Over 13.4 Million Crypto Projects Failed Since 2021
Written by Ohris M. Greyoon, Blockchain & Crypto Expert
Source: Coinmarketcap
Updated: Jan 12 2026- Surge in Project Failures: According to CoinGecko, over 13.4 million crypto projects have failed since 2021, with 11,607,391 failures recorded in 2025, highlighting the harsh realities of market cycles and the impact of liquidity drying up.
- Annual Failure Trends: The number of failed projects skyrocketed from just 2,584 in 2021 to 245,049 in 2023, reflecting the increasing pressure on project survival as market conditions worsened, with many lacking sustainable funding models and real user demand.
- Market Cleanup Phase: The dramatic spike in failures in 2025 indicates a delayed cleanup phase where many long-abandoned tokens were formally classified as defunct, showcasing stricter data standards and improved tracking of inactive projects across the ecosystem.
- Intensified Survival Competition: The collapse of over 13 million projects underscores a core reality of the crypto market: most projects do not survive full market cycles, as volatility and capital rotation consistently eliminate tokens that cannot maintain relevance, liquidity, or trust, indicating a rising survival bar in the industry.
About the author
Ohris M. Greyoon
Ohris M. Greyoon holds a Master’s in Computer Science from MIT and has 10 years of experience in blockchain technology and cryptocurrency markets. A pioneer in decentralized finance (DeFi) analysis, he leads Intellectia’s Crypto News, offering cutting-edge insights into digital assets.
