99 Crypto Projects Dead in 2026: RootData Shutdown List

Many of these projects were launched during the 2024-2025 bull market, when venture capital flowed freely and token prices often sustained business models that had not yet generated steady revenue. That changed as capital became more selective. Teams now need to show real user growth and recurring income, not just token appreciation or fundraising rounds. The report notes that several well-known brands failed to make that transition.

The implications of the closures vary widely. An exchange going bankrupt is a different outcome from a protocol winding down after a community vote. RootData groups them together but the consequences for users and creditors are not the same.

Every major crypto expansion cycle has been followed by a wave of consolidation. After 2018, hundreds of initial coin offerings failed. After the 2022 bear market, centralized lenders collapsed. The current wave touches every sector – exchanges, wallets, DeFi, Layer-2 networks, AI projects, and developer tools. The industry emerges with fewer but generally stronger players.