Author: Lorena Nessi Translation: Vernacular Blockchain

2024 is an important year for the crypto industry has been a year full of exciting trends and moments that continue to spark buzz in the community.

From memecoin-generated headlines to the tokenization of real-world assets, the year has been filled with stories pushing blockchain into new frontiers.

Telegram games bring cryptocurrencies closer to ordinary users, while prediction markets and liquid staking tokens offer new ways to interact with digital assets.

Add in rollups, modular blockchains, and the race to deal with quantum threats, and 2024 is certainly an unusual year.

These ten trends demonstrate the energy and innovation driving the crypto world forward.

1. The rise of Memecoin

Memecoin is an unprecedented social phenomenon. While some dismiss them as simplistic, trivial, and even question their legitimacy as digital assets, arguing that they are the product of poor financial decisions or just short-lived trends and viral marketing, they have an indisputable role in the crypto ecosystem. has taken its place, blending humour, community engagement and innovative digital value creation with the wider cultural movement.

1) Grassroots movement and celebrity effect

These Tokens respond to various social, and economic situations and reflect the cultural spirit. They rely on celebrity culture, driven by influential figures, often increasing their visibility.

Memecoin often leverages grassroots movements, where communities unite around shared ideas and values, inspiring collective action and creating viral trends. Memecoin also highlights the role of participatory culture, allowing users to drive token adoption and shape the narrative through collective efforts. They can sometimes be just trivial trends.

2) Memecoin in 2024: Milestones and Impact

In 2024, memecoins solidified their position as a decisive force in the crypto space. ShibaInu (SHIB) has far-reaching tokens such as Neiro (NEIRO) and FLOKI Inu (FLOKI) - the latter of which launched a debit card - and PepeCoin (PEPE), which rides on internet memes and nostalgia, showcasing humor and culture How correlations inspire significant financial activity.

A notable example of memecoin’s influence in 2024 is President-elect Donald Trump’s appointment of Elon Musk to lead the newly created Department of Efficiency (DOGE) ). The advisory body is tasked with streamlining the federation’s operations and reducing inefficiencies, and its abbreviation is a deliberate nod to Dogecoin (DOGE), which Musk is known to support.

3) The intersection of technology, culture and society

Memecoin reflects the intersection of technology, culture, society and society, showing how seemingly whimsical ideas can challenge tradition values ​​and innovative concepts. For many, they are a stepping stone into the crypto world, providing an accessible entry point into technology-driven digital assets.

2. Growth of prediction markets

In 2024, decentralized platforms like Kalshi and Polymarket will gain widespread popularity by allowing users to predict events and earn rewards focus on. The platforms cover a variety of topics including sports results, election results and cryptocurrency prices, leveraging blockchain technology to ensure transparency and security.

During the 2024 U.S. presidential election, Kalshi placed over $100 million in bets, demonstrating the potential of prediction markets in gauging public sentiment. However, the growth has also prompted criticism. Some analysts believe that low liquidity and vulnerability to manipulation undermine the reliability of prediction markets as forecasting tools.

Regulatory scrutiny has also intensified. Kalshi won a legal battle with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), allowing it to offer event contracts, but concerns about legality and market manipulation remain. Additionally, some have expressed moral objections to the ethics of gambling on elections.

An X user expressed her concerns about election gambling, posting: "I think what the CFTC is pushing is actually the right thing. Why gamble on elections? ? I personally don’t like this idea. ”

Despite these challenges, the rise of prediction markets highlights the need for decentralized solutions to real-world problems, cementing their place as an important trend in crypto in 2024. status.

3. Liquid Staking Tokens (LSTs) and Liquid Re-staking Tokens (LRTs)

In 2024, Liquid Staking Tokens (LSTs) and Liquid Re-staking Tokens (LRTs) ) gradually came to prominence, achieving greater influence based on earlier innovations. Although EigenLayer will launch on mainnet in mid-2023, its influence will be more obvious in 2024, with the adoption of re-staking gradually growing.

By mid-year, more than 33.8 million ETH had been staked, demonstrating increased market confidence in the Ethereum proof-of-stake (PoS) model and the viability of liquid staking .

