Most altcoins may not survive the coming years. That is the definitive view of CryptoQuant CEO Ki Young Ju, who argues that the cryptocurrency market is entering a mature phase where marketing narratives and pure speculation will play a much smaller role in determining token value.
According to the executive, only a small fraction of the tokens currently in circulation possess the fundamental metrics necessary to remain relevant beyond 2026.
In his view, the market is becoming increasingly selective as both retail investors and institutional allocators demand real utility, institutional-grade revenue generation, and tangible network adoption.
Which Projects Are Most Likely to Survive?
Among the sectors considered most resilient are platforms that already feature established products and large, active user bases.
Projects connected to well-developed digital ecosystems are likely to maintain a deep competitive advantage over speculative tokens created primarily to capture fleeting market attention.
In this new paradigm, decentralized finance (DeFi) protocols are no longer judged solely by Total Value Locked (TVL). Instead, they are evaluated through traditional financial lenses, focusing on consistent protocol revenue generated through fees and services.
Platforms that boast a healthy Price-to-Earnings (P/E) ratio and sustainable tokenomics are viewed as the strongest candidates for long-term survival, anchoring themselves in real economic activity rather than speculative hype.
What Could Drive the Next Generation of Altcoins?
Ki Young Ju also highlighted several emerging sectors that continue to attract sustainable institutional capital. These include yield-bearing stablecoins, the tokenization of Real-World Assets (RWAs), and decentralized physical infrastructure networks (DePIN) designed for artificial intelligence applications.
The RWA sector, in particular, has validated this shift as traditional financial giants like BlackRock and Franklin Templeton bring trillions of dollars in legacy assets on-chain. These areas are inherently more promising because they offer practical use cases, compliance frameworks, and institutional adoption potential that completely bypass the speculative nature of early crypto cycles.
The Great Cleansing of the Crypto Market
This assessment reflects a broader structural shift already visible across the industry. While thousands of new altcoins launch daily and compete for attention through aggressive marketing campaigns, smart capital is quietly flowing toward projects capable of demonstrating economic utility and sustainable growth.
If this trend continues, the coming years will bring a massive consolidation across the crypto sector. This structural shift will leave very little room for hype-driven projects, ultimately creating a healthier ecosystem and greater long-term opportunities for platforms that deliver undeniable value to the global digital economy.