Expert view: Three categories of altcoins capable of weathering the market storm
The altcoin market is undergoing a fundamental transformation. The era when a token's value was determined solely by a loud narrative and marketing promises is fading. It is being replaced by an era of pragmatism, where real business, sustainable revenue, and deep integration into global financial and technological trends become the key factors of long-term value.
Analyzing the current market conditions, I identify three clear categories of altcoins that, in my firm belief, will retain their relevance and potential for long-term holding in investor portfolios.
Category 1: Global Internet Companies with a Tokenized Market
These are projects that have already built a working business with a real economy. Their tokens are not just a speculative tool but an integral part of an ecosystem with proven demand. Prime examples are BNB (Binance) and GRAM (TON/Telegram). For such giants, issuing their own token and listing on exchanges has proven to be a much more practical and effective step than a classic stock market debut. These assets are backed by long-term commitments from their creators and gain access to traditional liquidity through exchange-traded funds.
Category 2: Yield-Generating DeFi Services
The second group consists of decentralized platforms that not only exist but generate stable and real income. The key differentiator for viable projects here is management that prioritizes the interests of token holders. Hyperliquid and high-quality decentralized exchanges (DEXs) are the best representatives of this cohort. Their ability to demonstrate substantial growth directly depends on trust in the team and sound tokenomics.
Category 3: Infrastructure for Global Trends
The third category is infrastructure projects embedded in macroeconomic trends. Here, I include the sphere of real-world asset (RWA) tokenization, stablecoins, and infrastructure for artificial intelligence (AI agents). This niche is comparable to the dot-com era: after the bubble burst, it is precisely those who build a real technological foundation that survive and become giants. The current cycle is a time for forming such reliable crypto companies.
It is important to understand: 99.9% of altcoins are "garbage". However, the phrase "most are garbage" is not equivalent to the statement "everything is garbage." The market has entered a phase of intense selection. The market capitalization of the altcoin sector has barely grown relative to its 2021 peak, but now capital is not circulating within the industry; it is coming from outside — from institutions that see real utility in stablecoins and RWAs. Investors are no longer willing to pay for empty promises.
My expert opinion: Selling pressure on altcoins has reached a five-year extreme — net sales on spot exchanges have been ongoing for 15 months. This is not a temporary drawdown but a structural shift. The market is evolving from "chaotic jazz" to "strict classical" under the direction of Wall Street. Investors should be extremely selective and bet only on those assets that have a real economic foundation.