LSTs allow users to maintain their liquidity while staking their assets to conduct decentralized finance (DeFi) activities such as borrowing and trading. LRTs further enhance this concept by allowing validators to re-stake their staked assets to other networks or support services such as rollups, increasing their functionality and rewards. Despite the surge in adoption in 2024, achieving full adoption across all areas remains an ongoing process.

Key Platforms and Competition

EigenLayer has made leading progress in re-staking, with more than 4.1 million ETH already re-staking on its platform by April 2024. Other platforms such as Lido Finance, Rocket Pool and Frax Finance have also made important contributions, expanding the application of LSTs and integrating them into the DeFi ecosystem. These projects play a vital role in driving innovation and accessibility in the staking space.

Progress in 2024 makes LSTs and LRTs critical tools in the staking ecosystem, laying the foundation for future developments in blockchain technology and DeFi integration.

4. Quantum computing threats

In 2024, the discussion of the impact of quantum computing on blockchain security has become the focus. While quantum computing technology offers great potential for scientific breakthroughs and innovation, it also poses a significant threat to the core of cryptocurrency - security.Threat.

1) Quantum threat

Quantum computers use the power of quantum mechanics to potentially crack the encryption algorithms that protect blockchain networks. Algorithms like Shor's algorithm are theoretically capable of decrypting public-private key pairs, compromising the confidentiality and integrity of transactions. Imagine if a malicious attacker could steal private keys, they could conduct a double-spend attack, or launch a 51% attack to take control of a blockchain network.

This potential consequence has prompted industry leaders to proactively address this challenge. Professor Massimiliano Sala's speech at the Ripple event at the University of Trento in Italy served as a wake-up call, highlighting the upcoming "Q-Day" when quantum computing may render traditional encryption techniques ineffective.

2) Finding Quantum Resistant Solutions

Major players like IBM and Google are Leading the progress of quantum technology while promoting the development of quantum-resistant encryption technology. The race has spawned projects like the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s (NIST) Post-Quantum Cryptography Standardization Process, which aims to create encryption methods that remain secure even in the face of quantum computing breakthroughs.

3) Quantum defense of blockchain

The blockchain community itself is also actively exploring "quantum security" solutions. Lattice-based encryption and quantum key distribution (QKD) are emerging technologies designed to protect blockchain communications from quantum attacks.

While the industry is already taking positive steps, transitioning to quantum-resistant infrastructure remains a complex and resource-intensive challenge. Google's latest quantum chip, Willow, has made significant progress in error correction, laying the foundation for larger-scale quantum computers. While the power of this technology is undeniable, machines capable of breaking encryption are still far from widespread availability.

Therefore, ensuring the long-term security of cryptocurrencies through the development and adoption of quantum-resistant solutions is critical to the continued growth and stability of the crypto industry.

5. Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Networks (DePINs)

In 2024, Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Networks (DePINs) will become a major trend and will Blockchain technology connects real-world assets. These networks demonstrate the potential to reshape the energy, transportation and logistics industries.

Examples include decentralized wireless networks like Helium, blockchain-powered shared mobility platforms, and supply chain tracking systems. DePINs bring greater transparency, improved security, enhanced accessibility

Despite these advantages, challenges such as interoperability, scalability and regulatory uncertainty remain.

With DePINs With the gradual follow-up of the development and regulatory framework, they are expected to change the way various industries manage and access physical infrastructure, providing more fair and efficient solutions for the future.

6. The popularity of trading robots and artificial intelligence agents.

In 2024, the crypto market will witness a surge in popularity of automated trading bots and artificial intelligence agents, tools designed to execute trades based on predefined algorithms or real-time market analysis, revolutionizing the market. The crypto trading landscape

Key trends and innovations

AI-Powered Trading Assistants/Agents: Trading assistants powered by artificial intelligence, such as Near’s AI Assistant, have become valuable tools for traders of all types. Additionally, Coinbase and Replit’s Based AI Agent templates allow developers to Cryptobots created to automate trading and asset management As trading bots and AI agents gain popularity, so do concerns about market manipulation and unfair advantages.

Leading Trading Robot: Truth Terminal, an AI The chatbot became famous in the crypto community for popularizing a set of memes called the “Goatse Gospel.” Massive Bitcoin donations fueled the launch of the GOAT meme coin, highlighting the potential impact of artificial intelligence on crypto trends. Although Truth Terminal itself cannot be traded, its influence has sparked debate about the ethics of AI, especially in the volatile memecoin market.

