RootData says 99 crypto projects have shut down or become inaccessible in 2026

The list spans exchanges, wallets, DeFi, NFT, Layer-2, AI and developer tools, underscoring how the latest consolidation wave has spread across the crypto industry.

30d ago

Fact Check

The RootData primary page '2026 Crypto Dead Projects List' confirms 99 projects (per its indexed snippet, updated 2026-07-26). Multiple independent outlets — PANews, Odaily, U.Today, plus TradingView and WuBlockchain — all attribute the 99-project figure to RootData with consistent details and example projects (BitMart, BitMEX, AscendEX, Family, Zapper, etc.), spanning exchanges, wallets, DeFi, and infrastructure. The strong agreement across the original source and several credible corroborating reports supports the claim.

Summary

RootData has recorded 99 crypto industry projects as “dead” in 2026, classifying them as ventures that ceased operations, went bankrupt or had websites that were long unavailable. The tally spans exchanges, wallets, lending protocols, NFT platforms, Layer-2 networks, AI projects and developer tools, suggesting the current downturn has hit nearly every corner of the market rather than a single niche. Examples cited include wallets Family, Ctrl and Leap; centralized exchanges BitMart, BitMEX and AscendEX; and infrastructure and DeFi names such as Zapper, Stream Finance, Parsec, Loopring and Goldfinch. The report comes after a period in 2024-2025 when abundant venture funding and rising token prices helped support many new projects, while a more selective funding environment has since put greater emphasis on user growth and recurring revenue.

Terms & Concepts

DeFi: Short for decentralized finance, a category of blockchain-based financial applications and services.
Layer-2: A network or system built on top of another blockchain to help improve scalability or reduce costs.
recurring revenue: Income a business generates on an ongoing basis, rather than from one-off events or fundraising.