The Rise of Crypto Zombies: Billions at Stake
As Bitcoin skyrockets once again, the crypto market is witnessing an unexpected surge in blockchain valuations. A recent Forbes investigation unveils the eerie reality of these mere functional blockchain zombies.
Billion-Dollar Zombie Blockchains
In the cryptocurrency realm, where Bitcoin and Ethereum dominate, numerous lesser-known blockchains have attained staggering valuations exceeding $1 billion. However, beneath these lofty figures lies a chilling truth—many of these blockchains are essentially "zombies" (as nicknamed by Forbes in their investigations), meaning they lack utility or user engagement.
Ripple Labs' Misadventure
In 2012, Ripple Labs was founded with the ambitious goal of revolutionizing global financial transactions. Despite initial enthusiasm and significant investments, Ripple's XRP token, designed to facilitate rapid money transfers, has failed to disrupt ingrained financial systems like SWIFT. Nevertheless, XRP remains one of the top cryptocurrencies by market value, highlighting the speculative nature of these zombie blockchains.
Growth & Persistence of Zombie Blockchains
Beyond Ripple, Forbes' investigation uncovers a startling reality: more than 50 blockchains, other than Bitcoin and Ethereum, boast valuations surpassing $1 billion. Yet, analysis reveals that at least 20 of these blockchains are functionally dormant, lacking substantial user adoption or real-world applications.
Despite their "Zombie" status, these blockchains continue to operate, supported by sufficient liquidity and speculative trading. With billions in their coffers, projects like Ripple can sustain operations for years, despite minimal actual utility or tangible achievements beyond trading activity.
Spin-Offs Legacy
Many Zombie Blockchains emerged as spin-offs or forks of Bitcoin or Ethereum, fueled by disagreements among developers. For instance, Bitcoin Cash, Litecoin, Monero, Bitcoin SV, and Ethereum Classic collectively represent billions in market capitalization but exhibit minimal transactional activity and developer engagement.
Challenges and Illusions in the Crypto Landscape
The increase of Zombie blockchains underscores broader challenges within the crypto industry, where projects are often valued based on speculative trading rather than substantive utility. Despite warnings, the crypto market remains a high-risk, volatile domain prone to erratic shifts influenced by social media and market sentiments.
A Shorting Dilemma
While some view zombie blockchains as potential shorting opportunities, betting against these tokens remains challenging due to limited availability for short selling and the industry's history of unpredictable behavior.
The Regulatory Shadow
Amid mounting regulatory scrutiny, the fate of crypto zombies remains uncertain. Recent legal actions targeting crypto exchanges highlight potential risks associated with these speculative assets masquerading as viable blockchain projects.
