The crypto market moves towards the mainstream: The 5th Annual Awards reveal 22 winners

In 2024, the crypto market welcomed several milestone events, marking the industry's official move towards mainstream adoption. Bitcoin and Ethereum spot ETFs were approved for listing, opening the doors to traditional finance; Bitcoin underwent a halving, reaching a new all-time high; mainstream media attention significantly increased; the liquidity of stablecoins continued to grow, with on-chain activity heating up; the rise of phenomenon meme coins led to a full explosion of the MEME super cycle; the combination of AI and encryption became a new hotspot, with intelligent agents becoming a new standard in trading. This series of developments laid a solid foundation for a new round of bull market cycle.

Against this backdrop, the fifth annual selection was themed "Becoming Mainstream". After more than a month of registration, voting, and professional evaluation, a total of 141 projects/companies and 22 annual awards for 10 individuals were finally selected.

This selection covers multiple dimensions, including technological innovation, ecological development, market influence, and community building. Among them, three projects won the Annual Outstanding Contribution Award, namely Bitcoin, Base, and Solana. These projects have made outstanding contributions to promoting industry innovation and economic benefits.

In the field of innovation, 10 projects received the Annual Innovation Award, covering various aspects such as new technological mechanisms, innovative economic models, and business model innovation. These innovations not only improved trading efficiency but also brought a richer selection of asset allocation to the market.

The annual application list includes 7 categories such as DeFi, Web3 games, Web3 social, RWA, DePIN, AI + Web3 integration, and NFTs, with 45 projects standing out. These applications demonstrate the enormous potential of encryption technology combined with real-world scenarios.

Infrastructure, as the core engine driving industry growth, has 20 projects recognized as the best infrastructure of the year, covering categories such as L1, L2, and tools. The continuous iteration and upgrades of these projects inject new vitality into the market.

In addition, the selection also focused on the most promising projects in various ecosystems. Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, and the TON ecosystem each had 5-10 projects selected, showcasing the innovative vitality of different ecosystems.

MEME, as a barometer of on-chain liquidity, has 10 projects awarded as the most popular MEME of the year, reflecting the market's enthusiasm for this emerging narrative.

10 KOLs were awarded the title of the most influential of the year, and they played an important leading and promoting role in the development of the industry. 5 Web3 conferences were recognized for their contributions to promoting industry communication and innovation.

10 investment institutions and 8 exchanges were awarded the titles of Best Investment Institution and Best Exchange of the Year, highlighting their outstanding performance in promoting industry development and providing quality services.

Finally, the 10 best PANews columns were recognized, as these authors provided valuable industry insights to readers through unique perspectives and profound insights.

2024 is seen as a turning point for the encryption industry, with multiple factors driving profound changes in the market structure. With the entry of Wall Street giants, Bitcoin halving, gradual clarity in regulation, institutional allocation of crypto assets, and the impact of the U.S. elections, cryptocurrencies are expected to gain broader recognition in the global financial system by 2025. This selection aims to showcase emerging trends and development potential in the industry and encourage more innovators to participate in the long-term construction of the ecosystem.