Recent events, including shifts in the U.S. election landscape and the approval of spot Ethereum ETFs, have injected renewed momentum into crypto markets, boosting both BTC and ETH. But what lies ahead for altcoins in the coming quarter? Independent analysis from Bankless offers predictions on the potential price movements of 10 altcoins over the next three months. Below, we break down each projection and the reasoning behind it.
It’s worth noting that Bankless’s previous 3-month prediction round—covering 16 tokens—achieved an accuracy rate of 43.7%. While their calls on Layer 2 tokens like ARB and OP were correct (all underperforming ETH), some predictions in the L1 and DeFi sectors, such as for SOL and AVAX, did not pan out as expected.
DeFi Sector Outlook
Maker (MKR)
- Prediction: Neutral
- Current Price: $2
- Price Performance Since Prediction: Minimal change
Maker demonstrates significant growth potential, particularly if the bull market continues. The protocol has successfully increased the supply of DAI by minting stablecoins within high-demand liquidity markets. In 2024, the rise of high-yield synthetic dollar collateral allowed Maker to lend DAI at a premium.
With annualized fee revenue of $281 million, Maker ranks among the most valuable crypto protocols. Its fully diluted price-to-sales ratio of 9.6x appears reasonable if market expansion continues. However, it remains highly sensitive to market cycles and could face losses during downturns—especially in scenarios involving the failure of major collateral providers.
Instadapp (INST)
- Prediction: Bullish
- Current Price: $2.2
- Price Performance Since Prediction: Down 1.36%
INST is positioned to outperform as investors seek tokens with tangible utility and revenue generation. The introduction of Fluid—a new product combining money markets and DEXs on a unified liquidity layer—enhances Instadapp’s value proposition. This innovation allows users to earn yield on collateral while gaining flexible borrowing options.
As the DeFi sector matures, projects with real-use cases and growing adoption, like Instadapp, may attract more sustained interest.
Stacks (STX)
- Prediction: Neutral
- Current Price: $1.88
- Price Performance Since Prediction: Minimal change
Stacks shows fundamental improvements, particularly with its Nakamoto upgrade, which reduces transaction latency and improves usability. However, regulatory uncertainty remains a concern. Although the SEC recently closed an investigation into Hiro Systems (formerly Blockstack) without enforcement action, it did not explicitly clarify whether STX is a security.
This lingering risk could impact investor confidence, making it essential to monitor both technical progress and regulatory developments.
Maple Finance (MPL)
- Prediction: Bearish
- Current Price: $11.64
- Price Performance Since Prediction: Up 65.64%
Despite recent gains, Maple faces structural challenges. Its cash management products have seen limited adoption compared to competitors, and its unsecured lending model carries repeated default risks. Additionally, a new points program fueled by token inflation may increase sell pressure.
Although Total Value Locked (TVL) has nearly tripled since March, these gains were primarily driven by over-collateralized loans to a small group of whitelisted traders—not necessarily indicative of sustainable growth.
Ondo Finance (ONDO)
- Prediction: Bearish
- Current Price: $0.92
- Price Performance Since Prediction: Up 13.52%
Ondo’s valuation appears stretched relative to its current revenue. With $5.5 billion in deposits yielding around 5%, the protocol generates just under $30 million in annualized revenue—resulting in a price-to-sales ratio of over 300x.
While the potential market for tokenized real-world assets is large, Ondo’s current growth trajectory may not justify its valuation. If traditional asset managers like Blackrock enter the space with their own tokenized products, Ondo could face significant competition.
Infrastructure & Other Tokens
BNB Chain (BNB)
- Prediction: Bearish
- Current Price: $593.54
- Price Performance Since Prediction: Down 1%
BNB lacks strong catalysts for growth. Recent court approval allowing Binance US to invest customer funds in U.S. Treasuries is unlikely to significantly boost adoption, especially since platforms like Coinbase already offer similar yield products.
Moreover, BNB Chain has shown declining on-chain activity since June, raising concerns about ecosystem vitality and future demand for the token.
Mantle (MNT)
- Prediction: Neutral
- Current Price: $0.85
- Price Performance Since Prediction: Up 2.85%
Mantle stands out among L2s due to its use of MNT for gas fees, strong liquidity position, and substantial treasury. However, the entire L2 sector faces downward pressure from token unlocks and new emissions.
While Mantle has outperformed many competitors year-to-date, reduced on-chain activity and the treasury’s heavy MNT allocation—which may lead to sell pressure when used for incentives—pose challenges.
Livepeer (LPT)
- Prediction: Bearish
- Current Price: $16.98
- Price Performance Since Prediction: Down 9.19%
Livepeer offers decentralized video streaming infrastructure but has struggled to achieve product-market fit. Despite being included in Grayscale’s decentralized AI fund, the protocol generates only a few hundred dollars in daily revenue.
With limited adoption and stagnant growth, LPT’s current valuation appears unsustainable.
Ethereum Name Service (ENS)
- Prediction: Bearish
- Current Price: $26.07
- Price Performance Since Prediction: Down 3.72%
ENS prices have been driven by speculation around Ethereum ETFs rather than organic growth. Weekly fees have fallen to multi-year lows, suggesting reduced usage despite price appreciation.
Trading at 243x annualized fees, ENS appears significantly overvalued. A return to historical valuation multiples would imply a much lower price.
Celestia (TIA)
- Prediction: Bearish
- Current Price: $7.17
- Price Performance Since Prediction: Minimal change
Celestia provides modular data availability solutions but suffers from low protocol revenue and high token inflation. An upcoming unlock in late October is expected to double the circulating supply, which could exacerbate selling pressure.
While cheap data availability is useful for some L2s, Celestia’s economic model relies heavily on inflation rather than sustainable fee generation.
Frequently Asked Questions
How accurate are cryptocurrency price predictions?
Predictions are based on current data and trends but remain speculative. Even expert analysts have limited accuracy—historical performance from top firms often falls between 40%–60%. Always conduct your own research before making investment decisions.
What factors influence short-term crypto price movements?
Macro trends, regulatory news, technological upgrades, liquidity shifts, and market sentiment all play roles. Events like ETF approvals, protocol updates, or macroeconomic changes can cause significant volatility.
How should investors use price predictions?
Treat predictions as one of many tools for evaluation. Combine them with fundamental analysis, risk assessment, and market context. Avoid relying solely on any single source or forecast.
What makes Layer 2 token valuations particularly challenging?
L2s face constant emission pressure from token incentives and unlocks. Additionally, fierce competition and rapid innovation mean that today’s leader may not maintain its advantage. 👉 Explore more strategies for evaluating layer-2 investments.
Are bearish predictions always bad news?
Not necessarily. Identifying overvalued assets can be as valuable as spotting winners. Bearish outlooks help investors avoid losses, manage risk, and identify better entry points.
How do regulatory changes impact altcoin prices?
Regulatory clarity—or the lack thereof—can significantly affect investor confidence. Projects with uncertain legal status or exposure to regulatory actions often underperform compared to more compliant counterparts.
Predictions provide a structured way to evaluate potential market movements, but they are not certainties. Market conditions change rapidly, and unforeseen events can override even the most well-reasoned analysis. Whether you’re bullish, bearish, or neutral on these assets, staying informed and diversifying your strategy is key to navigating the crypto landscape.