Despite the recent crash, Strategy CEO Michael Saylor remains optimistic about Bitcoin‘s prospects in 2026. In an interview with CNBC, he cited growing bank adoption of BTC and the development of lending as key factors that could propel the asset to new heights.
Over the past six months, nearly half of major US banks have begun issuing loans secured by Bitcoin. Saylor believes this trend will accelerate significantly in the first half of 2026. He noted that banks such as Charles Schwab and Citibank are preparing to offer Bitcoin custody services and lending products tied to the digital asset. He called this integration of Bitcoin into the banking industry a significant milestone.
The real story of 2026 is the adoption of Bitcoin by banks. Their willingness to store it, trade it, and lend against it will take the asset class to new heights, said Saylor.
He expects the number of institutional investors using the platform to increase by 2026. Bitcoin, will continue to grow. The head of Strategy cites growing support for digital assets from the US government and a more mature regulatory framework as key factors.
The more large organizations will support Bitcoin, the more others will follow suit. Institutional adoption is happening slowly but surely,» said Saylor.
He believes the development of digital lending is another factor in Bitcoin’s growth. Under Saylor’s leadership, Strategy began using Bitcoin as collateral for various credit products.
He believes digital lending will be the «killer app» for BTC, offering income opportunities unavailable to traditional banking systems.