The year 2026 is approaching: the survival crisis of small and medium-sized token projects

2025-12-30 09:40:12

【Crypto World】 Recently, some analysts have raised a concerning point: the vast majority of small and medium-sized token projects may not survive until 2026. This judgment is based on several real issues—many projects’ token models are inherently flawed, financial management is unregulated, and coupled with ongoing bear market pressure, the prices of many tokens have already fallen by nearly 90%.

This situation is very similar to the aftermath of the internet bubble burst years ago. Back then, many websites with poor technology and no real application scenarios went bankrupt one after another. The current crypto market seems to be reenacting that story. One difference is that today blockchain technology is developing faster, and the participation of large institutions is higher, which actually makes it harder for those unstable small projects to survive.

But it’s not all bad news. Some projects are bucking the trend. For example, Arbitrum—despite its token price performing modestly—its ecosystem continues to expand—more DApps are being added, more developers are involved, and real trading activity is increasing. What does this indicate? It shows that in the end, only those projects with solid fundamentals will survive—those with practical applications and a healthy ecosystem.

If you are currently looking at various token projects, maybe you should ask yourself: what is the actual use of this project’s token? Is the ecosystem growing or shrinking? Is the team’s financial management reliable? Can it get through the next two or three years? These are the key questions.

ARB-2.66%

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MoonlightGamer

· 16h ago

A 90% drop is easy to talk about, but how many people have lost everything... However, filtering out bubbles is actually good for the ecosystem.

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YieldWhisperer

· 2025-12-30 10:07

A 90% decline is really nothing; I've seen things go to zero... This round of elimination is just survival of the fittest. It's about time to clear out some trash coins.

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BlockImposter

· 2025-12-30 10:04

90% decline? Haha, my holdings have long been in the coffin, just waiting to be buried with it. Small projects are indeed worrying, but this is the real filtering process. Clearing out the trash is actually a good thing. The Arbitrum ecosystem is pretty good, at least they are doing real work, much better than those who just boast every day. Before 2026, there will probably be another big reshuffle; only those who survive are true players. This is Darwin's law—survival of the fittest, nothing new. Speaking of which, why are projects that persist in developing products more likely to be overlooked?

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MergeConflict

· 2025-12-30 10:01

A 90% decline, huh? Then it's time to clear out the trash projects. Honestly, only those who survive this wave are truly valuable. The Arb ecosystem is indeed moving, but the price is dead silent... that's the real punch to the gut. It's another internet bubble analogy, I've heard it a thousand times, but it's still the same. Small projects without a moat should have been gone long ago; those who have persisted until now are worth paying attention to.

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CafeMinor

· 2025-12-30 09:54

90% decline... That's why I only dare to touch projects like Arb with a real ecosystem now. Reminds me of the internet bubble era, where garbage projects one after another died. 2026? I think many small coins won't last until next year... It still depends on whether there are real application scenarios. The entry of big institutions has actually accelerated the淘汰, this time it's the trash coins that have nowhere to hide. However, projects like Arb are indeed a bit different; their ecosystems are long-lasting, but the prices haven't kept up. Is this an opportunity? Poor token models + chaotic finances, dying is well-deserved. The crypto world should be like this—survival of the fittest.

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