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Even before the market melts down, there are always signs that whisper what’s coming.
Behind the enthusiasm for mainstream adoption, the crypto ecosystem is also showing fatigue, and it’s becoming harder to ignore.
Traders walking away is expected; innovation cycles ebb and flow. What’s concerning now is the pace at which crypto projects and companies are closing.
In just the first month of 2026, several high-profile exits have already made headlines.
Related: Bankrupt Bitcoin miner faces new hurdle in Chapter 11 bankruptcy
Among those pulling the plug is Forgotten Runiverse, a fantasy-themed massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) built on the Ethereum (ETH) scaling network, Ronin.
The team announced on Jan. 26 that it’s taking the game offline “until further notice,” citing financial infeasibility but insisting this isn’t the end.
“Over the past months, we’ve faced a number of overwhelming challenges,” the team wrote. “While our team worked tirelessly and was initially able to overcome many of these obstacles, we’ve reached a point where it no longer makes sense financially to maintain the game in a live environment in its current state.”
Launched globally in 2025 after its Forgotten Runes Wizard’s Cult NFT collection-inspired lore gained traction, the open-world browser game asked users to “crash its servers” in a public stress test.
Yet less than a year later, its free-to-play servers are shutting down. All player data, however, will remain preserved as the team evaluates “a potential path forward.”
In 2025, several notable blockchain titles, including Deadrop, Nyan Heroes and Pirate Nation, were forced to shut down.
Related: Crypto Price Check: Bankruptcies Taking Sector into Uncharted Waters
This story was originally published by TheStreet on Jan 30, 2026, where it first appeared in the MARKETS section. Add TheStreet as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
