# Onchain Vaults Poised for Explosive Growth: What's Next for Institutional-Grade Yield?

Onchain vaults are quietly reshaping how institutions access yield. Here's what's brewing: expect vault AUM to nearly triple to around $42B by the end of 2026.

But there's more to it than just raw numbers. As these products mature, growth won't spread evenly across the board. Instead, you'll see capital concentrating around trusted curators—the teams and protocols that have earned credibility through consistent performance and transparent operations.

What makes this shift significant? Onchain vaults are transitioning from niche yield strategies into institutional-grade fund wrappers. They're becoming the primary interface through which serious money accesses decentralized yield—replacing clunky manual interactions with streamlined, professional-grade solutions.

The implication is clear: the next wave of DeFi adoption won't be driven by retail experimentation. It'll be driven by institutions seeking better yield infrastructure. And vault curators with strong track records will capture most of that flow.