Bridgewater Associates founder Ray Dalio raised an interesting point in his 2025 year-end outlook: the 2026 U.S. midterm elections could reshape the political landscape significantly. Here's what caught attention—if Republicans lose their grip on both the Senate and House, a bunch of policies currently working in crypto's favor could flip entirely.

It's not just speculation either. The connection between election outcomes and crypto policy is pretty direct. Regulatory approaches, tax treatments, staking rules—these all hinge on which party controls Congress. Dalio's noting this because the crypto space has seen a more favorable wind lately, but political cycles are unpredictable.

The 2026 midterms could be a turning point. Markets and investors should probably game out different scenarios now rather than scramble when results roll in. That's the kind of macro risk assessment that separates reactive traders from strategic ones.