For those who have followed the volatile trajectory of cryptocurrency over the last fifteen years, the pattern of deep crashes followed by explosive recoveries is well known. From the ICO mania of 2017 to the flood of government stimulus during the 2020 pandemic lockdowns, each bull run has been sparked by a specific, powerful catalyst. Mahyar Akhbari, a founder of the Blockchain Futurist Conference and business development lead at Anvil, suggests that while historical drivers like the Bitcoin halving remain important, the industry is now waiting for a new kind of trigger to ignite its next major growth phase.
According to Akhbari in a recent discussion with TheStreet Roundtable, several factors aligning in 2026 could propel the market forward. He notes that U.S. midterm elections often precede strong market performance, pointing out that Bitcoin has historically surged by more than fifty percent in the year following such votes. Beyond election cycles, there is a seismic shift in institutional and political sentiment. Not long ago, mainstream finance viewed crypto with skepticism; today, giants like BlackRock have pivoted from open disparagement to becoming some of the largest holders of digital assets in the world. Even retail platforms are evolving, evidenced by Robinhood launching its own dedicated chain in July 2026.
However, Akhbari believes the most critical piece of the puzzle is legislative clarity through the proposed CLARITY Act. While prediction markets have grown pessimistic about its immediate prospects and it remains stalled in a fiercely debated Senate environment, Akhbari views its eventual passage as inevitable. He argues that there is simply too much capital at stake for the United States to ignore this sector. In his view, American leadership in blockchain technology is a matter of national necessity because if the U.S. fails to set the rules and provide a clear framework, another global power will step in to fill that void.
As an essential vote on the act approaches on September 15th, investors are watching closely to see if legal certainty will finally bridge the gap between speculative trading and permanent institutional adoption. For Akhbari and many other futurists in the space, this legislation represents everything needed for crypto’s next leg up, transforming it from a high risk gamble into a regulated pillar of the global financial system_
