IOST (IOST) Price Prediction

Deep Dive

1. Real-World Asset Infrastructure Push (Bullish Impact)

Overview: IOST secured $21M in June 2025 from investors like DWF Labs to scale its regulated real-world asset (RWA) platform, focusing on Japan and Asia-Pacific markets where it holds regulatory approval. Partnerships with Matrixdock (tokenized Treasuries) and AWE (AI-driven asset simulations) aim to bridge traditional finance.

What this means: RWA adoption could drive demand for IOST as collateral or settlement fuel. Historical examples like Polygon’s RWA surge (+40% in Q2 2024) suggest upside if adoption accelerates. However, execution risks persist in regulated environments.

2. Token Buyback and Supply Dynamics (Mixed Impact)

Overview: IOST repurchased $3M worth of tokens between July–October 2025, reducing circulating supply by ~1.66B IOST. Despite this, the price fell 45% in 90 days due to high inflation (7% annualized via staking) and cross-chain supply discrepancies (Upbit).

What this means: Buybacks temporarily countered inflation but failed to offset broader sell pressure. The 29.5B circulating supply (62% of total) remains a headwind unless staking participation surges.

3. Exchange Liquidity Shocks (Bearish Impact)

Overview: KuCoin delisted IOST from margin trading on November 26, 2025, following a 36% drop in 24h volume since June. The exchange previously accounted for ~18% of spot volume (CoinGecko).

What this means: Reduced leverage access may deter traders, exacerbating IOST’s 90-day underperformance (-45% vs. Bitcoin’s -8%). Thin liquidity raises volatility risks, particularly with altcoin dominance at yearly lows.

Conclusion

IOST’s RWA pivot offers long-term promise, but near-term challenges loom: inflation-heavy tokenomics, fading buyback tailwinds, and liquidity erosion. Watch the 30-day RWA transaction volume post-Q1 2026 product launches – sustained growth above $50M/month could signal a turnaround. Will IOST’s regulated niche outpace its supply glut?