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

On January 5th, as Ethereum reaches a critical milestone in 2025 with institutional funds entering through the “Digital Asset Vault (DAT),” market focus is shifting toward 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 led 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 the vast user base that is concerned about DeFi complexity but seeks higher returns than traditional savings. By masking details such as Gas fees, private keys, and cross-L2 operations, these new banks are becoming a key bridge for Ethereum’s mainstream adoption. Meanwhile, institutional staking and liquidity staking form the underlying support. The DAT emerging in 2025 allows enterprises to earn staking rewards while holding Ethereum, offering a more flexible allocation tool beyond spot ETFs. Market expectations suggest that in Q1 2026, institutional vaults and retail-oriented new banks will create a synergistic effect, providing users with 4%–5% on-chain returns and pushing Ethereum from a “speculative application” toward everyday financial infrastructure.