"Most altcoins will not survive in 2026," says Michaël van de Poppe

Source: PortaldoBitcoin Original Title: “Most Altcoins Will Not Survive in 2026,” Says Michaël van de Poppe Original Link: Cryptocurrency analyst Michaël van de Poppe believes that most altcoins will not survive until the end of 2026, amid a scenario of stricter valuation, selective capital, and projects failing to demonstrate real utility. Altcoins are alternative cryptocurrencies to Bitcoin, designed to serve different use cases.

In recent comments, van de Poppe stated that the current market no longer follows the logic of previous cycles, in which nearly all altcoins benefited from the overall sector expansion.

According to the expert, the past year was even worse for altcoins than 2022, with many tokens experiencing declines close to 90% from cycle highs. To him, this goes beyond a simple bear market. It is a “reboot” of the sector, in which only solid projects should remain relevant.

Next year, everything will change for altcoins. Last year was a period when many protocols were launched with tremendous valuations and then broke down. I don’t think many altcoins will survive next year.

Michael van de Poppe explains that, in past cycles, the crypto market was still new and difficult to price, which favored widespread gains. However, this scenario no longer exists. 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 of the analysis is the improper use of benchmarks. Van de Poppe argues that many investors evaluate performance solely relative to the dollar, when the correct parameter should be the altcoin market itself.

In the previous cycle, the total value of the altcoin market — excluding Bitcoin — multiplied about 39 times. In comparison, popular assets like Litecoin (LTC) and Neo (NEO) underperformed this index, even showing nominal appreciation.

On the other hand, examples like Solana stand out for significantly surpassing the benchmark, multiplying its value by about 250 times from the lows. For van de Poppe, falling below the reference index means silent destruction of value in the long term.

The analyst also compares the current moment to the internet 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 struggle to compete.

Still, he points out exceptions. Altcoins like Arbitrum (ARB), Near Protocol (NEAR), and Aave (AAVE) show growth in usage metrics, fees, and locked value, even with pressured prices.

In conclusion, van de Poppe indicates that this disconnect between fundamentals and price is where potential still exists — provided the investor is conservative and guided by real adoption data.