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RootData's recently released '2026 Crypto Industry Dead Projects List' indicates that the cryptocurrency sector has already lost 99 projects in 2026. The database keeps track of initiatives that have formally shut down, filed for bankruptcy, or had their websites unavailable for a long time, serving as yet another reminder that one of the most difficult problems with digital assets is survival.
There are many more obscure startups on the list. The projects mentioned include wallets like Family, Ctrl, and Leap as well as centralized exchanges like BitMart, BitMEX, and AscendEX. Infrastructure and DeFi names like Zapper, Stream Finance, Parsec, Loopring, and Goldfinch also appear, indicating that almost every aspect of the ecosystem has been impacted by the current market conditions.
The whole industry is covered
The most recent wave of closures, in contrast to earlier cycles, is not confined to a single niche. The report contains references to exchanges, lending protocols, NFT platforms, Layer-2 networks, wallets, AI projects, and developer tools, indicating that industry consolidation is now more widespread than sector-specific.
Although 99 projects may seem concerning, thousands of protocols, apps, and startups have been introduced in the cryptocurrency market over the past few years. Many were developed during the bull market of 2024-2025, when venture capital was freely available and token prices frequently supported business models that had not yet produced steady revenue.
The reality of those projects changed as capital became more selective. Teams had to show actual user growth and recurring revenue instead of depending on token appreciation or fundraising rounds. Many were unable to make that transition. The report's inclusion of well-known brands is probably its most noteworthy feature.
Reasons are different
RootData compiles businesses that have formally closed, filed for bankruptcy, or become essentially inactive as a result of extended website outages. The implications of those outcomes are quite different. An exchange going bankrupt is very different from a protocol winding down following a community vote.
Every significant expansion cycle in the history of cryptocurrency has been followed by comparable waves of consolidation. After 2018, hundreds of initial coin offerings (ICOs) failed, and after the 2022 bear market, centralized lenders collapsed, leaving the industry with fewer but generally stronger players.
Arman Shirinyan
Dan Burgin
