Stablecoins took over crypto in 2025: Here’s what the data says about 2026 (feat. Chainalysis)

2025 marked a turning point for crypto not in price cycles or hype, but in how the industry is actually used, regulated and understood.

In this episode of Byte-Sized Insight, we’re joined by Matthias Bauer-Langgartner, Head of Policy for Europe at Chainalysis, to break down what really happened in crypto in 2025, using data, not headlines.

We dig into how 2025 became the year of the stablecoin, how stablecoins now dominate on-chain activity and crypto crime, why illicit crypto flows surged even as adoption went mainstream and how crypto crime has taken on a more geopolitical dimension. The conversation also goes into how regulators, particularly in Europe, have matured in their approach, what MiCA changed on the ground and what crypto companies should be preparing for as they head into 2026.

You don’t want to miss it! 

(00:08) Welcome to Byte-Sized Insight + 2026 series kickoff
(01:20) Introducing Matthias Bauer-Langgartner and Chainalysis
(03:47) Where the global crypto industry stands in January 2026
(04:40) On-chain growth and the rise of stablecoins
(05:58) Stablecoins overtake Bitcoin in transactional volume
(09:02) Why regulators focus on stablecoins first
(11:06) Institutional adoption and MiCA’s impact in Europe
(13:18) Are European regulators more confident after 2025?
(17:38) Who really has leverage in crypto now?
(19:49) Crypto Crime Report 2025: record illicit flows
(21:44) Nation-state crypto crime and sanctioned stablecoins
(23:17) Why stablecoins dominate illicit activity and why that matters
(28:15) Top policy, crime, and security trends for 2026
(32:10) Cybersecurity, DORA, and real-time on-chain monitoring
(34:27) Advice for crypto companies entering Europe in 2026

This episode was hosted and produced by Savannah Fortis, @savannah_fortis.

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