Deep Dive
1. RPCfi Model with Neura (Bullish Impact)
Overview:
Ankr’s October 2025 partnership with Neura introduced RPCfi, a system converting RPC infrastructure costs into on-chain liquidity. This incentivizes developers to use Ankr’s RPC services (handling 1T+ monthly requests) while recycling fees into DeFi pools.
What this means:
Increased usage of Ankr’s RPCs could directly boost demand for ANKR tokens, as developers pay fees in ANKR. Historical integrations like Etherlink RPC (July 2025) saw a 22% spike in ANKR volume post-launch, suggesting similar upside potential.
2. Staking Lockups vs. Unlocks (Mixed Impact)
Overview:
ANKR staking offers up to 9% APY, with tokens locked for 90 days. However, 82% of ANKR’s 10B supply remains unlocked, creating potential sell pressure if stakers exit en masse.
What this means:
Short-term price stability is supported by locked tokens (39M FLOW staked via Ankr as of August 2025), but large unlocks—like the 2.8B tokens scheduled for 2026—could dilute value if demand doesn’t offset supply.
3. U.S. Regulatory Tailwinds (Bullish Impact)
Overview:
The 2025 GENIUS Stablecoin Act and pro-Web3 policies have spurred institutional adoption. Ankr’s enterprise arm, Asphere, now deploys custom Solana networks for regulated entities, aligning with this trend.
What this means:
Regulatory clarity reduces operational risks and could increase institutional usage of Ankr’s APIs and nodes. Asphere’s SOC 2 compliance and partnerships (e.g., Microsoft) signal credibility, potentially driving long-term ANKR demand.
Conclusion
ANKR’s price hinges on balancing innovative utility (RPCfi, enterprise infra) against tokenomics risks (unlocks, low turnover of 6.3%). Watch for Q1 2026 metrics: RPCfi’s liquidity growth and Asphere’s client pipeline. Can Ankr convert infrastructure dominance into sustainable token demand?