How to position yourself in time for the upcoming trend in 2026: Deutsche Bank, Finexity, and Coinbase in focus

Deutsche Bank – In a stabilization phase

Deutsche Bank has crossed an important threshold. Its shares are trading above book value for the first time since the financial crisis. This marks the end of a long phase in which the market consistently wrote down the institution's equity due to restructuring risks and regulatory legacy issues. Confidence in the balance sheet has returned. The focus is thus inevitably shifting from the question of survival to the sustainability of earnings. However, this change in valuation is not a signal of dynamic growth, but primarily reflects the end of the punishment for past weaknesses. The real work of creating sustainable added value is only just beginning.

Currently, the focus is on the deepened partnership with PayPal. It goes beyond pure transaction processing and now also includes payment solutions in the US and operational support in Europe and Asia. For the bank, this is proof that its expertise in cash management is a winning proposition for major digital players. It is a scalable, stable business that ties up little equity and underpins the bank's regained credibility. Such partnerships are a central component of the strategy to gradually reduce dependence on volatile investment banking revenues and make the business model more resilient.

The outlook for 2026 is shaped by this consolidation. The spectacular comeback is over; now it is all about operational performance. The latest initiatives, from tokenizing traditional assets to partnerships, aim to supplement the cost-intensive investment banking business with stable-yield digital components. For shareholders, this means that the leverage for significant valuation expansion is limited. Any further rise in the share price must now be achieved through consistent profits and predictable capital returns. The stock is currently trading at EUR 32.30.

Finexity - Continues to gain reach

Hamburg-based fintech Finexity is consistently pursuing its expansion course. Following its successful connection to the Sparkassen ecosystem, the Company has now signed a strategic letter of intent with the EGRO media group. The plan is to create a joint platform that will offer the millions of weekly readers of regional weekly newspapers structured access to private capital markets. This partnership is further proof that Finexity is expanding its role as a bridge to established distribution channels and thus gradually expanding its growth network.

The collaboration with EGRO follows the pattern already established in November. At that time, a breakthrough was achieved with Sparkasse Bremen. Finexity's technology was integrated directly into the online banking system of a major German institution for the first time. This pioneering achievement was cemented in December by the sale of the investment brokerage software used by the savings bank subsidiary Sachwert Invest. Finexity remains involved as a long-term infrastructure partner. This model is scalable and opens up access to the entire savings bank association with its millions of customers.

Recent developments underscore the unique potential of the business model. Finexity is not acting as an isolated niche player, but is increasingly establishing itself as a critical infrastructure for the digitalization of alternative investments. By embedding its platform in established ecosystems such as regional banks and media companies, it is systematically tapping into new, large investor groups. This strategic approach of combining traditional reach with state-of-the-art tokenization technology could be the long-term driver for sustainable scaling. The share is currently trading at EUR 48.20.

Coinbase – More than just crypto

While the crypto market is slowing down, Coinbase is consistently restructuring. The exchange is transforming itself from a pure crypto platform into a broad financial ecosystem. A key strategic lever is tokenization. This involves converting real assets such as stocks into digital tokens and trading them on the blockchain. Coinbase is positioning itself as an infrastructure provider for institutions while also offering retail-friendly access. This move could change traditional markets in the long term and secure Coinbase a unique bridging function between the old and new financial worlds.

The product range is growing significantly. Since the end of 2025, Coinbase has enabled trading in traditional stocks and ETFs as well as prediction markets. This "Everything Exchange" strategy aims to supplement volatile crypto trading revenues with more stable sources of income. At the same time, however, the Company faces regulatory challenges. The debate surrounding the so-called CLARITY Act could restrict the allocation of income on stablecoin balances, a lucrative business for Coinbase. The outcome of this dispute with the traditional banking lobby is still uncertain.

In 2026, the focus will be on the successful integration of the new business areas. The valuation currently appears moderate, as the decline in the share price reflects many pessimistic expectations. The potential lies in synergy. Stablecoins such as USDC are expected to serve as a means of payment and trading, while tokenization is expected to act as a growth driver and attract a growing user base that utilizes the entire portfolio. The main risk remains a persistently weak crypto market, which is weighing on core revenues. In the long term, however, diversification could pay off and make Coinbase less dependent on pure crypto cycles. Currently, one share costs USD 241.15.

The year 2026 will see the mass breakthrough of tokenization, finally merging traditional and digital markets. Deutsche Bank is consolidating its stabilized foundation and leveraging partnerships such as PayPal to expand its business digitally. Finexity, as a critical infrastructure partner, is driving scaling by integrating its platform into established ecosystems such as savings banks and media companies. Coinbase is strategically transforming itself from a crypto exchange to a broad "Everything Exchange", becoming a bridge builder between the financial worlds. Together, these three players are shaping the new, more efficient market.