Altcoins Aren’t Dead, But the Easy Money Era Is Over: CryptoQuant

CryptoQuant CEO Ki Young Ju believes altcoins are not dead, but the market has changed dramatically.

In a recent post on X, Ju argued that the days of making money from tokens backed only by hype and narratives are largely over. While narratives still matter, he says investors are now looking for projects with real businesses, real users, and sustainable revenue.

According to him, simply launching a token is no longer enough to attract long-term interest.

Altcoin’s Success lies in 3 Categories

Ju says the altcoins with the best chance of success today fall into three categories.

The first includes internet companies that have built tokenized ecosystems around their businesses. He pointed to Binance’s BNB and Telegram-linked TON as examples of projects backed by established platforms, active communities, and long-term development.

The second category is DeFi protocols that generate real revenue. Ju added that projects such as Hyperliquid, arguing that strong business models and consistent revenue remain important factors for long-term growth.

The third group includes projects that align with larger financial trends shaping the future of the industry.

Stablecoins and Tokenization Take the Spotlight

According to Ju, the crypto market is finally focusing on practical use cases rather than purely speculative themes.

According to him, sectors such as stablecoins, real-world assets (RWAs), and tokenized stocks are becoming increasingly important because they connect blockchain technology with traditional finance and real economic activity.

Ju noted that previous altcoin cycles were largely driven by crypto-native trends like DeFi and memecoins. Now, the focus is gradually shifting toward projects that offer clear utility and solve real-world problems.

A More Selective Market

Ju also thinks artificial intelligence as a potential growth area for blockchain.

As AI agents become more common across the internet, he noted blockchain infrastructure built to support those systems could see growing demand in the years ahead.

He compared today’s crypto market to the internet industry after the dot-com bubble, when many companies disappeared but stronger businesses eventually emerged.

While Ju acknowledged that many investors have been disappointed by altcoins, he warned against writing off the entire sector.

He agreed that most projects may not survive, but argued that a small number of strong businesses could still create significant value over time.

For Ju, the crypto industry is moving into a new phase, one that is more regulated, more mature, and increasingly focused on real products rather than speculation alone.