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Here’s What Happened On-Chain Before XRP Jumped to $2.87

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XRP is experiencing renewed bullish sentiment in the market, with its impressive rally again approaching a seven-year high.

Over the last 24 hours, the price of XRP has surged by approximately 14%. This notable jump brought the price to $2.87 today before settling at $2.84 at the time of writing.

Interestingly, while XRP is seeing a double-digit percentage gain today, close rivals like Solana, Ethereum, and Binance Coin (BNB) are seeing gains of just around 2%. As a result, XRP boasts the best performance among the top ten cryptocurrencies so far this year, up by 38%.

Notably, this major turnaround in XRP’s price follows a significant spike in on-chain metrics, particularly from whales.

Whales Inject $6.4B+ into the XRP Market

According to a report from intelligence platform Santiment, XRP’s solitary bull run coincided with massive accumulation by whales. The report highlights that addresses holding between 1 million and 10 million XRP have committed an additional $3.8 billion to the market.

As a result, these whales now control portfolios with a 37% increase in XRP compared to two months ago.

Notably, their XRP buying spree gained momentum starting November 12, 2024. Over the past eight weeks, their balances have steadily grown, accumulating an additional 1.43 billion XRP. This has brought their total holdings to 5.11 billion XRP tokens.

Interestingly, a separate observation by market watcher Ali Martinez further confirmed the increased whale accumulation. Martinez cited data showing deep-pocket investors bought 1.09 billion XRP in the past seven days alone.

With XRP trading mostly around $2.40 during this period, this indicates a fresh investment of approximately $2.62 billion from whales.

These whales typically hold between 100 million and 1 billion XRP tokens. Now, they have a combined total of 10.53 billion XRP in their portfolios.

Whales buying XRP
Whales buying XRP

Essentially, while retail investors have been concerned about XRP price fluctuations in recent weeks, whales holding between 1 million and 1 billion XRP see this as an opportunity to buy at a discount and continue to consolidate their holdings, contributing to the recent price momentum.

Major Spike in XRP Whale Transactions of $100K+ and $1M+

Meanwhile, XRP whale transactions have significantly increased in recent weeks, particularly when XRP traded at lower levels before these activities translated into a price increase for the asset.

Santiment’s data reveals that XRP whale transactions exceeding $100K were notably more frequent in the past week, with a total of 1,857 such transactions. Likewise, XRP whale transactions valued over $1 million spiked dramatically in recent weeks, with a recorded count of 277.

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Image by Santiment

Latin America’s Largest Neobank Debuts USDC Reward for All Crypto Customers

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Latin America’s largest neobank, Nubank, has rolled out USDC rewards for its crypto users and expanded the features available in its application.

The Brazilian digital bank announced the new features in a blog post on Tuesday, January 14, providing users of its crypto platform incentives and expanded use cases.

New Rewards for USDC Holders

Nubank has incentivized holding USDC on its crypto platform, offering interested users up to a 4% annual percentage yield (APY). USDC holders seeking to participate in the reward program must consent by clicking the “I Want to Participate” option on their Nubank wallet.

Meanwhile, the new reward feature carries a minimum balance clause. Per the disclosure, only users with up to 10 USDC in their Nubank crypto wallet can participate in the program.

The digital bank will automatically remit earned USDC to the participant’s wallet every 24 hours. Furthermore, the rewards carry instant liquidity, allowing users to trade or swap the received incentives immediately.

Notably, the yield program shares similarities with Coinbase’s USDC reward scheme. The leading exchange credits users holding at least 1 USDC monthly prorated with the customer’s daily balance. However, Coinbase has discontinued the earn program for European users, citing MiCA regulations.

Nubank’s USDC reward aligns with its purpose of providing benefits to its crypto wallet users. The virtual banking giant launched the USDC pilot program for selected users last year and, after a successful test, announced it would apply the incentive to all users.

Moreover, Nubank cited a growing traction among its users towards USDC. Per the announcement, 30% of its users hold the Circle-issued stablecoin in their portfolio, as the number of USDC in the platform increased tenfold in 2024.

Nubank Debuts New Features for Crypto Users

In addition, last November, the neobank announced the launch of an in-app functionality that allows users to swap their crypto assets. The feature enables Nubank crypto users to swap their Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, or Uniswap for USDC and vice versa.