The increasing application of trading robots and artificial intelligence agents has undoubtedly reshaped the The crypto trading landscape. Although these tools offer significant advantages, they still need to be used with caution and a thorough understanding of their limitations. As technology continues to evolve, balancing automation and human oversight will be key to ensuring responsible and ethical trading practices.

7. Rolling aggregation solution (Rollups) in LayApplications in er2 extension

In 2024, rolling aggregations (Rollups) will become the cornerstone solution to Ethereum's scalability challenges. They do this by solving the problems of network congestion and high fees while maintaining the security of Ethereum. As a Layer-2 solution, rolling aggregation moves transaction processing from the main chain to off-chain and packages them into a batch for submission to the main chain, allowing for faster and cheaper operations.

Vitalik Buterin’s standards

In September 2024, Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin emphasized that the Layer-2 network must reach the "first stage" before 2025 Decentralized standards. These standards include fraud prevention mechanisms, security committee governance and upgrade delays to ensure trust and transparency.

Rolling aggregation solutions like Optimism and zkSync while supporting DeFi, non-fungible tokens (NFTs) and decentralized applications (dApps) , the lock-in value (TVL) reached billions of dollars.

It is worth noting that challenges such as interoperability and achieving full decentralization still exist. However, rolling aggregation solutions continue to redefine Ethereum’s scalability in 2024, establishing their key position in the future growth and adoption of the Ethereum network.

8. Tokenization of real-world assets (RWAs)

In 2024, the tokenization of real-world assets (RWAs) is developing rapidly, creating opportunities for investors and enterprises. New opportunities. Here is an overview of the current situation:

1) Funded credit market growth

The global market for raised credit has reached $1.7 trillion and has grown at a steady rate over the past five years 17% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) expansion. However, only about $500 million in assets have been tokenized, indicating that there is still huge room for growth in tokenizing these assets.

2) Global Tokenization Potential

The global physical asset market exceeds US$867 trillion, and tokenizing these assets may significantly increase the economic influence of the crypto industry. Tokenized assets could account for 10% of global GDP by 2027, with the potential to expand the market to $24 trillion (World Economic Forum).

3) Industry Adoption and Initiatives

DeFi platform Ethena invested $46 million in tokenized RWA funds, including products like BlackRock’s BUIDL and Superstate’s USTB. Solana-based marketplace platform AgriDex partners with Stripe’s Bridge and Circle’s USDC to reduce cross-border agricultural trade costs from 2-4% to approximately 0.5%. Latin American banks such as Littio are adopting the Avalanche blockchain to manage RWA vaults, demonstrating the global appeal of tokenization.

4) Institutional Initiatives

UBS Group, Switzerland's largest financial holding company, launched its first tokenized fund "UBS US Dollar Money Market Investment Fund Token" and launched it on Ethereum Release on the blockchain marks a major shift for institutions towards tokenized assets. The Monetary Authority of Singapore is exploring tokenization through Project Guardian and developing standards for tokenized assets.

promotes its digital asset plan by issuing fully digital structured products on the blockchain, reflecting the region's demand for Tokenization.

Hadron, launched in November 2024, is an asset tokenization platform launched by Tether. Designed to simplify the creation, management and trading of tokenized assets. Hadron aims to be an easy-to-use solution capable of tokenizing a variety of assets from real estate to financial securities. As the Tokenization of RWAs continues to grow, Hadron is expected to redefine the global financial system, improve efficiency, transparency, and provide new investment opportunities for all walks of life.

9. The rise of modular blockchain

In 2024, a revolution is taking place in the blockchain field, and the emergence of modular blockchain is promoting this change. This innovative approach promises to revolutionize scalability, efficiency, and customization in the blockchain ecosystem.

1) Modular blockchain paradigm

Modular blockchain is different from the traditional monolithic architecture, which bundles all functions in a single layer middle. Modular blockchainIt uses a modular design to decompose the blockchain into multiple specialized components. Such functional separation provides the blockchain with greater flexibility, scalability, and room for innovation.

