The crypto space faces unique challenges, particularly the high failure rate of altcoin and token projects.

Roundtable anchor, Rob Nelson, joined David Gokhshtein, founder of Gokhshtein Media, and Dirk Lueth, CEO of Upland, to explore why so many ventures in the digital asset world collapse and how the ecosystem might evolve to better highlight legitimate innovations.

David Gokhshtein explained that many projects fail due to the prevalence of "deployers" over true "developers." He stated, "Everybody gets tagged as a developer in this space when they have no clue how to code." According to him, most tokens are created by individuals who lack the technical expertise to build sustainable projects. "When you just have deployers, you have no chance," he said, emphasizing that genuine developers with a long-term vision stand a better chance of success.

Gokhshtein highlighted how some tokens end up as community-led takeovers when their creators abandon them, leading to frustration among investors. He noted, "People get tired of this... and figure, you know what? I'd rather take my money and put it into bitcoin or ethereum." Despite these setbacks, Gokhshtein expressed optimism for those who remain focused, adding, "The real people that actually are dedicated and focused in the altcoin market will win out."

Dirk Lueth built on this, emphasizing the need for tokens to have a clear utility. "Tokens represent ecosystems or systems of belief," he said, comparing the evolution of crypto markets to the stock market. He argued that success lies in creating demand and providing long-term value, concluding, "If people only believe in buying something because it's just a digital asset... its long-term economic reason is very hard to justify."