8 Winning Altcoins Out of 113: Why Buying at TGE Has Become a Trap

Out of 113 tokens launched since 2024 and still valued at over $100 million, only 8 are trading above their launch price. The median performance stands at -95.7%, and this figure still flatters the reality. Even among the winners, a trap awaits investors.

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The statistics already seem harsh. However, they underestimate the extent of the damage.

8 tokens out of 113. This is what remains of the major launches of 2024, 2025, and 2026, according to data published on July 21 by CryptoRank. The sample only includes tokens that are still valued at over $100 million in market capitalization.

Only 7.1% of Tokens Launched Since 2024 With Market Caps Above $100M Remain Above Their TGE Price

According to CryptoRank, only 8 of 113 tokens launched between 2024 and 2026 with current market capitalizations above $100 million are still trading above their TGE price, while... pic.twitter.com/aew6eorMmf
--- Wu Blockchain (@WuBlockchain) July 21, 2026

In this already filtered group, 105 tokens are trading below their TGE price (Token Generation Event), the moment a token hits the market. The median performance is -95.7%.

These 7.1% still flatter the reality. The study only considers tokens that are still large enough to be counted. The thousands of projects that have fallen below $100 million, or have died since their launch, have disappeared from the calculation before even entering it.

The signal was visible as early as December 2025. 84.7% of the 118 launches of the year were already trading below their TGE valuation. The market has contracted further since then.

Demand for novelty has dried up on both sides of the market. On the retail side, 82.1% of the top 100 excluding stablecoins fell in June. On the professional side, funding for crypto startups dropped by 63% in the same month.

The market values promises long before results

A token rarely hits the market with its entire supply. A small fraction circulates on the first day, the float, while the bulk of the supply remains locked in distribution schedules that span years. The price is formed on this organized scarcity.

The FDV, the theoretical valuation of the project if all its tokens were circulating, extrapolates this price to a supply that does not yet exist.

A project can display several billion dollars of FDV with 10% of its tokens in circulation. The market puts a price on a future that has yet to prove anything.

The unlocks do the rest. These scheduled unlocks release tokens from teams, investment funds, and treasuries month after month. Each wave adds to the supply, and buyers are needed to absorb it.

Out of the 28 launches of 2025 that started with an FDV of at least $1 billion, 0% remained in the green by the end of the year. The median of this group hovered around -81%. The higher the initial valuation, the more violent the drop.

Airdrops are increasing pressure. These free token distributions aim to create a community. On the ground, 88% of airdrops in 2024 had declined a few months after their distribution, most within the first 15 days. The farmer cashes in their reward and then sells.

Worldcoin embodies the complete scenario. One of the most publicized launches of 2024, driven by Sam Altman and a narrative blending AI and digital identity, is trading 97% below its peak from March 2024.

The 100 largest wallets hold about 90% of the circulating supply, while the team and investors are still waiting for scheduled unlocks until 2028.

The market still rewards projects capable of generating revenue

Hyperliquid tops the rankings with a performance of +1,519% since its airdrop in November 2024. The platform collects trading fees on every transaction. Approximately $1.05 billion over 12 months, including $57.95 million in the last 30 days.

A significant portion of these fees finances buybacks of HYPE. The market has a cash register in view, with each ticket verifiable on the blockchain.

CryptoRank has publicly named only 4 of the 8 winners. Following Hyperliquid are Ondo Finance (+101.4%), EverValue Coin (+20.32%), a token backed by Bitcoin reserves, and Midnight Network (+16.50%), a privacy-focused network linked to Cardano.

The 4 survivors did not last for the same reasons. Hyperliquid charges verifiable fees, buys back its own token, and gains 1,519%, while Ondo serves institutional clients and gains 101%.

The last 2 survivors barely exceed their launch price.

Ondo gains 101% since its launch and loses 81% since its peak

Ondo Finance illustrates the most counterintuitive lesson from the data. The company transposes traditional financial products onto the blockchain, the famous RWA, starting with funds invested in U.S. Treasury bonds.

Its token ONDO, which serves for project governance, gains 101.4% since its TGE in January 2024.

It had reached $2.14 in December 2024. It trades around $0.40 today, which is 81% lower. The buyer on day one doubled their investment. The buyer at the December 2024 peak has lost 81% of their capital on the same asset.

Some of the 105 losers surged in their early days before collapsing. The most seasoned investors sold during this window and walk away with a gain. All those who bought at launch and held until now find themselves in the statistic: 7.1% winners.

Returns Exist Beyond the Launch Casino {#h-le-rendement-existe-aussi-hors-du-casino-des-lancements-nbsp}

Scrutinizing new tokens, hoping for a spike, watching for the moment to sell. This rhythm is exhausting, and today's figures show that it pays 1 time out of 14.

While DeFi offers opportunities of a completely different nature. Protocols earn real interest and fees, paid by real users, and an investor can receive their share in stablecoins.

No bets on a price, no exit window to miss.

The market can rise, fall, or stagnate. Interest accrues. This serenity is organized, with method and the right information.

The Club 25% is a private club of 150 investors who manage their savings in stablecoins via DeFi, aiming for 15 to 25% per year, without trading, without volatility, dedicating just a few hours per quarter.

How it works in practice:

• A public portfolio of $100,000 managed in real-time: all decisions are documented and explained.
• DeFi opportunities analyzed and audited: you follow step-by-step video guides to invest in protocols selected for their robustness.
• Total sovereignty over your funds: you remain in control of your capital, no third party has access to your wallet.

👉 Discover the DeFi Opportunities of Club 25% {#h-decouvrir-les-opportunites-defi-du-club-25}

The next cycle will bring its new batch of launches and promises. A savings account that is already generating income can watch them pass by in complete serenity.