Commentary says altcoins may still have a path, but pure VC tokens are losing support this cycle
A PANews opinion piece by columnist Haotian argues that the crypto market has shifted away from trading on narratives and pre-launch expectations and is now focusing far more on cash flow and real-world execution. Based on discussions with several experienced on-chain participants, the author lays out four screening rules for the current cycle. First, he favors tokens with clear value-capture mechanisms, especially protocols that generate fees and return value to holders through buybacks, burns, or distributions, citing $UNI, $PUMP, $PONS, and $HYPE as examples. Second, he says projects should have already achieved product-market fit and built a working business loop, with asset tokenization and the so-called Agentic Economy named as two areas to watch, including examples such as $ONDO, $VVV, and $VIRTUAL. Third, he argues that assets with strong cross-cycle market consensus, including $DOGE, $PEPE, $PEOPLE, $ZEC, and $TAO, remain relevant because they have survived multiple boom-and-bust phases. Finally, he warns against pure VC-backed tokens with high fully diluted valuations, low circulating supply, and ongoing unlock pressure. The article states that the discussion reflects personal views only and does not constitute investment advice.
