Pocket Network (POKT) Price Prediction

Deep Dive

1. Shannon Upgrade & Burn Mechanics (Bullish Impact)

Overview:
The Shannon upgrade (June 2025) transitioned POKT to a deflationary model, burning tokens with each data relay. Network relays grew 231% MoM post-upgrade, though burns remain muted at ~0.2% of supply monthly.

What this means:
Accelerated Web3 app adoption could exponentially increase burns – historical analogs like Ethereum’s EIP-1559 show 2-5x price impact when net deflation is sustained. However, current relay volume needs 8x growth to offset new token issuance.

2. Bridge Expansion & Korean Partnerships (Mixed Impact)

Overview:
The Ferrum multi-chain bridge (targeted Q1 2026) aims to deploy wPOKT on 6+ chains. Meanwhile, the OverProtocol collab in South Korea (June 2025) boosted nodes by 19% but faces integration delays.

What this means:
Successful cross-chain deployment could tap into Ethereum/BSC DeFi liquidity, but competitors like Celestia’s modular DA layer threaten Pocket’s infrastructure niche. Korean retail interest (Upbit listings caused 250% rallies in May 2025) remains a wildcard.

3. Macro Liquidity Drain (Bearish Impact)

Overview:
BTC dominance has climbed to 57% (from 53.9% in Dec 2024), while the CMC Altcoin Season Index sits at 69 – below the 75+ threshold signaling sustained alt rallies. POKT’s 30d correlation to BTC rose to 0.82 this week.

What this means:
Institutional ETF flows ($148B BTC AUM) and high leverage (open interest at $885B) favor blue chips. POKT’s $75M market cap makes it vulnerable to liquidity rotations – 90% of its volume comes from KRW pairs, amplifying regional risk.

Conclusion

POKT’s fate hinges on executing its multi-chain vision while surviving a Bitcoin-centric market. The Shannon burn mechanism provides fundamental upside, but traders should monitor relay volume (target: 1B/day vs. current 340M) and BTC dominance breaks below 55%. Can Pocket Network outpace infrastructure rivals before the next macro downdraft?