"Most altcoins will not survive until 2026," says crypto analyst van de Poppe

Source: PortaldoBitcoin Original Title: “Most altcoins will not survive in 2026,” says Michaël van de Poppe Original Link:

Analysis

Cryptocurrency analyst Michaël van de Poppe believes that most altcoins will not survive until the end of 2026 under stricter valuation, selective capital, and projects lacking real utility. Altcoins are cryptocurrencies that serve as alternatives to Bitcoin, designed to meet different use cases.

In recent comments on X and YouTube channels, van de Poppe stated that the current market no longer follows the logic of previous cycles, during which almost all altcoins benefited from the industry’s widespread expansion.

According to this expert, the past year has been worse for altcoins than 2022, with many tokens experiencing a decline of nearly 90% from their cycle highs. For him, this is not just a simple bear market. This is a “restart” for the industry, and only truly reliable projects should remain relevant.

“Next year, everything will change for altcoins. The past year was one where many protocols launched at huge valuations and then collapsed. I believe many altcoins will not survive next year.” — Michaël van de Poppe

Michaël van de Poppe explained that during previous cycles, the crypto market was still very new and difficult to price, which favored widespread gains. However, this is no longer the case. Today, investors demand clear fundamentals, real adoption, and sustainable economic models. As a result, many projects can no longer justify their existence.

Another key point in the analysis is the misuse of benchmarks. Van de Poppe argued that many investors evaluate based solely on performance relative to the dollar, whereas the correct parameter should be the altcoin market itself.

In the last cycle, the total market cap of altcoins—excluding Bitcoin—grew approximately 39 times. In comparison, popular assets like Litecoin(LTC) and Neo(NEO) underperformed this index, despite nominal appreciation.

On the other hand, examples like Solana have stood out by outperforming the benchmark significantly, growing about 250 times from their lows. For van de Poppe, underperformance relative to the reference index indicates a silent erosion of long-term value.

The analyst also compares the current moment to the dot-com bubble, when many pioneering companies disappeared despite the overall success of the technology. In the crypto sector, institutional capital tends to benefit large players, while smaller projects face stiff competition.

Nevertheless, he pointed out exceptions. Altcoins like Arbitrum(ARB), Near Protocol(NEAR), and Aave(AAVE) have shown growth in usage metrics, fees, and locked value despite price pressures.

In summary, van de Poppe notes that this disconnect between fundamentals and price is an area with potential—so long as investors remain cautious and guided by real adoption data.