Is 2026 crypto’s year of consolidation? After a decade of fragmentation and protocol sprawl, deal activity across exchanges, platforms and infrastructure is on the up. 

Coinbase’s (NASDAQ:COIN)  $2.9 billion purchase of Deribit adds to a growing list of blockchain buyouts that suggest money is moving toward scale. What’s emerging is an industry that’s still open in code but increasingly consolidated in ownership. This year will test which platforms live long enough to absorb the rest.

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Exchanges are consolidating power – Coinbase and Kraken are using M&A to secure derivatives, liquidity and regulatory reach, reinforcing scale advantages that smaller venues struggle to… Read more on Benzinga