NEO Ecosystem New Strategy: Focusing on Assets and Applications, Empowering NEO and GAS

Recently, NEO founder Da Hongfei and the NGD team held a 2.5-hour key strategic meeting. The core consensus of the meeting was clear: future work will revolve around two main pillars—“on-chain assets” and “building applications.”

This strategic shift aims to directly empower NEO’s dual-token ecosystem—the NEO token representing governance rights and GAS used for paying network fees.

01 Strategic Core: Assets as Fuel, Applications as Engine

After the meeting, Da Hongfei clearly outlined the strategic blueprint for the NEO ecosystem. He likened the entire plan to a high-speed vehicle, where assets are the fuel and applications are the engine.

On the asset side, NEO will focus on introducing stablecoins and bridges to inject critical liquidity into the ecosystem. The team plans to collaborate with top cross-chain protocols like LayerZero and Wormhole to bring liquidity into Neo N3 and Neo X networks.

One of the most explicit recent goals is deploying mainstream stablecoins such as USDT and USDC to pave the way for widespread liquidity within the ecosystem.

Application development is viewed as a key engine driving the large-scale adoption of blockchain by 2026. The NGD team is targeting the blue ocean market of artificial intelligence, planning to leverage the upcoming Neo X sidechain, combined with the SpoonOS framework, to strengthen its proxy infrastructure.

Their goal is to deliver practical, market-demanded AI-related products, demonstrating the value of blockchain technology through real-world applications.

02 Token Focus: The Dual Mission of NEO and GAS

To understand the significance of this new strategy, it’s essential to recognize NEO’s unique dual-token system. NEO is designed as the cornerstone of an “intelligent economy,” with its dual-token model being a core feature.

The NEO token represents governance rights, allowing holders to participate in consensus node elections and vote on network development. GAS, on the other hand, is the “fuel” that powers the operation of this smart economy network; all transactions and smart contract executions require GAS to pay fees.

According to the latest data from the Gate platform as of January 29, 2026, NEO’s current price is $3.46, with a market cap of approximately $244.59 million.

In the past 24 hours, its price has fluctuated by -2.25%, with a trading volume of $141.43K. Its all-time high was $198.38, indicating it once attracted significant market attention.

The latest price of GAS is approximately $1.89 based on market data, with a current market cap of about $123.07 million.

Its circulating supply is 64,992,331 GAS, and like NEO, the maximum supply is set at 100 million. This economic model encourages users to hold NEO long-term to earn GAS rewards, ensuring network security and stability.

03 Market Impact: Value Drivers and Price Outlook Under the New Strategy

Da Hongfei’s clear strategic focus is expected to have a direct impact on the fundamental value of NEO and GAS.

Introducing mainstream stablecoins and cross-chain bridges will directly lower the barriers for users and developers to access the NEO ecosystem, improve capital efficiency, and potentially significantly increase network transaction volume and demand for GAS.

Application development, especially targeting AI, aims to create genuine and sustainable network demand. If successful, popular applications will not only showcase NEO blockchain’s technical capabilities but also bring active users and ongoing on-chain activity, providing a solid foundation for the long-term value of NEO and GAS.

Based on current trends, some market analysis institutions have made price predictions for NEO. According to Gate’s forecast model, the average trading price of NEO in 2026 may be around 3.46, with an expected range between 2.94 and 4.09.

Looking further ahead to 2031, its price could reach $5.77, representing a potential growth of about 57.00% from the current level. Other analyses also share similar views, suggesting NEO’s price range in 2026 could be between 1.79 and 5.06.

04 Future Outlook: The Path of NEO Ecosystem’s Advancement

NEO’s journey began in 2014, originally named Antshares, often called the “Ethereum of China.” It aims to digitize and automate asset management through blockchain technology and digital identity, ultimately building an intelligent economy.

This strategic adjustment can be seen as a pragmatic refocus after market cycles and technological iterations. The clear dual-track mission—“assets” and “applications”—avoids ambiguity, allowing the community and developers to concentrate resources. Collaborations with top protocols like LayerZero and Wormhole demonstrate NEO’s team’s commitment to integrating into the broader crypto ecosystem with an open attitude.

Choosing AI as a breakthrough for applications aligns with mainstream trends while seeking a differentiated competitive track.

The ultimate success of this roadmap will depend on the team’s execution, developer response, and market acceptance. However, for a blockchain project with nearly a decade of history, this simplified, core-focused strategic declaration is undoubtedly an important step to re-energize the community and attract market attention.

As NEO and GAS’s latest strategies advance, all eyes are on the upcoming Neo X sidechain and the first batch of AI applications. On the Gate exchange, investors can conveniently track the latest prices of NEO and GAS.

NEO’s current price remains stable around 3.46, with a circulating market cap exceeding 244 million USD. As a barometer of network activity, GAS’s price and demand will directly reflect the ecosystem’s activity level under the new strategy.