The crypto market is a wild ride—one that promises life-changing gains but delivers harsh lessons more often than not. In early 2026, with the total market cap hovering around **$3–3.1 trillion** (down from peaks above $4T in late 2025), many investors are feeling the sting. Bitcoin sits at roughly **$88,000–$90,000**, about **28–30%** below its October 2025 all-time high (ATH) of ~$126,000. Ethereum lingers around **$2,900–$3,000**, down **35–40%** from its recent peaks. Even strong performers like BNB and SOL are off by 30–35% from their 2025 highs.
This isn't a bear market crash—it's consolidation after a big run-up. Yet the frustration is real, especially for altcoins. point hits hard: in the top 100 cryptocurrencies** by market cap, only a tiny fraction are trading near their ATHs or at "good prices" (strong levels with momentum). Data from trackers like CoinGecko, CoinMarketCap, and market reports suggest **very few** (likely 2–10%, or roughly 2–10 coins) are within striking distance of peaks right now. Privacy coins like Monero (XMR) have pushed new highs recently (around $550–$700 in spots), and a handful of niche or gold-backed tokens (e.g., Tether Gold, PAX Gold) sit extremely close to ATHs (within 0.1%). But the vast majority? Deep in the red.
The Brutal Math Behind the "98% Dumped" Vibe - **93 out of top 100** coins saw price drops on a recent day in late January 2026, highlighting short-term weakness. - Many mid-tier alts (e.g., from 2021–2025 hype cycles) remain **70–90%+ down** from ATHs. Historical patterns show 80–90%+ of altcoins suffer massive drawdowns post-bull runs—volatility, not always scams. - True **90–99%** losses hit harder on lower-cap or failed projects, but even in the top 100, a large chunk (40–60%+) trade well below peaks. The "98% dumped" feeling captures the emotional reality for altcoin holders—most lag Bitcoin dominance (~59–60%), feel "dead," or trade sideways in low volume.
This isn't new. Crypto cycles are savage: 2021 saw massive ATHs across the board, 2022–2023 brought pain with few records, 2025 had some highs (Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, XRP), and early 2026 is a cooldown. Bitcoin has set **163 ATHs** historically, far more than others, showing its resilience. But for alts? Most don't recover quickly—if ever.
Why So Few Near ATHs? - **Bitcoin dominance** sucks oxygen from alts during consolidation. - Macro caution, profit-taking after 2025 pumps, and institutional flows favoring majors. - Hype fades fast: Memecoins, DeFi tokens, or narrative plays pump hard then bleed. - Only real utility, strong communities, or catalysts (e.g., regs like potential CLARITY Act, ETF inflows) push coins higher.
Predictions for 2026 vary—some see Bitcoin breaking cycles to new highs ($170K–$250K), others expect alt season if liquidity returns. But right now, the market reminds us: **most projects don't moon forever**.
Reality Check: What This Means for You Crypto isn't a get-rich-quick scheme—it's high-risk speculation with asymmetric upside for the few winners (BTC, ETH, select alts with adoption). The majority underperform or fade. If 2% feel "good" and the rest dumped hard, that's the game.
Stack majors during dips, avoid FOMO on hype, and DYOR ruthlessly. Patience wins cycles—not chasing every pump. The bull isn't dead; it's just breathing. But ignore the reality check at your peril: in crypto, hope isn't a strategy.
out of 100% coins Listed on binance only 4% Is Trading Near all Time Highs Rest of 96% are Trading near thier All Time Lows ..
Number Is HUGE 96%
So Always DYOR before Investing In any Faultcoin.
They're Faultcoins But some people Call them Altcoins .. Unfortunately only 4% of Them are Altcoins and you Need To Understand not everything Is Legit Here .
Another Wave Of Faultcoins Rug started Today Stay Safe Stay Alert because Recovery is not possible But loosing More Money is possible
$PENGU I can only guarantee for one Memecoin and The Name is $PENGU Beleive me Or not rest of all Are Just Rugpulls but Pengu will recover in Good Times is the only difference between dem.
The Surge of Rug Pulls: How Trump's Firing of Gary Gensler Led to the Demise of Faultcoins
When President Donald Trump returned to office in January 2025, one of his first moves was to oust Gary Gensler, the SEC Chair known for his stringent crackdown on cryptocurrency fraud. Gensler, appointed under Biden, had enforced regulations aggressively, targeting unregistered securities and scams through lawsuits and oversight. Trump's campaign pledge to "fire Gensler on day one" was fulfilled on Inauguration Day, January 20, 2025, when Gensler resigned amid pressure. This shift marked a pivot toward deregulation, with Trump nominating Paul Atkins—a pro-industry figure—as the new SEC Chair, emphasizing innovation over enforcement.
The result? A dramatic loosening of regulatory reins that critics say flung open the doors for scammers. In the year following Gensler's departure, faultcoins—low-utility or hype-driven altcoins—experienced an unprecedented wave of rug pulls, where developers hyped projects, attracted investments, and abruptly abandoned them, draining liquidity and leaving tokens worthless. Enforcement actions dropped sharply: The SEC pursued just 13 crypto cases in 2025, down 60% from 33 the prior year. This lax environment allowed faultcoins to proliferate unchecked, with many launching amid the post-inauguration hype only to rug within months. Like $FLOW
By mid-2025, reports documented a spike in rug pulls, with losses soaring to $17 billion for the year—up from $12 billion in 2024. Faultcoins like meme tokens and speculative projects, which promised quick gains, became emblematic of the era. Investors flocked to them during Bitcoin's surge to $126,000 in October 2025, but as oversight waned, developers exploited the freedom. Within a year, countless faultcoins turned into "dead coins," their values plummeting 99% or more, with no recovery in sight. Illicit flows ballooned to $154 billion, often tied to these rug schemes used by bad actors to evade sanctions or launder funds.
Trump's own involvement fueled the fire: His endorsement of certain tokens, including a family-linked meme coin that pumped billions before crashing, exemplified how the administration's pro-crypto stance enabled rugs. A congressional probe later revealed how deregulation allowed "professionalized corruption," letting faultcoins rug at will without fear of reprisal. Oversight groups lamented that "Trump's SEC let crooks run free," turning 2025 into a graveyard for faultcoins. Like $DOGS
As 2026 dawns amid a crypto winter, the legacy is clear: Firing Gensler didn't just boost innovation—it buried thousands of faultcoins in rugs, leaving investors reeling from a year of unchecked demise.
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