A CryptoQuant analyst has identified three categories of altcoins with real long-term value.
The altcoin market is undergoing a fundamental transformation. The era when a token's value was determined by loud narratives and hype is fading into the past. Projects with real businesses, measurable revenue, and a clear connection to global financial trends are taking center stage.
This conclusion was reached by Ki Young Ju, founder and CEO of the analytical platform CryptoQuant. In his recent analysis, he revised the approach to evaluating altcoins and identified three groups of assets that, in his opinion, retain meaning for long-term holding.
Three Pillars for a Portfolio: From BNB to DeFi and RWA
The first category is tokens of global internet companies. These are projects that have already built a tokenized market layer, generate real revenue, and have strong execution. As vivid examples, Ki Young Ju cites BNB from Binance and GRAM from TON (Telegram). In his view, issuing a proprietary token and listing on exchanges often turns out to be a more practical step than a classic IPO. This is why BNB and GRAM demonstrate strong results, backed by the long-term commitments of their creators.
The second group is quality DeFi services that generate income. This includes decentralized platforms that provide stable income and consider the interests of token holders. Examples given include Hyperliquid and other quality DEXs. Such projects can show significant growth if their founders are trustworthy and governance takes community interests into account.
The third category is trend-driven financial projects. This is infrastructure embedded in global trends, including RWA (real-world assets), stablecoins, and AI agents. According to the analyst, this area can be compared to the dot-com era: strong technology companies emerge precisely after a bubble bursts. Accordingly, reliable crypto companies are forming as a result of the current cycle.
Selling Pressure and a New Reality
Ki Young Ju emphasizes that the market capitalization of the altcoin sector has barely grown relative to the 2021 peak. Previous growth periods relied on internal trends like memecoins, so capital circulated within the industry. Bitcoin, on the other hand, successfully attracted external money from institutional investors.
CryptoQuant data confirms this trend: spot exchanges have recorded a record capital outflow from altcoins. The cumulative difference between purchase and sale volumes, excluding bitcoin and ether, has hit an all-time low since 2020. This is not a temporary dip but continuous net selling over 15 months.
The analyst compared the industry's transformation to a shift from chaotic jazz improvisation to strict classical music conducted by Wall Street. The gradual implementation of regulation, in his opinion, is happening slowly but makes the industry larger and safer for participants.
My expert opinion: Ki Young Ju's conclusions are a clear signal for the market. Investors need to stop chasing "stories" and start evaluating projects based on fundamental metrics: revenue, fees, and real usage. 99.9% of altcoins are garbage, but that doesn't mean all altcoins are garbage. Selectivity and cold calculation are what determine success in the new cycle.