Grayscale Expands Q1 2026 Watchlist With TRX, AI and Utilities Plays

Grayscale has released its latest “Assets Under Consideration” list for Q1 2026. The update shows which crypto projects the firm is watching for possible future investment products. While being on the list does not mean Grayscale has confirmed a product, investors often see it as a strong sign of institutional interest.

Grayscale published the new list on its official website. This quarter, the watchlist has grown to 36 assets, up from 32 in the previous quarter. The update reflects where big investors believe the crypto market is heading next.

What the Assets Under Consideration List Means

Grayscale is one of the largest crypto asset managers in the world. Specifically, it offers trusts and funds that allow traditional investors to get exposure to crypto without holding tokens directly. Meanwhile, the “Assets Under Consideration” list serves as a public watchlist.

It shows which projects Grayscale’s research team is actively studying for future products. These could include single-asset trusts, sector funds or ETFs in the future. Being added does not guarantee a launch. But many past Grayscale products started on this list first.

Key Additions in Q1 2026

This quarter, Grayscale made several notable additions across different sectors.

• In the Smart Contracts sector Tron (TRX) was added. Tron is one of the most used blockchains in the world. It is especially popular for USDT stablecoin transfers and handles massive daily transaction volume.
• In the Consumer & Culture sector, ARIA Protocol (ARIAIP) was added. ARIA focuses on turning intellectual property, like music and digital rights, into tradeable crypto assets.
• In the Artificial Intelligence sector, Grayscale added Nous Research and Poseidon. Nous Research works on open-source AI models. Poseidon focuses on decentralized AI computing and inference. At the same time, Prime Intellect was removed from the list.
• In the Utilities & Services sector, DoubleZero (2Z) was added. DoubleZero is building a fast, low latency network layer for blockchains. It aims to improve speed and performance for large-scale crypto systems.

What This Says About Crypto Trends

Grayscale’s list shows where institutional interest is moving. The focus is no longer only on Bitcoin and Ethereum. Instead, investors are now looking at full sectors. AI and blockchain are becoming more connected. Indeed, many new projects are building tools that combine computing, data, and crypto incentives. As a result, this convergence is creating a decentralized machine economy where AI agents can trade and verify data autonomously. There is also a strong interest in infrastructure. This includes fast networks, real-world utilities and systems that support large scale adoption. Adding Tron (TRX) also shows that established chains with real usage still matter to big investors.

Why Investors Are Paying Attention

When Grayscale adds a project to its watchlist. It often brings more attention from the market. Some investors see it as a stamp of approval from traditional finance. It also shows that crypto is becoming more mature. Instead of betting on hype, large firms are building long-term strategies around real use cases. But Grayscale clearly states that this list is only for evaluation. There is no promise of a product launch.

Looking Ahead

Grayscale Q1 2026 update shows a growing focus on AI, utilities and real-world applications. Indeed, it reflects a shift toward crypto projects that solve real problems. As a result, as regulation becomes clearer and more institutions enter the market, these watchlists may shape the next wave of crypto investment products. Currently, the list offers a clear look at what big money is watching next.