Reflections on public blockchains in 2026:

SmartContractAuditor · 2026-03-06T14:36:29+00:00

The development of public blockchains faces challenges, and traditional operational models are no longer sustainable. Project loyalty and the healthy development of the public chain ecosystem are being questioned, with founders more inclined to choose other chains rather than remain loyal to the new chain. Future public chains will become more centralized, focusing on controllability rather than relying on the natural growth of the ecosystem. To adapt to this change, it is necessary to reassess market models and human resource strategies.

SmartContractAuditor

2026-03-06 14:36:29

Abstract generation in progress

Thoughts on Public Chains in 2026:

The strategy of “controlling inflation + high-interest savings + DeFi trio + founder memes + our own hyperliquid + crazy OTC sales to liquid funds” is no longer viable.
This isn’t just a problem for Monad and MegaETH; Rise, Fogo, and even N1 are facing the same issues. Old chains, depending on the situation, see Sei and Polygon still experimenting, while most have already given up.
Projects incubated on day 1 of public chains still face loyalty doubts, as only a few founders in the industry have options like BNB Chain, Solana, or Base. Most new chains focus on the public chain foundation’s funds. Once backed and funded, and after gaining the first wave of community users, founders are motivated: 1) to build their own app chains to support valuation, or 2) to switch to other chains and compete.
As a result, some founders no longer call themselves part of the xx ecosystem but refer to xx chain as our “GTM Partner.”
So, if the ecosystem project is too weak, it’s unsalvageable; if too strong, it risks backstabbing the benefactor like Lü Bu.
The original free-range, neutral public chain development model has basically ended. The valuation model based on MEV income needs revision (@LeePima). Today’s public chains are more about carrying a controllable system rather than potential, focusing on fintech within a controllable economic system.
Future public chains will be centered power structures, with top-down dev shops and CVCs. The main role of the treasury will be M&A, with aggressive vertical integration rather than ecosystem cultivation. There will no longer be kingmakers like Solana (cc. @mablejiang).
In this sense, BNB Chain, Tempo, and Monad are heading in the same direction, just with different resource allocations and regional differences.
The final question is: how should we estimate FDV at this point and follow the hype? And since skills are entirely geared toward token-selling, money-raising, and economic models that extract value, the old methods may no longer fit the new era’s needs.

MON-1,77%

FOGO0,38%

SEI-2,72%

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