A New Turning Point in the Blockchain Market by 2026: Growth Driven by Practicality and Regulatory Stability
Editor
As we welcome the new year of 2026, the blockchain industry is at a clear turning point. After experiencing the cryptocurrency boom from 2021 to 2022 and the subsequent sharp decline, the industry has matured to focus more on creating tangible business value rather than speculative elements. According to the latest report from blockchain research firm Chainalysis, the global blockchain market size was $126 billion in 2025, and it is expected to grow by 34% to reach $169 billion in 2026. This growth is primarily driven by the expansion of enterprise blockchain solutions and the adoption of central bank digital currencies (CBDCs).
A particularly noteworthy change is the rapid acceleration of blockchain technology’s practical application. Gartner’s Q4 2025 report states that 47% of global companies have already implemented or plan to implement blockchain technology in some business processes. This figure represents an 18 percentage point increase from 29% in 2023, indicating that blockchain is now perceived as a practical technology rather than an experimental one. Concrete use cases such as supply chain management, digital identity verification, and smart contract automation are proving their ROI (Return on Investment), strengthening companies’ willingness to adopt them.
This transformation is also evident in the Korean market. According to data released by the Korea Blockchain Association, the domestic blockchain market size is expected to increase by 33%, from 840 billion won in 2025 to 1.12 trillion won in 2026. The financial sector, in particular, is accelerating its adoption, with major domestic banks launching digital asset management services and DeFi (Decentralized Finance) linked products. Samsung SDS recorded an additional annual revenue of 24 billion won from its blockchain-based logistics tracking system starting in the second half of 2025, and aims for 40 billion won in revenue in this segment by 2026.
Rapid Expansion of the CBDC and Digital Currency Ecosystem
One of the most significant driving forces in the 2026 blockchain market is the full-scale introduction of central bank digital currencies (CBDCs). According to the latest survey by the Bank for International Settlements (BIS), 68% of the 134 central banks worldwide are developing CBDCs, with 19 countries expected to complete pilot tests and enter commercialization by 2026. China’s digital yuan (DCEP) is already leading the global CBDC market, with daily transactions exceeding 15 billion yuan (approximately 29 trillion won). The European Central Bank’s (ECB) digital euro project is also set to begin pilot operations in five countries from Q2 2026, expected to create a digital payment market worth 2 trillion euros annually.
The Bank of Korea’s digital won development is also making significant progress. The second phase of pilot testing, completed in December 2025, demonstrated the ability to process 100,000 transactions per second and confirmed a 67% reduction in transaction fees compared to existing card payment systems. The Bank of Korea plans to start limited commercialization in the second half of 2026, aiming for full implementation by 2027. This introduction of CBDCs is rapidly increasing the demand for blockchain infrastructure construction, driving revenue growth for related companies. Kakao’s blockchain subsidiary, Ground X, is expected to achieve 85 billion won in revenue in 2026, a 180% increase compared to 2025, through its CBDC infrastructure construction business.
Along with the spread of CBDCs, the growth of the stablecoin market is also gaining attention. According to CoinMarketCap data, the global stablecoin market capitalization is projected to increase by 50%, from $140 billion in 2025 to $210 billion in 2026. The use of stablecoins is rapidly increasing in regions with clear regulations, with institutional investor participation expanding as regulatory frameworks such as Europe’s MiCA (Markets in Crypto-Assets) and the U.S. stablecoin legislation are established. Major stablecoins like Tether (USDT) and USD Coin (USDC) are recording average daily trading volumes of $8 billion, positioning themselves as alternatives to traditional foreign exchange transactions.
Full-Scale Commercialization of Enterprise Blockchain Solutions
As the adoption of blockchain technology by enterprises moves beyond the experimental stage to full-scale commercialization, the related market is rapidly expanding. IBM’s blockchain division recorded $2.6 billion in revenue in 2025 and is expected to grow by 35% to $3.5 billion in 2026. IBM’s Hyperledger Fabric-based solutions are being utilized across various industries, including Walmart’s food tracking system and Maersk’s diamond certification system. The adoption of blockchain for supply chain transparency is accelerating, becoming increasingly important in conjunction with the spread of ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) management.
Microsoft’s Azure Blockchain Service is also showing notable achievements. As of 2025, 5,200 companies are using Azure Blockchain, with 67% of them in the manufacturing and logistics sectors. Microsoft generates $1.8 billion in annual revenue from its blockchain services, planning to expand to $2.5 billion in 2026. The automation of business processes through smart contracts is emerging as a key value proposition, reducing contract processing time by an average of 73% and related costs by 45%.
Oracle’s Blockchain Cloud Service is particularly strong in the financial services sector. By the end of 2025, 120 financial institutions worldwide had adopted Oracle Blockchain, reducing cross-border payment processing time from the existing 3-5 days to within 10 minutes. Oracle’s blockchain-related revenue is expected to increase by 42%, from $1.2 billion in 2025 to $1.7 billion in 2026. Growth is particularly notable in the Middle East and Asia, where Oracle provides core infrastructure for digital banking hub projects in the UAE and Singapore.
In Korea, Samsung SDS is leading the enterprise blockchain solution market. Samsung SDS’s Nexledger platform is currently used by 230 companies, with major application areas being certificate management (34%), supply chain tracking (28%), financial services (22%), and medical data management (16%). Nexledger-related revenue was 18 billion won in 2025 and is expected to increase by 56% to 28 billion won in 2026. The expansion of blockchain adoption in the public sector, in line with the government’s Digital New Deal policy, is expected to provide additional growth momentum.
Web3 and metaverse-linked services are also emerging as new growth areas. Kakao’s Klaytn blockchain platform recorded 1.2 million daily active users (DAU) in 2025, growing into the largest blockchain ecosystem in Asia. The total transaction volume of Klaytn-based games and NFT services exceeded $4.5 billion in 2025 and is expected to expand to $7 billion in 2026. Growth in the GameFi sector is particularly notable, with the blockchain game ‘MapleStory Universe’ achieving 3 million cumulative users within six months of its launch, being evaluated as a success story.
However, new challenges are emerging alongside the growth of the enterprise blockchain market. The biggest issue is the interoperability problem. Currently, various blockchain platforms such as Ethereum, Hyperledger, and Corda are competing in the market, but data exchange and integration between platforms are limited, making it difficult for companies to pursue multi-platform strategies. Cross-chain solutions like Polkadot and Cosmos are gaining attention to address this issue, with the related market size expected to reach $8.5 billion in 2026.
Additionally, the energy efficiency issue of blockchain technology remains a continuous challenge. The high power consumption of Bitcoin and Ethereum has been criticized as an environmental issue, prompting companies to seek more eco-friendly blockchain solutions. The transition to Proof-of-Stake for Ethereum and the rise of low-power blockchains like Solana and Cardano reflect this need. As environmental organizations like Greenpeace and WWF increase pressure, companies’ ESG standards are being strengthened, making environmental impact an important consideration in blockchain selection.
By 2026, the blockchain market has entered a mature phase, focusing on creating tangible value rather than speculative fervor. The spread of CBDCs and stablecoins, the commercialization of enterprise solutions, and the development of the Web3 ecosystem are acting as major growth drivers, leading to increased revenue for related companies and the creation of new business models. With the clarification of the regulatory environment and advances in technology standardization, institutional investor participation is expanding, significantly enhancing the stability and reliability of the blockchain market. Blockchain technology is expected to establish itself as a core infrastructure of the digital economy, acting as a catalyst for accelerating the digital transformation of traditional industries.
This analysis is based on publicly available market data and industry reports, and additional due diligence and expert consultation are recommended before making investment decisions.
