The crypto market moves towards the mainstream, PANews annual selection reveals 22 authoritative awards

In 2024, the crypto market ushered in a landmark moment truly heading towards the mainstream. Bitcoin and Ethereum spot ETFs were approved for listing, successfully entering the traditional financial sector; Bitcoin underwent halving, and prices surged significantly; mainstream media's attention towards the encryption sector has notably increased; the liquidity of stablecoins continues to grow, and on-chain activities are heating up; phenomenal meme coins have rapidly emerged, and the MEME supercycle has fully exploded; the combination of AI and encryption technology has become an emerging narrative, with smart agents becoming the new standard for crypto trading. These developments have laid a solid foundation for a new bull market cycle.

Against this background, PANews held its fifth annual selection event with the theme "Becoming Mainstream". After more than a month of rigorous screening, a total of 141 projects/companies and 10 individuals were selected to receive authoritative annual awards in 22 categories.

This selection covers multiple dimensions, including technological innovation, ecological development, market influence, and community building. Among them, Bitcoin, Base, and Solana won the Annual Outstanding Contribution Award, recognizing their outstanding performance in promoting industry innovation and economic benefits.

In the field of innovation, 10 projects including ai16z, Ethena, and Fractal Bitcoin have received the annual Innovation Award. These projects have made groundbreaking progress in technical mechanisms, economic models, business models, investment models, and asset issuance methods, bringing new growth momentum to the market.

The annual application rankings cover seven categories including DeFi, Web3 games, Web3 social, RWA, DePIN, AI+Web3 integration, and NFTs, with a total of 45 projects standing out. These applications showcase the diversity and innovation of the integration of encryption technology with real-world scenarios.

In terms of infrastructure, 20 annual best projects were selected, covering L1, L2, and various tool platforms. The continuous optimization of these infrastructures provides strong support for the entire crypto market, helping to attract more users and funds into the market.

The selection also particularly focused on the most promising projects within the ecosystems of major public chains, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, and the TON ecosystem, with a total of 25 projects chosen. These projects are considered to have the potential to break down liquidity barriers from outside the circle and promote the large-scale adoption of encryption technology.

In addition, the selection also involves multiple aspects including MEME coins, influential KOLs, Web3 conferences, investment institutions, exchanges, etc., comprehensively showcasing the diversified development of the crypto industry.

The year 2024 is seen as a key turning point in the encryption field, with multiple factors driving profound changes in market structure. With the influence of Wall Street giants joining, the gradual clarification of regulatory frameworks, and traditional institutions opening up to crypto asset allocation, it is expected that by 2025, cryptocurrencies will gain a more defined positioning and broader recognition in the global financial system.

This selection not only showcases the emerging trends and development potential of the encryption industry, but also aims to encourage more industry pioneers and innovators to actively participate in the long-term construction of the crypto ecosystem, promoting the entire industry to develop towards a more mature and mainstream direction.