Hey everyone 👋
I’ve been exploring some of the newer crypto projects popping up this year, and I gotta say — the vibe feels a bit different compared to the 2017 and 2021 ICO waves. Less hype, more focus (at least in some cases), and thankfully fewer “get-rich-quick” energy drinks in the whitepapers 😂
That said, I’m curious what projects you all are actually watching or excited about right now — especially the ones that aren’t just promising to be “the next Ethereum” or “AI + DeFi + NFTs + L2 + ZK everything.”
Personally, I’m more interested in projects that are solving real problems — whether it’s around privacy, interoperability, creator ownership, or even crypto infra (wallets, bridges, etc.). Bonus points if they’re actually shipping and not just living in a roadmap slide deck.
Also: Is anyone still actively participating in ICOs or token launches? Or has the shift to airdrops, LBP (liquidity bootstrapping pools), and community-first funding models changed the game?
Would love to hear your thoughts — drop your under-the-radar gems, or just rant about the state of “new projects” in 2025. Let’s discuss what’s worth paying attention to and what’s still just smoke and mirrors.
Looking forward to seeing what’s on everyone’s radar 🚀
Great topic — and yeah, I’ve definitely noticed the shift too.
Compared to the mania of 2017 and the "meta-chasing" madness of 2021, this current cycle feels a bit more grounded. Don’t get me wrong, there’s still hype (there always will be), but you’re right — there’s more talk around actual utility and less about overnight gains. I’m here for it.
Projects I’ve been keeping an eye on:
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Farcaster / Frames – Not exactly new-new, but the way it’s redefining on-chain social without feeling clunky is impressive. Real composability happening there.
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EigenLayer – Restaking narrative is huge right now. It’s not just a new yield source — it’s redefining trust layers and security markets. Wild potential.
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RedStone Oracles – Doing some cool stuff with modular oracle design. Feels like a sleeper that could quietly become critical infra.
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Zora / Base ecosystem – Great momentum around creator-first tools, and it feels like they’re building for culture, not just code.
As for fundraising — totally agree. ICOs feel kinda dead. What we’re seeing now is much more nuanced: airdrops that reward long-term engagement, LBP mechanisms that soften volatility, and projects bootstrapping through NFTs or protocol-owned liquidity. It’s slower, but more sustainable.
The biggest green flag for me lately? Projects that don’t have a token yet, but are shipping consistently and building real community. Those are the ones I trust more than any slick tokenomics chart.
Curious what others are tracking too — always down to discover something early without reading “game-changing AI protocol for GenZ DeFi” in the tagline 😅