Interestingly, the in-app functionality updates users on crypto market price fluctuations. For USDC, Nubank’s app will notify customers when the stablecoin moves by 0.5%, 1.5%, or 2% against the US dollar. It will also alert wallet users to a 3%, 6%, or 9% price variation on BTC, ETH, SOL, or UNI.

Nubank boasts over 88 million users in Brazil and 6 million in other Latin American countries like Mexico and Colombia. The fintech giant amassed a valuation of $45 billion during its initial public offering (IPO) in December 2021, having existed for eight years before then.

Bitcoin Hits $97K as Bullish Sentiment Grows, is $100K in Sight?

Will the Bitcoin (BTC) price uptrend continue its short-term rally to rechallenge the $100k milestone?

Bitcoin fluctuates near the $97,000 mark after a 24-hour surge of 2.04%. Accordingly, the largest crypto reclaimed its $1.9 trillion valuation and is showing signs of a recovery rally in progress.

As bullish momentum grows, Bitcoin’s recovery path shows potential to reach the $100,000 mark. Amid the increasing bullish sentiment, should you consider adopting a bullish stance?

Bitcoin Price Analysis

On the 4-hour chart, the BTC price action reveals a V-shaped recovery, exhibiting linear growth. The recent lower price bounce from $89,164 has blossomed into a full-fledged bullish rally.

Bitcoin Price Chart
Bitcoin Price Chart

At press time, the current market price is $97,032, reflecting nearly a 10% jump from the previous day.

The growing bullish sentiment has led to a positive crossover between the 20 and 50 EMA lines, signaling a dominant short-term bullish trend. Additionally, the 100 and 200 EMA lines are on the verge of reclaiming a positive alignment.

Furthermore, with bullish divergence playing out as expected, the RSI line is nearing the overbought territory. These technical indicators are delivering a strong buy signal for Bitcoin.

Bitcoin ETFs Record Another Daily Outflow

Despite the massive recovery in Bitcoin price, institutional investment remains underwhelming. On January 14, the daily net inflow of US spot Bitcoin ETFs remained at -$209.82 million. 

Bitcoin ETFs
Bitcoin ETFs

Leading the bearish trend, BlackRock saw an outflow of $219.48 million, followed by Bitwise with a $8.93 million withdrawal.

The only three ETFs with positive net flows were WisdomTree, which saw $10.24 million, VanEck with $5.46 million, and ARK and 21Shares with $2.89 million.

Bitcoin Derivatives Data Analysis

Over the past 24 hours, nearly $200 million worth of liquidations occurred, with $126.65 million attributed to short liquidations, indicating a bullish reversal in the crypto market.

Amid this sentiment, Bitcoin derivatives data shows a 1.54% increase in open interest, rising to $61.51 billion.

Bitcoin Derivatives
Bitcoin Derivatives | Coinglass

On a positive note, the long-to-short ratio has turned bullish, reaching 1.0442, indicating more long positions. However, the funding rate has dropped to 0.0046%, down from its recent peak of 0.0105%.

This suggests that while there are more long positions, traders are reluctant to pay a high premium to maintain a bullish stance. Consequently, BTC’s price could face a short-term correction.

BTC Price Targets

As the derivatives data reflects a minor correction, the BTC price action analysis suggests a potential retest of the 200 EMA line. This could come as a potential entry opportunity for a post-retest bounce. 

The 200 EMA currently stands at $95,823. Based on the price action levels, the immediate resistance remains at $99,514, followed by the crucial horizontal support at $95,119.

Thailand Considers Approving ETFs to Directly Hold Bitcoin

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Thailand’s regulatory authorities are considering allowing Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) to list on local exchanges.

According to a recent Bloomberg report, the Thai Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) aims to enable institutional and individual investors to access Bitcoin ETFs within the local market. Currently, the country offers limited exposure to Bitcoin through a fund-of-funds introduced by One Asset Management in mid-2024. 

This fund invests in overseas Bitcoin ETFs, but direct investments in the original cryptocurrency remain restricted. The SEC’s Secretary-General, Pornanong Budsaratragoon, indicated that the commission is evaluating this restriction to provide investors with more crypto options.

