Ki Young Ju from CryptoQuant: Three Pillars of Altcoin Survival in the New Cycle
The altcoin market is undergoing a fundamental transformation. The era when projects grew solely on hype and memes is fading into the past. Now, real business models, sustainable revenue, and deep integration into global financial trends are taking center stage.
This conclusion was reached by Ki Young Ju, founder of the analytics platform CryptoQuant. He identified three categories of digital assets that, in his opinion, hold real potential for long-term holding in the current market cycle.
Category 1: Global Internet Companies
These are projects with a tokenized market layer, real revenue, and strong execution. We are talking about coins that are not just a speculative tool but an integral part of large ecosystems. Prime examples are BNB (Binance) and GRAM (TON/Telegram). Their strength lies in their direct link to a business that generates income and has long-term obligations to token holders.
Category 2: DeFi Services with Yield
The second group consists of high-quality decentralized platforms that not only exist but also provide stable income to their users. This category includes projects such as Hyperliquid and other efficient DEXs. Their viability stems from governance that considers the interests of token holders and the platform itself generating fees.
Category 3: Trend-Driven Financial Projects
The third group is infrastructure embedded in global trends. This includes projects in the RWA (Real World Assets) space, stablecoins, and infrastructure for AI agents. These projects, like the giants of the dot-com era, are formed precisely during downturns to later take leading positions.
The analyst emphasizes that while 99.9% of altcoins are "garbage," this does not mean the entire market is unpromising. The key to success is selectivity. The market has already begun to clearly separate the wheat from the chaff: the sector's market cap has barely grown relative to the 2021 peak, and selling pressure has reached a five-year high. This means investors are no longer willing to invest in empty projects.
My professional opinion: Ki Young Ju is absolutely right. The market is maturing, and "easy money" on altcoins is over. Investors who want to stay in the game will have to become real analysts, not just "moon" hunters. Focusing on projects with a real economy is the only path to sustainable growth in a new, more mature, and regulated cycle.