Ep. 692 Are We Coming out of a Bear Market!? & 2026 Outlook with Bitwise's Matt Hougan

In this conversation, Bryce and Brendan discuss the current state of the crypto market with Matt Hougan, CIO of Bitwise. They explore the dynamics of the market, including the ongoing bear market, institutional adoption, and regulatory developments. The discussion also covers the impact of government actions on liquidity, the significance of ETFs, and the performance of the Solana ETF. They delve into tax implications for staking strategies and the influence of Basel rules on banking regulations. Looking ahead, they discuss potential catalysts for growth in the crypto space and share predictions for 2026 and beyond. Get my #1 altcoin pick for this month. Check out Plus500: https://plus500.comEfani Sim Swap Protection: Get $99 Off: http://efani.comcrypto101Check out TruDiagnostic and use my code CRYPTO101 for a great deal: https://www.trudiagnostic.comCheck out Gemini Exchange: https://gemini.com/cardThe Gemini Credit Card is issued by WebBank. In order to qualify for the $200 crypto intro bonus, you must spend $3,000 in your first 90 days. Terms Apply. Some exclusions apply to instant rewards in which rewards are deposited when the transaction posts. This content is not investment advice and trading crypto involves risk. For more details on rates, fees, and other cost information, see Rates & Fees. The Gemini Credit Card may not be used to make gambling-related purchases.Get immediate access to my entire crypto portfolio for just $1.00 today! Get your FREE copy of "Crypto Revolution" and start making big profits from buying, selling,Chapters00:00 Introduction and Market Overview02:45 Are we in a Bear Market?05:38 Selling Dynamics and Covered Calls08:32 Volatility and Financialization of Bitcoin11:18 Institutional Influence and the Future of Bitcoin14:02 Government Shutdown and ETF Approvals16:57 Bitwise's Solana ETF Success19:49 Tax Treatment and Staking ETFs22:39 Basel Rules and Banking Regulations25:15 Future Catalysts for Crypto Market Growth26:54 The Future of Crypto Use Cases29:30 Demographics and the Crypto Market30:53 The Role of Financial Services in Crypto32:27 The Everything App: Coinbase and Robinhood34:14 2025 Predictions Review47:17 Looking Ahead: Predictions for 2026MERCH STOREhttps://cryptorevolutionmerch.com/Subscribe to YouTube for Exclusive Content:https://www.youtube.com/@crypto101podcast?sub_confirmation=1Follow us on social media for leading-edge crypto updates and trade alerts:https://twitter.com/Crypto101Podhttps://instagram.com/crypto_101Guest Linkshttps://x.com/Matt_Houganbitwiseinvestments.com*This is NOT financial, tax, or legal advice*Boardwalk Flock LLC. All Rights Reserved ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬Fog by DIZARO https://soundcloud.com/dizarofrCreative Commons — Attribution-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported — CC BY-ND 3.0 Free Download / Stream: http://bit.ly/Fog-DIZAROMusic promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/lAfbjt_rmE8▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬Our Sponsors:* Check out Gemini Exchange: https://gemini.com/card* Check out Plus500: https://plus500.com* Check out Plus500: https://plus500.com* Check out TruDiagnostic and use my code CRYPTO101 for a great deal: https://www.trudiagnostic.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy