• Arthur Hayes predicts that Layer 1 blockchain Aptos will surpass Solana within two to three years.

• Hayes also warns of a potential major crypto custodian hack that could result in a loss of $50 billion to $100 billion.

BitMEX CEO Arthur Hayes recently shared his insights on the future of the crypto market, predicting that Aptos will surpass Solana to become the second leading Layer-1 blockchain within the next one to three years. In a recent interview with Coin Bureau, Hayes highlighted Aptos’ potential to achieve mainstream adoption of Web3 and support an ecosystem of decentralized applications (dApps) addressing real-world problems. Hayes plans to provide further details on his prediction by September 2024.

The competition among Layer 1 blockchains intensifies as newer and more innovative networks challenge Ethereum’s dominance. Solana emerged in March 2020, aiming to address Ethereum’s issues with scalability, speed, and transaction costs. Initially struggling to gain traction, Solana eventually became a significant player, particularly following its meme coin, BONK, launched in December 2022. This event marked the spread of the meme coin revolution beyond Ethereum, attracting numerous developers and DeFi platforms to Solana due to its lower minting fees.

However, Solana’s rise was not without challenges. The platform has experienced congestion issues reminiscent of Ethereum’s previous struggles. These issues have opened the door for alternatives like Aptos to enter the scene and offer more robust solutions.

Aptos is a promising Contentender 

Aptos is gaining attention for its stability and innovative technology. Unlike its competitors, Aptos has maintained consistent uptime since its inception. This reliability makes it an attractive option for developers and users seeking a stable platform.

The protocol’s foundation lies in its smart contract programming language, Move. Developed by former engineers from Meta Platforms Inc. who previously worked on the Diem blockchain, Move is a Rust-based language designed for speed and efficiency. While the Diem project was ultimately shelved, the expertise of its engineers now powers Aptos, which aims to be commercially viable from the start.

Hayes’ prediction that Aptos will flip Solana reflects the broader search within the digital currency ecosystem for the next best alternative. Aptos’ technical strengths and consistent performance position it as a strong candidate in this ongoing competition.

Future Projections and Industry Risks

In addition to his insights on Aptos and Solana, Hayes highlighted potential risks facing the cryptocurrency industry. He warned of the possibility that a major crypto custodian could be hacked, leading to a loss of between $50 billion and $100 billion in cryptocurrencies. Although such breaches are not unprecedented in the crypto world, a hack of this magnitude would be unprecedented and could have significant implications for the market.

This prediction comes when institutional adoption of cryptocurrencies increases, further amplifying the potential impact of a major security breach. Hayes also shared his thoughts on meme coins, referring to them as the “luxury brand” of crypto. He expressed optimism about the longevity of meme coins, particularly Dogecoin, which he believes could see the introduction of an ETF by the end of the current market cycle. 

Hayes emphasized Dogecoin’s status as the oldest meme coin and its widespread availability on major platforms like Robinhood. However, he noted that many meme coins currently lack long-term cultural significance.

Recommended for you:

• Solana Wallet Tutorial
• Check 24-hour Solana Price
• More Solana News