The move is essential in keeping pace with regional competitors such as Singapore and Hong Kong. Specifically, these two countries have established supportive digital asset frameworks.

Push for Stablecoins and Innovation

In addition to exploring Bitcoin ETFs, Thailand is also considering issuing stablecoins backed by government bonds. This initiative, championed by Thaksin Shinawatra, the de facto leader of the ruling Pheu Thai Party, aims to benefit retail and institutional investors.

Notably, the SEC is reviewing stablecoins tied to corporate bonds and proposing that firms with strong credit ratings issue these tokens. The goal is to improve access to corporate debt markets while reducing associated costs. 

Thailand’s Crypto Integration in Tourism

Meanwhile, Thailand’s government has also launched initiatives to integrate crypto into its tourism sector. Pichai Chunhavajira, the Deputy Prime Minister, announced plans to test crypto payments in select tourist cities.

The pilot project will begin in Phuket later this year and allow tourists to use Bitcoin and other crypto for transactions. This approach will enhance Thailand’s competitiveness in the global tourism market.

Notably, the project will operate within existing legal frameworks, requiring no immediate changes to current laws. Ultimately, Thailand aims to attract more visitors while maintaining its position in the evolving global market.

Pro-Bitcoin Eric Trump Reveals His Crypto Portfolio

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Eric Trump, son of pro-crypto US President-elect Donald Trump, has disclosed the top cryptocurrencies that he personally holds.

In a recent interview with Benzinga, Eric Trump revealed his cryptocurrency stash, which included Bitcoin and three altcoins. He also discussed plans to work closely with his father to make America a global crypto hub.

Eric Trump Holds Sui and Solana

Eric Trump, who serves as the Trump Organization’s vice president, mentioned crypto assets in his personal collection. As expected, he disclosed that he holds Bitcoin, an asset he has long been bullish on.

Recall that he mentioned in the Bitcoin MENA conference in Abu Dhabi last year that the pioneering cryptocurrency is going to $1 million per coin.

Meanwhile, in the recent interview, Trump revealed his exposure to three altcoins: Ethereum, Solana, and Sui. While Ethereum and Solana are household names in the crypto space, his inclusion of the Sui Network’s native token surprised the crypto community.

Eric Trump Criticizes Gary Gensler’s SEC

The president-elect’s son also criticized the operations of the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) under Gary Gensler. Eric Trump insisted that the securities watchdog launched a “holy war” against the sector, a plight outgoing president Joe Biden fully supported.

Meanwhile, Eric Trump is not alone in his open criticism of Gensler’s SEC. US Congressman Michael John Flood recently said that the outgoing SEC chair has regressed America 20 years in technological innovation with his poor crypto regulation.

Donald Trump to the Rescue

However, Eric Trump noted that his father Donald Trump has come to make amends for the damage done to the crypto industry. He insisted that his father intends to make America the crypto capital of the world, and he will be “transparent about that.”

He outlined some of Trump’s plans for the sector, including establishing a clear regulatory framework for the industry. Eric Trump also noted that the president-elect wants to create a strategic Bitcoin reserve and make crypto tax-free.

The US strategic Bitcoin reserve idea is gaining momentum, with the industry lobbying with Trump to issue an executive order for its creation in his first 100 days in office. Trump would also reportedly repeal the Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB) 121 law on his first day in office.

SEC Refuses to Postpone Its Appeal Against Ripple, Insists on Filing Opening Brief Today

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Ripple CLO Stuart Alderoty expresses frustration with the SEC’s refusal to postpone the filing deadline of its opening appeal brief.  

With the SEC opening appeal brief due January 15, Alderoty updated XRP community members that the regulatory agency, under Gary Gensler’s leadership, is still insisting on filing the brief by today’s deadline. 

According to him, Ripple had reached out to the SEC to postpone the filing to a later date. However, the commission refused. The Ripple CLO characterized the refusal as a waste of time and taxpayers’ money.

Nonetheless, he expressed confidence in Ripple’s legal position, indicating that the appellate court will still affirm the company’s victory. 

Ripple CLO Criticizes Gensler, Says Ripple Will Work with New SEC Leadership to End Lawsuit

Meanwhile, Alderoty took a swipe at the outgoing SEC chair, who will resign on January 20. He highlighted January 20 as the date Gensler’s war on crypto will end. This outcome could transform the SEC’s approach to crypto under a new leadership chaired by pro-crypto advocate Paul Atkins. 

