How to combine stocks and crypto in 2026 investment strategies

Stocks have long been the go-to for building wealth, steady, reliable, and trusted by generations.

But traditions aren’t the key theme of 2026. The rise of cryptocurrencies has snatched the attention of everyone from tech enthusiasts to institutions worldwide, and sometimes, it even outpaces stocks.

Between 2022 and 2024, both markets were rocked by volatility, regulatory crackdowns, and fierce debate. If anything, it proved how closely tied stocks and crypto are to market cycles.

Heading into 2026, the burning question remains: How do you build a portfolio that can thrive in any condition?

One answer is to treat stocks and crypto as part of the same strategy. When combined, they offer risk balance, flexibility, and a fighting chance in today’s ever-shifting market. Let’s break down how to make both assets work together, and what that could look like in 2026.

Stocks vs Crypto: How their differences can be complementary

Stocks and crypto are both ways to make your money work for you. But they generate income differently. By understanding the fundamentals of each, you can build an efficient portfolio that matches your goals.

Stocks – Backed by real businesses

Stocks are securities that represent partial ownership in a company. When you buy a stock, you become a shareholder of that business.

Ways to earn from stocks:

1. Dividends: Profitable companies may regularly pay shareholders a portion of their earnings (e.g. quarterly, annually), usually in cash.
2. Capital gains: If you buy a stock at 20 baht and sell it at 30 baht, you make a 10 baht profit per share.

Advantages:

• Backed by real business performance
• Receive dividend payments
• Regulated by law and supported by financial reports
• Suitable for medium- to long-term portfolios

Risks:

• Stock prices fluctuate with economic conditions
• Requires understanding of financial statements
• Individual stocks carry company-specific risk

Crypto – Digital assets powered by technology

Cryptocurrencies use blockchain technology to verify transactions. Examples include BTC (Bitcoin), ETH (Ethereum), and others. Crypto is not a stock, but functions as digital money or tokens depending on the project.

Ways to earn from crypto:

1. Capital gains: Buy BTC at 600,000 baht and sell at 800,000 baht → 200,000 baht profit
2. Staking/Yield: Lock tokens to support the network and earn rewards (e.g. ETH staking)
3. DeFi Usage: Earn from participating in decentralised finance systems

Advantages:

• Exposure to emerging technologies
• High liquidity for major coins like BTC and ETH
• Independent of central banks or traditional finance systems
• Ideal for medium- to long-term, risk-tolerant strategists

Risks:

• Highly volatile
• Some projects lack solid foundations or real-world use cases
• Legal and regulatory frameworks remain unclear in many countries

Why combine both stocks and crypto?

Looking at market cycles, both stocks and crypto behave differently in each phase of the economic system. Diversifying into both helps you respond more effectively to changing conditions.

Reasons to consider both:

• Risk diversification: Spreading funds across different types of assets lowers overall risk
• Opportunity timing: When one market lags, the other might thrive
• Innovation exposure: Crypto opens doors to fast-growing tech developments

How market cycles work, and how to adapt your strategy

Global financial markets move in cycles, typically in four main phases. A smart financial strategy adjusts with each stage.

1. Recovery phase

• Signs: GDP growth returns, unemployment drops, and central banks loosen monetary policy.
• Stocks: Value and cyclical sectors (e.g. energy, industrials, real estate) begin recovering.
• Crypto: Developer and investor interest returns, especially in altcoins.

Strategy:

• Increase exposure to value stocks with strong fundamentals
• In crypto, use consistent capital and research for gradual entry
• Maintain cash reserves to manage volatility

2. Expansion phase

• Signs: Economic growth peaks, profits rise, and interest rates remain supportive.
• Stocks: Growth sectors like tech, healthcare, and consumer goods perform well
• Crypto: Altcoin markets surge; institutional interest grows

Strategy:

• Let stocks anchor your portfolio for long-term stability
• Focus on tokens with real-world use or infrastructure ties
• Use rebalancing to stay within your risk limits

3. Peak phase

• Signals: Rising inflation, interest rate hikes, overvalued assets
• Stocks: Growth slows; valuations stretch beyond fundamentals
• Crypto: Retail-driven FOMO; prices detach from actual utility

Strategy:

• Take profits from overperforming stocks and tokens
• Shift into defensive assets like dividend stocks or gold
• Avoid speculative, hype-driven tokens

4. Recession phase

• Signals: Economic contraction, declining profits, cautious consumer spending
• Stocks: Defensive sectors (utilities, energy, healthcare) perform better.
• Crypto: Major corrections occur; weaker tokens fail

Strategy:

• Limit exposure to volatile assets
• Hold quality tokens with real user demand or market relevance
• Build cash positions to reinvest during recovery

Sample portfolio allocations for 2026

Conservative investors:

• Stocks (blue-chip, strong fundamentals): 70 to 85%
• Crypto (top-tier tokens): 10 to 20%
• Cash/liquid assets: 5 to 10%

Moderate risk investors:

• Stocks: 55 to 65%
• Crypto: 25 to 35%
• Cash: 5 to 10%

Aggressive investors:

• Stocks: 40 to 55%
• Crypto: 35 to 45%
• Cash: 5 to 10%

Three tools to build a resilient portfolio through volatility

A good investment journey doesn’t begin with picking the “best” asset; it starts with portfolio structuring to match your risk level and goals. After all, failing to prepare is preparing to fail. Here are the three precautionary measures to keep in mind.

1. Diversify effectively

Never bet everything on a single coin, stock, or asset class. If something goes wrong, your entire portfolio could collapse in an instant.

Diversification guidelines:

• Across asset classes: Mix stocks, crypto, gold, bonds, REITs
• Across countries: Spread across global markets to reduce country-specific risks
• Within crypto: Combine BTC, ETH, stablecoins, DeFi projects, NFTs

Warning: Over-diversifying without understanding each asset can lead to a lack of direction. This is often referred to as overdiversification.

2. Rebalance regularly

As time goes on, some assets will grow fast while others may shrink. Your portfolio’s proportions will drift away from your original plan. Rebalancing helps bring your asset allocation back in line.

Tip: Set a rebalancing schedule (e.g., every quarter or twice a year). Use a ±5–10% threshold from your target allocation. If your crypto allocation grows from 40% to 50%, consider selling some and reallocating to underperforming assets.

Many platforms offer auto-rebalance tools, or you can track your portfolio manually via Google Sheets.

3. Use multi-layered risk management

Perfect trades don’t exist. Survivors are the ones who know how to limit their downside and avoid deep losses.

Risk control tools:

• Stop-loss: Pre-set a loss threshold to exit before taking major damage
• Take-profit: Lock in gains at your target price to avoid greed-induced losses
• DCA (Dollar-Cost Averaging): Add funds gradually over time, at regular intervals, to reduce timing risk
• Position sizing: Limit investment per asset (e.g., max 5% of your portfolio)

Market rumours, panic, or fear can cause impulsive decisions, but a solid plan keeps you focused. These portfolio techniques may seem simple, but when practised consistently with discipline, they create long-term stability. Even in turbulent times, your portfolio can remain calm.

Whether the market is rising or falling, the most important thing is to have flexible strategies and tools to navigate any economic cycle.

FP Markets, a global broker trusted for over 20 years, offers modern investment platforms across stocks, forex, crypto, and CFDs, with competitive spreads, lightning-fast execution, advanced analytics, and 24/7 Thai-language support.

This is your ultimate playbook to confidently face 2026 in any market condition.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Always consult with a licensed financial advisor before making investment decisions.

Press release

Latest Thailand News

FinanceGuidesPress Room