2) Modular blockchain projects and application cases

Represented by Ethereum Modular blockchains are well known, and in recent years, a number of promising modular blockchain projects have emerged, each addressing specific challenges and opportunities:

Celestia: This project focuses on creating a decentralized data availability layer that ensures all transaction data is accessible to all nodes in the network. This allows other modules, such as the execution layer, to be built on top of Celestia, leveraging its secure and scalable data infrastructure.

Fuel: This project is developing a modular execution layer that can process transactions in parallel, significantly increasing throughput and reducing transaction fees. Fuel’s modular design facilitates integration with other blockchain components, creating a versatile and efficient ecosystem.

Dymension: This project aims to build a modular blockchain network that can support various decentralized applications (dApps). By separating consensus, execution and data availability into different layers, Dymension aims to achieve high scalability and high security.

10. Telegram Game: Attracting users into the encryption field

In 2024, Telegram will become a key platform for crypto games. Independent developers have launched “play to earn” (P2E) games that combine entertainment and crypto rewards. Telegram’s bot-friendly infrastructure and large user base provide fertile ground for these projects.

Hamster Kombat: Players manage a crypto trading platform operated by hamsters and earn HMSTRToken on The Open Network (TON). Although player engagement and token value dropped significantly at the end of the year, it demonstrated the appeal of P2E gaming, attracting up to 3 million players.

Catizen: This game allows users to earn CATITokens through creative gameplay. While the concept resonates with many, the volatility in token prices reflects the challenges of integrating gaming into the crypto market.

PAWS: As a rising star in the P2E ecosystem, PAWS has attracted more than 25 million players through its virtual pet care model, accumulating a large number of users in just a few days.

Although these games face criticisms of repetitive gameplay, excessive time investment, and requiring crypto investment to maximize rewards, they play a role in the crypto story of 2024 key role. Their success highlights the potential and complexity of fusing games with digital assets, becoming an important chapter in the evolution of the P2E ecosystem.

CItizen Game | Source: Citizen

11. Conclusion

2024 is filled with stories that will reshape the crypto industry and lay the foundation for future growth. Memecoin engages audiences through humor and financial innovation, while prediction markets and decentralized physical infrastructure networks (DePINs) demonstrate how blockchain can solve real-world problems. The Telegram game has attracted a large number of new users into the crypto space through its engaging "play and earn" model.

Liquid staking and re-staking tokens strengthen the Ethereum staking ecosystem and provide users with more flexibility. Rollups solve scalability issues and make Ethereum faster and more efficient, while modular blockchains introduce a new way to build decentralized systems with greater customization.

The industry has also taken steps to prepare for the era of quantum computing, with quantum-resistant solutions becoming a key focus. The tokenization of real-world assets bridges the gap between traditional finance and blockchain, unlocking exciting opportunities and shaping the digital future. AI agents and trading bots change the way users interact with the market, driving automation and efficiency.

These developments highlight the innovations and challenges in the blockchain world, demonstrating its potential to have far-reaching impacts on technology, finance and culture. How the future will develop, only time can tell.

Q&A

1) What are the main crypto trends in 2024?

2024 highlights several transformative trends, including the rise of memecoins, the popularity of prediction markets, advances in quantum-resistant cryptography, and the growth of decentralized physical infrastructure networks (DePINs). These stories Playing a key role in shaping the encryption field

2) How will quantum computing affect the encryption industry in 2025?

Quantum computing poses significant challenges by threatening traditional encryption methods used in blockchain. To address this challenge, the industry has accelerated the development of quantum-resistant solutions such as lattice-based encryption and quantum Key distribution (QKD) to ensure the long-term security of blockchain networks

3) Why will memecoins be so influential in 2024?

Like FLOKI and PEPE Memecoins like this continue to capture the attention of the crypto community through a combination of humor, cultural relevance, and community-driven initiatives. They also attract attention through high-profile endorsements, such as the dog featured in the Efficiency Project with Elon Musk’s involvement. Coin.

4) What role will artificial intelligence and trading bots play in the crypto market in 2024?

AI-powered trading bots and agents have revolutionized crypto trading by automating the decision-making process. These tools increase market participation, but also raise ethical and regulatory questions about market manipulation and fair trading.