Introduction

In the context of a booming cryptocurrency market with expectations for an altcoin season at the end of 2025, not every coin is highly regarded by the community for its growth potential. Coin98 (C98), NEO, and Hamster Kombat (HMSTR) are three coins seen as struggling to break through due to many technological limitations, competition, and market sentiment. This article provides a detailed analysis of why the community lacks confidence in these coins, based on current prices (C98: $0.048 USD, NEO: $5.76 USD, HMSTR: $0.002 USD, according to CoinMarketCap, date 06/06/2025), market performance, and developmental challenges, while also offering suggestions for investors in the USA and international markets.

1. Coin98 (C98): Lacks competitiveness in the DeFi market

Current price: $0.048 USD (according to CoinMarketCap, date 06/06/2025).

Overview: Coin98 is a multi-chain DeFi platform, providing Coin98 Wallet, Coin98 Exchange, and Space Gate cross-chain bridge, supporting blockchains like Ethereum, BNB Chain, and Solana. C98 is a utility token used for service fees, staking, and governance.

Reasons for the community's lack of confidence:

  • Weak price performance: HMSTR has significantly declined, with the current price ($0.048) being 99.25% lower than its all-time high of $6.42 (August 2021). The current price is only about 6.57% higher than the lowest price of $0.04504, indicating a long-term downward trend.

  • Intense competition: Coin98 faces strong competitors like MetaMask, Trust Wallet (wallets), and Uniswap (DeFi exchange). The lack of differentiation makes it difficult for Coin98 to attract new users in the crowded DeFi market.

  • Negative market sentiment: Technical analysis from CoinCodex shows a "strong sell" signal on the 4-hour, daily, and weekly time frames, with an RSI of 36.66, indicating a neutral market but lacking upward momentum.

  • Unfavorable tokenomics: With a circulating supply of 950 million C98 (close to the maximum supply of 1 billion), selling pressure from token unlock rounds (21% allocated for ecosystem growth) could suppress prices.

Prediction: CoinCodex predicts C98 could reach $0.06949 by 2026, but the long-term potential (up to 2030, max $0.420553) is underestimated due to a lack of breakthrough factors. The community believes C98 will struggle to compete without significant improvements in its ecosystem.

2. NEO: "China's Ethereum" loses its position

Current price: $5.76 USD (according to CoinMarketCap, date 06/06/2025).

Overview: NEO, dubbed "China's Ethereum", is an open-source blockchain launched in 2014, focusing on smart economy with smart contracts and digital identity. NEO supports multiple programming languages and has a maximum supply of 100 million tokens.

Reasons for the community's lack of confidence:

  • Poor price performance: HMSTR has dropped 97% from its all-time high of $198.20 (January 2018) and 60.22% in the past year. The current price ($5.76) indicates long-term decline and a lack of recovery momentum.

  • Loss of competitiveness: NEO was once expected to compete with Ethereum, but slow development and a lack of prominent DeFi or NFT applications have caused it to lag behind Solana, Cardano, and Ethereum.

  • Negative market sentiment: The "strong sell" signal on TradingView (daily and weekly time frames) and price forecasts indicating a possible drop to $4.82-$5.04 by mid-2025 show a lack of buying power. Low RSI indicates the market is not supporting price increases.

  • Regulatory pressure: As a project based in China, NEO is affected by restrictive cryptocurrency policies, which diminish global investor confidence.

Prediction: CoinCodex predicts NEO may fluctuate between $3.79-$6.59 in 2025, with a potential decline of 26.89% in the short term. The community believes that NEO will struggle to regain its position without significant improvements or support from the Asian market.

3. Hamster Kombat (HMSTR): Unsustainable meme coin

Current price: $0.002 USD (according to CoinMarketCap, date 06/06/2025).

Overview: HMSTR is the token for the tap-to-earn game Hamster Kombat on Telegram, attracting players due to its simple model and viral effect. As a meme coin, HMSTR relies on hype and has little fundamental value.

Reasons for the community's lack of confidence:

  • Nature of meme coin: HMSTR relies on social media trends, similar to DOGE or SHIB, but lacks practical applications, leading to doubts about its long-term value.

  • High price volatility: As a new token, HMSTR is prone to strong fluctuations, with a risk of rapid decline when hype diminishes. Data from Coinbase shows a 7% price drop in the past week, reflecting weak market sentiment.

  • Lack of ecosystem: Unlike BNB or SOL, HMSTR does not have its own blockchain or DeFi, NFT applications. The Hamster Kombat game may lose appeal as players shift to new projects.

  • Legal risks: Meme coins often face scrutiny from regulators in the USA, which reduces investor confidence.

Prediction: Due to a lack of long-term price data, the community predicts that HMSTR will struggle to maintain price increases during the altcoin season, especially when competing with strong technology projects like SUI or SOL. The potential for price increase depends on short-term media campaigns, but the risk of price decline is very high.

Impact on the crypto market

C98, NEO, and HMSTR face major challenges: C98 lacks competitiveness in the DeFi market, NEO has not kept pace with modern Layer 1 blockchains, and HMSTR relies on short-term trends of meme coins. In the late 2025 altcoin season, these coins are unlikely to lead due to a lack of growth catalysts and negative market sentiment. Investors should consider projects with stronger ecosystems, like Ethereum or Solana, to optimize returns.

Suggestions for investors

  • Prioritize projects with strong technological foundations: Blockchains like Solana or Ethereum have developed DeFi and Web3 ecosystems, suitable for long-term investment.

  • Monitor market signals: C98, NEO, and HMSTR may see short-term price increases during the altcoin season, but quick exits are needed to avoid risks.

  • Thorough research: Avoid large investments in coins lacking fundamental value or "strong sell" signals.

Risk warning: Investing in cryptocurrencies poses high risks due to strong price volatility.