These 10 altcoins are still worth $12B after a 97% collapse – but do users pay enough to them keep running?

What happened

Ten former leading cryptocurrency networks together hold about $12 billion in market value, trading roughly 97 % below their all‑time highs, according to a Taurex report.

Confirmed

Global impact / market context

Low user payments mean these networks may struggle to cover operating costs, risking service interruptions or shutdowns that could hurt investors and limit growth of decentralized finance projects built on them.

Analyst inference

The broader crypto market has been in a prolonged downturn, leaving many digital assets far below peak prices and pressuring network operators to find sustainable funding sources to stay operational.

Analyst inference

What to watch

1. If transaction fees and other user payments rise enough to cover operating costs, the networks could remain viable; otherwise they may need alternative funding to keep running. Analyst inference
2. Developers may introduce new funding models, such as token sales or staking rewards, to supplement low fee revenue for these altcoins. Analyst inference
3. Regulators could impose rules that affect how these networks raise capital or charge users, influencing their ability to stay financially sustainable. Analyst inference

Affected assets

• DEFI — DeFi

Evidence

• cryptoslate.com