The Rise of Fat Apps in Crypto
Apps built on blockchains will capture most value, challenging traditional views on layer-1 chains.
Application tokens are surging, while core blockchain tokens are declining.
This shift may alter token valuation.
People are now talking again about the Fat App thesis in crypto circles. Fat Apps argues that apps built on blockchains will snag most of the value, instead of the base protocols themselves holding onto it. These flips have the old idea on its head, where everyone thought layer-1 chains would rule everything. As the whole scene keeps on changing, the crypto investors and fans need to be on this shift, or they might miss out.
Fat Apps Gain Traction
Lately, the market’s showing some clear signs that value is moving toward apps over the core blockchains. Application tokens are doing way better than the big protocol ones, for instance. Take the SOL to BTC ratio, it’s dropped about 16.11 percent in the last year. Meanwhile, something like Hyperliquid’s HYPE token jumped a whopping 1,636 percent. It looks like the market’s already picking sideways on this Fat App story, even if not everyone’s on board yet.
Also Read: Crypto’s ‘Fat Protocol Thesis’ Is Dead- Arthur Cheong
What Experts Are Saying About Fat Apps
Bitwise’s CIO, Matt Hougan, thinks this Fat App idea might blow up big time in the next few months or sooner. On the other hand, Jeff Dorman from that Digital Asset Investment Firm isn’t buying it at all. He points out how the old Fat Protocol thesis would have hurt the industry back in the day. These back-and-forth views show how tricky and layered this whole debate really is, don’t they?
Just read through 10 research reports and crypto newsletters. My big takeaway: All the cool kids are talking about the “fat app” thesis. Feels like that could be a dominant theme in the coming months.
— Matt Hougan (@Matt_Hougan) September 10, 2025
What This Means for Investors and the Market
Should the Fat Apps thesis start gaining momentum, this might prompt investors to look at layer-1 tokens differently than the app-specific ones. Value could flow more to those apps, opening doors for developers and the investors coming in to invest. The crypto world’s always twisting and turning anyway. Getting a grip on this thesis could help everyone steer through the mess a bit better, without too many surprises.
Wrapping Up the Fat App Outlook
This Fat App perspective really gets you thinking about where crypto value’s headed next. Markets shift all the time, so watching how this plays out should be pretty fascinating. With fat apps on the rise, the industry might be gearing up for some real changes down the line. Oh, and it’s not just hype, there’s actual momentum building.
A Few Last Thoughts on Crypto Narratives
Crypto’s full of wild turns, and the Fat App thesis is one more story weaving through it all. For investors and enthusiasts alike, staying in the loop and rolling with the punches matters a ton. By digging into ideas like this, we can handle the market’s ups and downs without getting totally lost.
Also Read: Google Play’s New Crypto Wallet Policy Puts Independent Developers at Risk
Filed under: Bitcoin - @ September 11, 2025 9:30 am