The 2025 crypto market enters a new phase: political-driven decline fades, infrastructure and real applications take center stage

ForkMonger · 2026-01-19T02:57:41+00:00

The crypto market is shifting from political-driven to fundamentals-driven, focusing on infrastructure and real users. Bitcoin has become a reserve asset similar to gold, while Altcoins need to prove their value. Meanwhile, the integration of AI and crypto could open new markets, with Hong Kong potentially becoming a key hub.

ForkMonger

2026-01-19 02:57:41

Abstract generation in progress

【Chain Wen】This year’s start has brought a noticeably different sense of anticipation in the crypto circle. Investors who originally hoped that Trump’s re-election would trigger a new bull market now have to face a reality—the cycle driven by political signals has come to an end.

Recently, industry insiders at Animoca Brands pointed out this turning point. In simple terms, the crypto market is shifting from “politically driven” to “fundamentally driven.” The next factors that will truly matter are solid infrastructure development, clear regulatory frameworks, and most importantly—projects must have genuine users and practical applications.

In this new phase, Bitcoin’s role has become very clear. The influx of institutional capital has pushed Bitcoin to a position similar to a reserve asset like gold. This also presents a new challenge for Altcoins: you need to prove your significance. You can’t rely solely on hype; you need to deliver real value.

It is worth paying attention to the integration of AI and crypto. The two fields are accelerating their collision, generating many interesting things. From a certain perspective, the decentralized nature of crypto and the operational logic of AI agents are inherently compatible, which could open up a whole new market space.

Regionally, Hong Kong is expected to become a key hub in this wave of integration. Its policy friendliness, mature market, and concentrated talent pool highlight these advantages. For the entire Asian crypto ecosystem, this is a promising direction.

BTC-1.98%

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MeltdownSurvivalist

· 13h ago

Political-driven approaches should have died long ago; the real test is just beginning. --- Wait, real users? Most projects probably don't even have a ghost of a user base haha. --- Easy to say, fundamentally driven, but who the hell can define what "real application" means? --- Altcoins are trembling... they basically have no moat. --- Bitcoin is now digital gold, I agree with this positioning, but what about other coins? --- Solid infrastructure? Regulatory framework? Sounds like the same old tricks, brother. --- What happened to those who got rich overnight through politics? Probably lost a lot. --- Real users, real applications, feels like we’ll be waiting a long time... --- So this is why I only hold Bitcoin now; everything else is gambling. --- Fundamental-driven = a new excuse to cut the leeks, can’t change that. --- This shift should have happened a long time ago; everyone just doesn’t want to admit it.

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ForkLibertarian

· 13h ago

The era of hype driven by political signals should indeed be over, but honestly, how many projects currently have real applications? Most are just repackaged versions of the same old story. Wait, can Altcoins really prove anything? It seems most are still just storytelling. After politics fade away, do miners and institutions just eat alone? That's the real issue, isn't it? Infrastructure is so important, yet there are still a bunch of public chains competing internally, and user experience remains poor. Real users are the hard indicator, but unfortunately, most chains are just old tricks of data falsification. Fundamental-driven sounds nice, but who defines what "fundamentals" mean? It's still the big capital that has the final say.

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TradingNightmare

· 13h ago

The era of hype driven by political signals is truly over. Now, it's all about who can focus on building real applications. Projects that rely on empty bravado should undergo reshuffling.

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CryptoComedian

· 13h ago

Laughing and then crying, it turns out that political dividends also have an expiration date. The era of trading based on signals has finally come to an end. This time, it's really about whether the project has real value. Altcoins' days are probably numbered. Wait, real users and actual applications? When did our circle ever have these two things (burst into laughter). Bitcoin has become gold, so shitcoins need to save themselves. Projects with no story and only dreams—how dare they open trading? From political-driven to fundamentals-driven, in plain terms, it's upgrading from gambling to Gambling 2.0.

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GmGmNoGn

· 13h ago

The political dividends are all used up now, and you're only waking up now? It should have been like this a long time ago. Real users are the key, no more fake stuff. Using BTC as a reserve asset puts pressure on altcoins. I'm just worried about another wave of scam coins to trap retail investors... Infrastructure can't keep up; where are the application scenarios? Clear regulations make me a bit nervous. It depends on who can really create something.

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governance_ghost

· 13h ago

The political card is played out, now let's see who really has the substance. --- Wait, does this mean the air coins are about to cool down? My position... --- Nice words, but isn't it just a new trick to harvest the leeks? --- Real application? Then wouldn't I be buying a bunch of trash? --- So all altcoins are dead? What should I do, brother? --- Fundamental-driven sounds good, but the question is who can prove themselves? --- Here we go again, said the same thing last year. --- Bitcoin as gold, then what's the point of other coins?

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