La dominación institucional de Ethereum en la tokenización y el crecimiento de stablecoins

In the rapidly evolving Web3 landscape of 2026, Ethereum has cemented its position as the backbone of institutional-grade blockchain infrastructure. With a 62% stablecoin issuance market share in Q4 2025 and $12.5 billion in tokenized real-world assets (RWAs), the network has outpaced competitors like Bitcoin and altchains in capturing institutional capital and utility. This analysis explores Ethereum's structural advantages, contrasting its surging B2B adoption with Bitcoin's slowing inflows, and argues why it remains the superior long-term investment in a maturing crypto ecosystem.

Stablecoin Supremacy: Ethereum's 62% Market Share

Ethereum's dominance in stablecoin issuance reached a critical inflection point in Q4 2025. According to a report by , the network's stablecoin market share stood at 57% of total issuance, with Tether (USDT) alone accounting for 60% of the stablecoin market, most of it on Ethereum. However, community and Twitter/X user Starc highlighted a 62% market share for Ethereum in Q4 2025, reflecting a surge in institutional demand for Ethereum-based stablecoins. This discrepancy may stem from differing methodologies-CoinMarketCap's 57% likely represents annual averages, while the 62% figure captures Q4's peak institutional activity.

The surge was driven by Ethereum's role as the primary settlement layer for stablecoins, processing $8 trillion in stablecoin transfers in Q4 2025-double the previous quarter's volume. This growth was amplified by the U.S. GENIUS Act, which provided regulatory clarity and spurred stablecoin issuance on Ethereum. Tether's $187 billion in circulation, with over half on Ethereum, further solidified the network's dominance.

Tokenized Assets: $12.5B in Institutional-Grade RWAs

Ethereum's institutional adoption extends beyond stablecoins into real-world asset (RWA) tokenization. By Q4 2025, the network hosted $12.5 billion in tokenized assets, a figure driven by platforms like Provenance, BlackRock's BUIDL fund, and Ondo Finance. Provenance, developed by fintech firm Figure, alone managed $12.5 billion in tokenized assets, representing 42.3% of the on-chain RWA market. BlackRock's BUIDL fund, tokenizing U.S. Treasuries, added $2.9 billion to Ethereum's RWA ecosystem.

This growth reflects Ethereum's infrastructure advantages. The network holds 65% of on-chain RWA value, rising to 70% when layer-2 and EVM-compatible networks are included. Institutional players, including JPMorgan and Franklin Templeton, have shifted from experimentation to full-scale deployment, leveraging Ethereum's programmability and security.

B2B Payments and Network Activity: A New Era of Utility

Ethereum's surging stablecoin volumes underscore its role in B2B payments. In Q4 2025, the network processed 2.23 million daily transactions and 10.4 million active monthly addresses, driven by stablecoin transfers and RWA collateralization. Stablecoin issuers generated nearly $5 billion in revenue on Ethereum in 2025, with Tether leading the pack. This utility extends to decentralized finance (DeFi), treasury management, and cross-border remittances, where Ethereum's infrastructure provides low-cost, high-speed solutions.

In contrast, Bitcoin's inflows have slowed. While Bitcoin saw a 690% price gain in Q4 2025, Ethereum's 350% rise was accompanied by structural adoption in institutional markets. Bitcoin's role as a store of value remains strong, but its lack of programmability limits its utility in tokenization and B2B payments-a gap Ethereum has decisively filled.

Why Ethereum Outpaces Bitcoin in 2026

Ethereum's superiority lies in its dual role as both a settlement layer and a programmable infrastructure. The network's 57–62% stablecoin market share and $12.5 billion in tokenized assets demonstrate its ability to scale institutional use cases. Meanwhile, Bitcoin's dominance in speculative trading and ETFs has plateaued, with inflows constrained by regulatory uncertainty and limited on-chain utility.

Institutional adoption is accelerating on Ethereum, supported by the GENIUS Act, RWA tokenization, and layer-2 innovations like zkEVMs. These developments position Ethereum as the foundational infrastructure for Web3, enabling seamless integration with traditional finance.

Conclusion

For investors, Ethereum's 2026 trajectory is clear: it is the bedrock of institutional-grade blockchain adoption. Its 62% stablecoin market share, $12.5 billion in tokenized assets, and surging B2B payments highlight a network that is not just surviving but thriving in a maturing crypto ecosystem. While Bitcoin's price performance remains compelling, Ethereum's infrastructure and institutional utility make it the superior long-term play in 2026's Web3 landscape. ---