2026-01-05 18:34:48

2025 proved one thing: numbers don't lie, but they're not the whole story either.

Heading into 2026, the game changes. We're moving past hype cycles into something with actual backbone:

→ Token economics that actually make sense
→ Valuation frameworks blending multiple approaches
→ Investors who know what they're buying
→ DeFi handling the heavy lifting, while user-friendly platforms take the spotlight

The shift isn't flashy, but it's real. Projects built on solid mechanics will separate from the noise. Whether it's liquidity mining mechanics or governance structures, the foundation matters now more than ever.

DEFI-8,85%

This page may contain third-party content, which is provided for information purposes only (not representations/warranties) and should not be considered as an endorsement of its views by Gate, nor as financial or professional advice. See Disclaimer for details.

24 Likes

Reward
24
8
Repost
Share

Comment

0/400

GateUser-addcaaf7

· 01-08 05:47

Well said, finally someone dares to tell the truth. That bunch of shitcoins last year really deserved to die.

View OriginalReply0

BearMarketSurvivor

· 01-05 22:34

Data doesn't lie, but there are many things that can deceive you. The key is whether the fundamentals are solid. --- This round of reshuffling has long been overdue; garbage projects have been around for too long. --- The real test is just beginning. Projects that can survive until the end of 2026 are rare. --- It's the same old spiel... I've heard it too many times. Still, it depends on who truly survives. --- No matter how beautiful Token economics are, they can't withstand a market crash. Protecting your principal should come first. --- DeFi taking over? Ha, anyone who dares to leverage in this wave is a gambler. I remain skeptical. --- A shaky foundation causes the earth to shake; there's no doubt about that. But the question is, will the project team really build a solid foundation? --- Finding genuine projects among the noise... easy to say, but doing it requires experience and luck. --- Do investors really know what they are buying? I doubt it. --- It's basically telling you: don't chase highs, stay disciplined, wait for opportunities. Everything else is empty talk.

View OriginalReply0

AirdropChaser

· 01-05 19:04

It sounds good, but the ones that truly survive are the projects with cash flow. Air projects should have been gone long ago.

View OriginalReply0

LiquiditySurfer

· 01-05 19:01

Ngl, I'm tired of hearing that fundamentals are becoming more important, but it's true that bad projects are being淘汰ed. --- Haha, finally someone said it. Those worthless coins from last year can go to hell. --- Token economics really can't be avoided, but the market still keeps speculating. Don't be too optimistic. --- That's the core. The ones making money are still that group, everyone else is just along for the ride. --- Solid mechanics sounds good, but the problem is most projects are just on paper. --- This wave is indeed different, but don't think retail investors can really understand what a true valuation framework is.

View OriginalReply0

DefiPlaybook

· 01-05 19:01

Honestly, having a pretty number doesn't help; you still need to look at the quality of smart contracts and governance mechanisms. --- It's time to clean out the little guys again; the drama of bad money driving out good money continues. --- The biggest change in 2026 is—no one believes the story of 5000% annualized returns anymore [dog head]. --- For projects with a surge in TVL, I usually go on-chain to check; most of the time it's just liquidity mining self-entertainment. --- This round of reshuffling looks like a cycle from P2P to P2E to where we are now; history keeps repeating itself. --- The real test is ahead. I suggest checking whether the team has multi-signature wallet control. --- From a technical perspective, projects with a clear token economic model are indeed more resilient; I agree with this wave. --- How many LPs have been wiped out by impermanent loss and slippage? Does anyone still dare to believe in mystical faith? --- Waiting to see which protocol will blow up first; it's most likely caused by governance tokens. --- When big players sell off, they always say this, but what’s the result? Still got cut.

View OriginalReply0

FunGibleTom

· 01-05 18:56

Good words, but the projects that can truly survive are those with cash flow. Most token economic designs sound good, but how do they perform in actual implementation? --- Another year, another "this time it's different." When will we finally see real applications? --- Having more frameworks doesn't help; the key is whether you can retain users. Just having a good governance structure is useless if no one uses it. --- Hmm, I've heard this explanation last year and the year before. The real differentiation started long ago; most people just haven't seen it clearly. --- Rationalizing tokenomics is a good thing, but do investors really understand what they are buying? I doubt it.

View OriginalReply0

ForkThisDAO

· 01-05 18:55

Honestly, the foundation is the king. Projects that only hype concepts should give up already.

View OriginalReply0

AirdropBlackHole

· 01-05 18:35

The importance of fundamentals has long been understood; just look at the year 2025 and you'll see. That's correct, but I'm tired of this rhetoric. Projects that can truly survive have already survived. Tokenomics sounds very sophisticated, but most projects are just showboating... 2026? Feels like the same old story, just a different coat of paint.

View OriginalReply0