As far as I understand the situation in the entire market, this is due to the need. The market has lost its attractiveness, and investors do not want to risk significant amounts.
Most likely you are right, now there is a recession in many projects and it becomes more and more difficult for even interesting projects to compile softcap.
After rise of the market there is a recession after recession rise again. It is necessary to wait. But nobody knows how long to wait. Optherium is a long term project. Whey it realise all its ideas may be the market will rise. Stabilisation is rather good for realiation of ideas.