Top 5 Biggest 2026 Crypto Surprises Benjamin Cowen and Coin Bureau Didn’t See Coming

Crypto analysts Benjamin Cowen and Guy Turner flagged several 2026 market surprises that reshaped flows and risk. Cowen highlighted that Bitcoin dominance has traded sideways since August 2025—blunting a typical altcoin rotation—and blamed spot BTC ETFs for absorbing capital that would normally fuel altseason. Turner noted the S&P 500’s unexpected resilience (printing new highs) despite energy and Middle East shocks, with AI-driven flows propping risk assets. Both expect further North Korea-linked DeFi hacks (Lazarus) and see the present crypto rally as a counter-trend inside a broader bear market, with the 21-week EMA acting as key resistance. Regulatory outcomes (the Clarity Act) could quickly flip sentiment if passed. Market impacts: capital concentration into Bitcoin/large-cap/traditional ETF channels and AI stocks, depressed altcoin performance, elevated tail-risk from hacks and unresolved legislation.