Svmuu News: In its latest outlook report, a16z Crypto stated that the next phase of industry development this year will no longer depend primarily on the emergence of new blockchains, but rather on how the technology reshapes markets, computing infrastructure, and the media sector. a16z Crypto noted that as prediction markets converge with crypto technology and artificial intelligence, they will become larger, broader, and more complex by 2026; the next phase of growth will involve not only more contracts but also better solutions for determining the truth in dispute resolutions. Furthermore, 2026 could mark a turning point for the expansion of cryptographic proofs into non-blockchain industries. Advances in zero-knowledge virtual machine technology are significantly reducing the cost of generating proofs, making verifiable computing a viable solution for cloud CPU workloads and, eventually, consumer-grade devices. At the same time, as prediction markets expand, cryptographic proofs integrate into enterprise systems, and “real-world investment” in the financial sector becomes a new cornerstone of trust, the industry will undergo a transformation. Driven by advancements in cryptography, artificial intelligence, and market design, crypto-native tools are increasingly permeating numerous industries beyond decentralized finance, with blockchain serving as underlying infrastructure rather than a standalone application or end goal. (The Block)