# Tokenomics Related Articles

HTX News Center provides the latest articles and in-depth analysis on "Tokenomics", covering market trends, project updates, tech developments, and regulatory policies in the crypto industry.

The Dark Side of Altcoins

The article "The Dark Side of Altcoins" argues that most cryptocurrency tokens inevitably fail due to a fundamental structural conflict between company equity and token holders. Most crypto projects are essentially traditional companies with equity-held founders, VC investors, and profit motives, which later issue a token. This creates irreconcilable incentives: equity seeks to capture value (revenue, profit, control) for the company and shareholders, while tokens need value (fees, buybacks, governance) to accrue to the protocol and holders. Equity almost always wins, leading to token value drainage. The piece highlights Hyperliquid as a rare success because it avoided VC equity financing entirely. Without a board or pressure to deliver value to shareholders, it could direct all economic value to its protocol and token. Legally, tokens cannot function like stocks without being deemed unregistered securities (if they offer dividends, ownership, etc.), which would trigger severe regulatory crackdowns. The optimal structure is one where the company holds no equity, captures no revenue, and all value flows to token holders via protocol mechanisms, with a DAO governing economic decisions. However, the only way to eliminate all conflict is to become a fully decentralized protocol like Bitcoin or Ethereum, with no company, no equity, and neutral, autonomously running infrastructure. The core issue is structural, not market conditions. Tokens are mathematically destined to fail if the project had VC rounds, private token sales, investor unlock schedules, or allows the company to capture revenue. Success requires value directed to the protocol, no VC equity, aligned founder/tokenholder incentives, and an economically irrelevant company. The solution is for investors to stop funding poorly designed projects. The future of the industry depends on capital flowing to projects with sound tokenomics, like those pioneered by Hyperliquid, MetaDAO, and Street.

深潮Hace 23 hora(s)

The Dark Side of Altcoins

深潮Hace 23 hora(s)

The Game Between Tokens and Equity: Revealing the Fundamental Conflict Behind Token Economics

The article "The Dark Side of Altcoins" by Crypto Dan explores the fundamental conflict between company equity and token holders in crypto projects. It argues that most projects are essentially companies with tokens, creating a structural conflict where equity (backed by VCs and boards) inevitably captures value at the expense of token holders. This leads to tokens trending toward zero despite project success. Hyperliquid is highlighted as an exception because it avoided VC equity financing, directing all economic value to the protocol instead of a corporate entity. The piece explains that tokens cannot legally function like stocks without being classified as securities, triggering regulatory issues. The ideal structure involves no company revenue capture, value accrual to token holders via mechanisms like buybacks, and DAO-controlled economic decisions. However, true alignment requires no corporate structure at all, akin to Bitcoin or Ethereum. The core issue is structural: tokens fail due to design flaws like VC funding, private sales, unlock schedules, or company revenue retention. Solutions require investors to stop funding flawed models and support projects like Hyperliquid that prioritize tokenholder alignment through thoughtful design.

比推Hace 14 hora(s)

The Game Between Tokens and Equity: Revealing the Fundamental Conflict Behind Token Economics

比推Hace 14 hora(s)

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