Tracing the evolution of hot narratives in crypto markets, we can spot some clear patterns:

The scene kicked off around 2020-2021 with Layer 1 blockchains dominating conversations. Then came the Play-to-Earn and Metaverse fever (2021-2022), which overlapped with the NFT craze that stretched into 2023.

By 2023, momentum shifted toward Layer 2 scaling solutions and Restaking protocols. Simultaneously, the Airdrop narrative took flight and kept going strong through 2025. More recently, Memecoins exploded onto the stage (2024-2025), capturing retail energy and social media buzz. We're now watching InfoFi gain traction as the market matures.

So here's the real question—what's the next big narrative to capture the crypto zeitgeist beyond 2026? Will it be about infrastructure, user adoption mechanics, or something nobody's really talking about yet?