Cryptocurrency Market Cleanup: Easy Money Era Ends, Some Sectors Thrive

Renowned CEO Ryan Kirkley warns that the era of easy money in cryptocurrencies is over. Speaking to Cryptonews, he notes that a significant portion of projects that achieved high valuations during the investment frenzy of 2020-2021 have failed to develop sustainable revenue models.

In fact, according to Kirkley, more than 100 cryptocurrency and blockchain projects have ceased operations or filed for bankruptcy since the beginning of 2026. This trend is largely attributed to the excessive investment in high-valued startups during this period.

Kirkley believes that some sectors will emerge stronger from this market cleanup, citing stablecoin projects, digital banks, institutional wallet services, and payment and settlement infrastructures as potential beneficiaries. However, he notes that social token projects, memecoins, and Web3 gaming startups may face greater pressure.