$100T Is Coming On-Chain! This Changes Crypto Forever [Expert Explains]

Andrew Weiner, Chief Operating Officer of WEEX and former executive at MEXC Global, has forecasted a seismic shift in the global financial landscape, predicting that $100 trillion in assets will move on-chain within the next three years. In a comprehensive analysis of the cryptocurrency market, Weiner argued that the industry is rapidly transitioning from a speculative asset class to a foundational layer of global finance, driven by the tokenization of Real-World Assets (RWA) and the integration of traditional banking infrastructure.

Key Points

• Institutional Integration: Weiner highlights the DTCC and Canton Network pilot program as a critical step toward migrating global capital markets on-chain.
• Explosive Adoption: The executive predicts crypto adoption could surge from 3% to nearly 50% as banking rails integrate with blockchain technology.
• Efficiency Gains: Tokenization could save the global economy an estimated $400 billion annually in administrative waste, particularly in Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A).
• Strategic Shift: A new investment framework, dubbed the "Bubblegum Test," prioritizes protocols with high-frequency utility over speculative tokens.

The Institutional Bridge: From Speculation to Settlement

According to Weiner, the volatility currently plaguing the cryptocurrency market is a symptom of "thin" liquidity compared to traditional capital markets. While retail investors drive current price action, the stability required for mass adoption will arrive through the migration of legacy financial infrastructure. Weiner points to the Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation (DTCC)—which settles quadrillions of dollars in securities transactions annually—as the bellwether for this transition.

The executive referenced the recent collaboration between the DTCC and the Canton Network, a pilot program designed to tokenize a portion of the risk-weighted assets managed on Wall Street. This initiative represents a proof-of-concept for managing security, compliance, and risk on the blockchain while maintaining the speed and liquidity of traditional finance.

"The mistake everyone makes is not understanding that all these financial products and services require basic infrastructure. In capital markets, money moves slowly to ensure liquidity. In crypto, without that massive infrastructure, we face liquidity crises. If this pilot succeeds, we will see crypto move from 3% global adoption to between 40% and 50% of all financial participants."

Weiner argues that this shift will render the traditional four-year market cycle obsolete. The entry of sophisticated institutional players, capable of deploying capital strategies far more complex than simple retail buying, is expected to stabilize prices and extend the growth phase of the industry.

Tokenization: Solving a $400 Billion Problem

While newer blockchains like Solana are praised for their community engagement and retail accessibility, Weiner maintains that Ethereum remains the superior venue for high-value institutional utility, particularly regarding Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A). He cited the immense friction in current corporate buyouts, which can take 8 to 12 weeks to settle and involve significant legal and administrative overhead.

Through tokenization and smart contracts, this process could theoretically be reduced to approximately 30 minutes. By utilizing specific smart contract standards (such as ERC-20 and ERC-1404) combined with Zero-Knowledge (ZK) proofs for identity verification, the complex web of ownership transfer can be automated securely.

"M&A costs about $400 billion a year in administrative waste. There is so much waste in buying and selling between two companies. Any platform that can solve this problem—which requires surviving half a decade of regulatory scrutiny—will capture immense value. This is why I remain incredibly bullish on Ethereum."

The "Bubblegum Test" for Digital Assets

Addressing the challenge of selecting winners in a market saturated with over 50,000 tokens, Weiner introduced a valuation framework he calls the "Bubblegum Test." Drawing an analogy to the consumable nature of chewing gum—which requires constant replenishment—he advises investors to focus on assets that are structurally consumed or required for the network to function.

Under this framework, settlement layers and gas tokens hold intrinsic value because they are utilized in every transaction, regardless of the asset being traded. Whether it is settling credit card transactions or transferring property deeds, the underlying protocol captures value from the velocity of money. Weiner contrasted this with "stagnant" assets that serve only as stores of value without utility.

For the immediate future, Weiner identified three key assets for the coming cycle:

• Bitcoin: Described as the "fuel" for the ecosystem and a necessary liquidity provider for funding future innovation.
• Ethereum: The primary beneficiary of institutional tokenization and M&A efficiency.
• Exchange Tokens (specifically WXT): Representing the infrastructure of trading, which benefits from market volatility and volume regardless of direction.

Market Outlook: 2026 and Beyond

Looking ahead, Weiner disputes the notion that the market will face a severe downturn in the near term. Instead, he projects a bullish trajectory leading into 2026, driven by the opening of banking systems in North America and Asia to blockchain integrations. He suggests that current market conditions represent a significant accumulation opportunity before the full weight of institutional capital enters the fray.

As regulatory frameworks in major jurisdictions like Hong Kong, Singapore, and the United States clarify, the integration of traditional finance (TradFi) and decentralized finance (DeFi) is expected to accelerate. This convergence will likely result in a market where blockchain serves as the invisible, high-efficiency rail for the global economy, moving beyond the "casino" phase of crypto into an era of verifiable, real-world utility.