Santiment reveals the topics that will dominate the crypto conversation in 2026

We explore the topics leading the conversation in the crypto ecosystem according to the latest Santiment report.

According to analysts at Santiment, the conversation in the crypto ecosystem is dominated by a complex mix of regulatory urgency and tensions in the global energy trade. Experts point out that the main topics discussed by users and traders revolve around the fragility of the ceasefire between the United States and Iran, an event that has ceased to be merely political to directly impact on on-chain metrics. 

This week, the social narrative has turned towards the Strait of Hormuz, where the implementation of tolls collected in BitcoinAs reported by the Financial Times, this has generated an unprecedented volume of mentions. This phenomenon positions digital assets not only as a store of value but also as liquidation tools in scenarios of international conflict, altering the traditional market perception.

Likewise, the attention of the technical community is also being strongly directed towards the Satoshi Nakamoto's identitya debate reignited by recent investigations by the New York Times that point towards Adam Back. 

Although the sector is divided between skepticism and curiosity, analysts observe that this resurgence of interest in Bitcoin's origins coincides with a period of peak institutional maturity. Maintaining the creator's anonymity is now perceived as a fundamental pillar for ensuring the protocol continues to be seen as a neutral public good, especially at a time when major states are considering its integration into sovereign payment infrastructures.

The impetus of the CLARITY Act and the institutionalization of the market

While the origin of Bitcoin is back in the spotlight, its legal future is also facing decisive times with the impetus of CLARITY Act. 

The experts at Santiment highlights that the pressure exerted by the Secretary of the Treasury, Scott BessentThe passage of the CLARITY Act has injected a dose of cautious optimism into public sentiment. Analysts indicate that the official discourse has shifted toward protecting economic competitiveness, arguing that the lack of a clear legal framework is pushing innovative firms to relocate to jurisdictions outside the United States. This regulatory urgency is seen by high-net-worth traders as the necessary catalyst for institutional capital to flow without the compliance restrictions that have limited the sector's growth in previous years.

Within this professional investment ecosystem, analysts highlight the exceptional performance of the Spot Bitcoin ETFswhich recently reached a trading volume of $240 million in a single session. Established giants like BlackRock and Fidelity share the spotlight with new competitors such as Morgan Stanley, whose fund MSBT It has managed to attract significant capital thanks to an aggressively low fee structure. This competition for institutional market share suggests that traditional investment vehicles are absorbing Bitcoin liquidity at an accelerated pace, reducing the supply available on exchanges and putting upward pressure on the price in the face of sustained demand.

The evolution of these financial products is also reaching sectors previously considered marginal, as demonstrated by Canary Capital's application for an ETF based on the PEPE tokenThe firm's experts point out that this move towards "memecoins" under institutional wrappers represents an active search for yield in an environment where major assets are showing increasingly stable consolidation. 

In sum, the market narrative suggests that The appetite for risk has not disappearedInstead, it has become more sophisticated, seeking exposure to volatility through instruments that offer custody guarantees and operational transparency for large wealth managers.

Geopolitics in Hormuz and the new transactional role of Bitcoin

Analysts at Santiment report that one of the most critical points in the current crypto market conversation is Iran's plan to impose tariffs on maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz using digital assets. Experts indicate that this strategy aims to circumvent the SWIFT system blockade and strengthen Iran's negotiating position in the face of Western sanctions. 

The mere mention of Bitcoin as an accepted currency for oil tolls This has led energy industry executives to pressure the US government to veto any agreement that legitimizes the use of cryptocurrencies in crude oil trading.

This scenario has transformed Bitcoin into a barometer of tensions in the Middle East. Analysts observe that spikes in the asset's price volatility increasingly coincide with headlines about oil tanker movements and statements from diplomatic corps. The possibility of energy trading becoming partially decoupled from the dollar through the use of blockchain networks is a topic that generates both fear and fascination among traders. Thus, while some see this as definitive validation of Bitcoin's utility, others warn that linking the cryptocurrency to sanctioned regimes could accelerate repressive measures by global regulators.

On the other hand, the integration of macroeconomic factors, such as the March inflation shock that brought the CPI to 3,3%, reinforces the thesis of Bitcoin as a hedging asset against systemic instability. Analysts point out that the 21% increase in energy costs has shifted expectations of interest rate cuts to the remainder of 2026. In this context, the conversation on social media reflects a portfolio rotation towards assets that do not depend on centralized monetary policy, reinforcing the narrative of "digital gold" in a period of inflationary uncertainty and conflicts over control of the world's most important trade routes.

Crisis at Bittensor: Covenant AI's departure shakes up Web3 governance

In the area of ​​technological infrastructure, Santiment analysts focus on the governance crisis affecting Bittensor Following the departure of Covenant AI, experts detail that the liquidation of 37.000 TAO tokens has sparked an intense debate about the true decentralization of Artificial Intelligence protocols in Web3. 

Users and developers are questioning whether token issuance models and subnet moderation are vulnerable to manipulation by large operators, which has led to a significant drop in investor confidence in AI projects that lack robust control structures.

The protocol founders' response, focused on implementing subnetwork ownership locks, is being closely scrutinized by the community. Experts point out that these kinds of technical adjustments are crucial to prevent the departure of a single player from destabilizing the entire ecosystem. However, the immediate reputational damage has led many traders to diversify their positions toward assets with more proven governance histories, such as Zcash o Dashwhich are experiencing a resurgence in social volume due to their focus on privacy and structural stability, according to experts. 

Finally, analysts point out that the derivatives market and excessive leverage are again showing signs of stress, especially in products linked to political narratives, such as WLFIThe use of large amounts of tokens as collateral for highly leveraged trades has created liquidation vulnerabilities that are exposed during any price correction. Santiment warns that, in an environment of high volatility and regulatory scrutiny, these points of friction could trigger chain reactions affecting other segments of the digital ecosystem.