Deep Dive
Overview: Ethereum founder Vitalik Buterin criticized legacy social tokens like Steem in a Jan 21, 2026 summit, noting their historical focus on “financialization over utility” led to “tokens losing all value within 12–24 months” (CoinMarketCap).
What this means: Buterin’s endorsement of newer platforms (Lens Protocol, Farcaster) positions Steem as outdated infrastructure. With Web3 social apps seeing 300% MAU growth in 2024, traders may be rotating capital toward newer projects perceived as better aligned with Web3’s evolution.
2. Technical Weakness (Bearish Momentum)
Overview: STEEM broke below its 7-day SMA ($0.065) and 30-day SMA ($0.069). The MACD histogram (-0.00042791) confirms bearish momentum, while RSI (42.27) shows no immediate oversold signal.
What this means: Technical traders likely accelerated selling after the breakdown, particularly with STEEM trading 39.5% below its 200-day EMA ($0.097). The next support sits at the Dec 2025 low of $0.0627.
What to watch: A sustained close below $0.0627 could trigger algorithmic sell orders.
3. Altcoin Liquidity Drain (Mixed Context)
Overview: Crypto-wide spot volume fell 20.78% weekly, while STEEM’s 24h volume dropped 3.95% to $6.62M. The Altcoin Season Index fell 6.25% in 24h to 30, signaling capital rotation away from small caps.
What this means: STEEM’s thin liquidity (turnover ratio: 0.2) makes it vulnerable to outsized moves during market stress. With open interest in derivatives down 21% monthly, traders lack incentive to defend support levels.
Conclusion
Steem’s decline reflects a triple threat: fading relevance in Web3 social narratives, technical breakdowns, and sector-wide risk aversion. Key watch: Can STEEM hold the $0.0627 support, or will renewed selling validate Buterin’s critique of its tokenomics?