the stablecoin market will expand to $500 billion by the end of next year, a notable increase of about 62% from the current market capitalization of around $308.46 billion. Given that over half of stablecoin transactions occur on Ethereum, this growth could substantially boost the network's TVL.
Additionally, the tokenized RWAs market is projected to reach $300 billion in 2026, with the potential for tenfold growth in assets under management as financial services firms like JPMorgan and BlackRock show increasing interest. Chalom also noted that sovereign wealth funds are likely to ramp up their Ethereum holdings significantly in the coming year.