2025-12-26 22:21:17

In this market cycle, many people are asking the same question: why can't altcoins get off the ground?

Many give a straightforward answer — it's lack of money. But if you only see this layer, you'll never truly understand what's really happening in this market.

**The game rules of the market have completely changed**

Remember two years ago? A concept or a narrative could push a coin’s price to the sky. That era is indeed over. Now, if your project has no real progress, just telling stories is no longer effective.

The core issues facing altcoins are twofold — either the project itself lacks substantial products and application scenarios, relying on the same story repeatedly to attract retail investors’ emotions; or the valuation at launch is set too aggressively, with an absurdly small circulating supply, causing retail investors to buy at high levels and then face unlocking sell pressure. In both cases, it’s very difficult to attract institutional funds.

**Looking at the data makes it clear.** By 2025, Bitcoin’s market cap share has soared to 60%, while the total market cap of all altcoins has shrunk by over 27%. When institutional funds flow in through compliant channels (like ETFs), their focus is mainly on Bitcoin and a few mainstream assets (such as XRP, Solana). Other projects are quickly marginalized.

Occasionally, short-term hot topics like Meme coins appear, but capital comes in and leaves just as fast, making it impossible to form sustained market trends.

**What are project teams doing?**

What is the current strategy of smart teams? It’s low profile. No explosive moves, no forced hype, just maintaining basic operations. This may seem like being beaten by the market, but it’s actually adaptation. Because in this market, sensitive to selling pressure, trying to force topics often backfires.

Only projects that can prove they generate real cash flow — like Hyperliquid, Render — can continue to attract funding. You see, investors’ mindset has shifted from "chasing the next hot trend" to "can this project generate returns."

**What about retail investors?**

Forget the illusion of "using time to gain space," that era is truly over. The opportunity for a broad rise in altcoins is gone. But if you persist in seeking opportunities in tracks with real demand like AI and RWA, you can still find some — the key is to identify projects with genuine application value.

If you want to do swing trading, you need a clear plan for take-profit and stop-loss. Don’t get caught in the liquidity traps of high FDV projects.

Finally, what indicators should you watch? It’s no longer about community hype or narrative strength, but about a project’s compliance, cash flow, and ecosystem activity. These are the new screening criteria.

**In conclusion**

The market has never lacked opportunities, but it will only reward those who understand the new rules. When the tide of emotion recedes, what remains is true value.

BTC2,19%

XRP1,54%

SOL2,95%

MEME-1,25%

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Layer3Dreamer

· 3h ago

theoretically speaking, the state verification mechanics here are fascinating — it's basically a recursive pruning of illiquid alts through institutional capital filtering. the bitcoin dominance vector hitting 60% isn't just market concentration, it's the blockchain trilemma reasserting itself on a macro scale.

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MerkleTreeHugger

· 13h ago

Haha, you're so right. Those still relying on stories to talk about coins really need to wake up now. Eh, aren't those high FDV trash coins still rising? Why haven't I seen them? Honestly, those days when you could buy a crappy coin and double your money are really gone. So sad. Cash flow is the real king. Finally, someone said it out loud—most projects are just air. Render and Hyperliquid still have some potential, but we need to stay cautious. Institutional entry has really changed the game. Retail investors can only be more cautious when trying to bottom fish. Projects maintained through low profile are actually more worth paying attention to. On the other hand, those that are constantly hyping are more虚. The AI track still has opportunities, but you need to find those with real products. Don't keep taking over others' positions. Bitcoin占60% is a bit crazy. Altcoins are really going to have a hard time this time. A take-profit and stop-loss plan is a must, or you'll just get cut again.

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DataOnlooker

· 12-26 22:51

I've long seen through it; the era of storytelling is indeed dead. Now it's all about who can truly generate revenue. --- When will the situation of BTC eating the bull and altcoins drinking soup reverse? Can't wait any longer. --- That's a valid point, but with institutional investors coming in, opportunities for ordinary people are actually fewer. How to say? --- High FDV liquidity trap has been stepped on too many times. Now, only cash flow projects matter. --- Projects still talking about Web3 dreams should wake up already, really. --- Render and Hyperliquid are indeed making money; most others are just air. --- Retail investors are still dreaming of a general rally, but little do they know, the train has already left. --- Compliance was never a concern before, but now I realize how important it really is.

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NotAFinancialAdvice

· 12-26 22:29

That's right, the era of storytelling is really over; now it's all about cash flow. --- The 60% dominance of Bitcoin is a bit exaggerated, but it's true that mainstream assets are really draining liquidity. --- No wonder my bunch of coins with high FDV have been stagnant; that's the reason. --- Hyperliquid and Render are indeed making money, while other coins can't even find PPP. --- Retail investors are still chasing hot trends, while institutions have long since pulled out; reality is this cruel. --- Low-key operation = no money, no hype; this project is probably dead. --- In the past, telling a story could boost prices; now, telling stories gets you cut, no wonder people have left. --- AI and RWA tracks still have opportunities, but most projects are just a new concept with a different skin. --- Compliance, cash flow, ecosystem activity... investors' demands are this high now. --- Trading time for space? Ha, that's a relic of the last cycle.

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NFTHoarder

· 12-26 22:27

It's really heartbreaking; when illusions shatter, it's time to wake up. --- BTC monopolizes the market, and other coins cool down—that's the reality. --- The era of storytelling is indeed dead; now it's all about real money. --- When institutions come in, they end up pushing retail investors out—that unexpected reversal. --- I think the key is that the project itself needs to have vitality; air coins deserve to die. --- Meme coins are just hot potato games; fewer and fewer players are truly involved. --- It's high time to wake up; playing altcoins with a gambling mentality should be rewarded with a harvest. --- Compliance, cash flow, ecosystem... there are really only a few new rules, but enforcement is the hardest part. --- Low-key operation has instead become a smart choice—ironic or not. --- Retail investors currently lack the awareness of stop-loss; many are still stubbornly holding at high levels. --- It seems I need to look for opportunities in tracks like AI and RWA that have real demand. --- The remaining value after the emotional tide recedes is true, but not many can wait for it. --- A 27% contraction... the altcoin market has indeed entered a winter.

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