Analysis: Crypto-native new banks may become the core engine for Ethereum's growth and implementation in 2026

As Ethereum completes a key phase for institutional funds to enter through the "Digital Asset Treasury (DAT)" in 2025, market focus is shifting to a new adoption driver in 2026—crypto-native new banks. ether.fi CEO Mike Silagadze stated that the next phase of Ethereum's expansion will be driven by available financial products rather than speculative trading cycles.

Analysts believe that these new banks will combine self-custody, high-yield stablecoin products with traditional mobile banking experiences, providing an entry point for a broad user base that is concerned about the complexities of DeFi but seeks returns higher than traditional savings. By abstracting away Gas, private keys, and cross-L2 operation details, new banks are becoming a key bridge for Ethereum's move towards mainstream adoption.

At the same time, institutional staking and liquid staking form the underlying support. The DAT, which emerged in 2025, allows enterprises to earn staking rewards while holding Ethereum, becoming a more flexible allocation tool beyond spot ETFs. The market expects that in the first quarter of 2026, institutional treasuries and retail-facing new banks will create synergies, providing users with on-chain yields of 4% to 5%, pushing Ethereum from "speculative applications" to everyday financial infrastructure.