Michaël van de Poppe Highlights Why Many Altcoins May Struggle by 2026

Cryptocurrency expert Michaël van de Poppe warns that a significant number of altcoins may not endure past 2026 due to ongoing structural issues, fierce competition, and flawed economic models.

Key Takeaways

Michaël van de Poppe suggests that many altcoins might struggle to survive past 2026 due to poor tokenomics and competition.
He compares the current market to the aftermath of the dot-com bubble.
Projects demonstrating solid fundamentals amidst declining prices may be positioned for long-term success.
The untangling of weak altcoins could strengthen the crypto ecosystem in the future.

As uncertainty rises regarding the future of the cryptocurrency market leading into 2026, opinions among analysts differ. Some are predicting a prolonged downturn, while others believe conditions could eventually turn favorable for a resurgence.

Altcoin Challenges Ahead: Predicting Failures and Survivors

In a recent video on YouTube, Van de Poppe cautioned against the belief that “altcoins always come back,” describing it as a risky assumption. He noted that the past year has delivered a rude awakening, as the performance of most altcoins has declined even further than in 2022.

“It’s been a tough bear market year, with most of the altcoins losing around 90% of their value. I believe that many of them will never recover from this,” he stated.

Van de Poppe identified several critical factors that could lead to the demise of numerous altcoins next year. A major concern is poor tokenomics and financial mismanagement. He commented,

“The primary reason most altcoins are unlikely to survive is that founders have mismanaged their finances, botched their tokenomics, or experienced such significant downturns that recovery seems impossible.”

Additionally, the sustained decline in the market is a key element. He referred to the current period as the “longest bear market” in the history of cryptocurrencies, comparing it to the aftermath of the dot-com bubble burst.

“When we examine the fallout from the dot-com bubble, nearly all of the projects or firms created during that time didn’t come back,” he remarked.

The rapid advancement of technology is reshaping the competitive landscape in the crypto world. Van de Poppe pointed out that newer and more efficient solutions are surpassing many altcoins from earlier cycles.

In some instances, the original issues these projects sought to address have disappeared, making them less relevant and less viable in the long run. Furthermore, while institutional adoption is generally favorable for the crypto landscape, it may leave smaller projects at a disadvantage.

“For instance, when considering Neo in 2017, there are now much more effective solutions available for the problems they aimed to resolve. The arrival of institutional players will positively impact the overall industry, but it will negatively affect smaller teams that struggle to compete,” he observed.

Although van de Poppe predicts a grim future for most altcoins by 2026, he noted that some are well-positioned to withstand challenges. According to his analysis, altcoins that demonstrate a divergence between price performance and actual growth prospects are more likely to last.

He indicated that projects with growing on-chain activity, rising total value locked (TVL), increased transaction volumes, and expanding fee generation—even in the context of falling token prices—are potential long-term survivors. He specifically mentioned Arbitrum, Aave, and NEAR as examples.

“The current price of Arbitrum is reaching new lows while its ecosystem’s underlying growth has surged close to 200% in the same timeframe. These are the types of altcoins to look for,” Van de Poppe noted.

This perspective coincides with wider industry beliefs that a broad altcoin season may not materialize, leaving only a select few assets poised for growth as the market evolves.

As a result, the gap between successful and failing altcoins is expected to expand in the upcoming cycle. While this shakeout may result in short-term losses for many, it could ultimately enhance the overall crypto ecosystem by consolidating value within more resilient and fundamentally sound projects.