In anticipation of this transition, Alderoty suggested that Ripple hopes to collaborate with the incoming SEC leadership to resolve the multi-year lawsuit. 

Top Lawyer Says Parties Can’t Change Deadline 

Meanwhile, in response to Alderoty’s statement, famous legal expert James Farrell, citing local rule, stressed that only the court clerk can change deadlines, not the parties. 

According to him, the clerk will only change the deadline under extraordinary circumstances, like the death of a family member. 

“Until the clerk agrees, the deadline still stands. So even if both sides agreed, the SEC would still have to file tomorrow (January 15),” Farrell remarked. 

Regarding the potential settlement of the lawsuit, Farrel pointed out that the SEC might only consider a settlement after the parties have filed the appropriate appeal briefs due to the change of administration. 

Farrell highlighted the end of April as the potential timeframe for the conclusion of the briefing schedule. 

Parties Reach New Agreement 

In the meantime, the parties have agreed to file a deferred appendix- a compilation of relevant documents and evidence for the appeals – 21 days after Ripple submits its opposition brief. 

Popular defense lawyer James K. Filan shared this development yesterday. He suggested that the recent filing does not change the SEC’s opening brief deadline, which is due today, January 15.  

With Ripple expected to file its opposing arguments 45 days after the SEC submits its opening appeal brief, the parties will file their respective deferred appendix around March 21, 2025. 

XRP Soars Despite Upcoming Filing of SEC’s Appeal Brief  

Meanwhile, investors are unbothered about the SEC’s upcoming appeal brief, as the price of XRP soared tremendously overnight. XRP, which traded at an intraday low of $2.52 yesterday, is changing hands at $2.84. 

Interestingly, XRP has increased 12.64% over the past day and 22.9% over the past seven days. The coin’s trading volume has exploded by 19.01% to $11.98 billion at press time. 

A Sitting Top U.S. Lawmaker Invests in XRP for the First Time Ever

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For the first time, a sitting U.S. lawmaker has disclosed purchasing XRP, signaling a pivotal moment for crypto adoption in politics. 

According to a filing, Pennsylvania Representative Guy Reschenthaler (R) revealed an investment in XRP worth between $1,000 and $15,000. This disclosure came from the Pelosi Stock Tracker account on X, which monitors investment activities of lawmakers.  

Data from the filing reveals that besides XRP, Reschenthaler also invested in Bitcoin (BTC) and Solana (SOL) within the investment range of $1,000 to $15,000. Notably, these investments occurred last month, December 2024.

Rep Reschenthaler Buys XRP
Rep Reschenthaler Buys XRP

The purchase comes amid heightened speculation in the crypto industry on the back of the forthcoming Donald Trump administration. Crypto industry leaders anticipate clearer regulatory frameworks under the incoming administration. 

With Gary Gensler set to resign as SEC Chair on Jan. 20, 2025, pro-crypto former commissioner Paul Atkins is expected to take over. This transition fuels optimism for more favorable regulations.  

SEC Lawsuit and XRP Market Surge  

Reschenthaler’s purchase, though minimal, could set a precedent for other lawmakers to follow. Interestingly, it coincides with major developments in the legal battle between Ripple and the SEC. 

The case reaches an important juncture today. For context, January 15 marks the deadline for the SEC to file its opening appeal brief. However, some legal experts believe the new SEC leadership could come to a settlement. This legal context has bolstered market sentiment around XRP.

As XRP recently breached the $2.8 price level, market intelligence firm Santiment confirmed that whale investors have increased their holdings. Wallets containing 1 million to 10 million XRP have accumulated 37% more coins since November 2024, equating to about $3.8 billion in purchases.  

Further, Ali Martinez, a prominent market analyst, also highlighted this trend. He noted that whales acquired 1.09 billion XRP in just the past week. Reschenthaler’s investment shows growing confidence in XRP during this accumulation phase, with his investment already 10% up, according to Pelosi Stock Tracker.

A Growing Trend Among Lawmakers  

Notably, Reschenthaler joins a small but notable group of U.S. politicians investing in crypto assets. Senator Cynthia Lummis, a vocal Bitcoin supporter, disclosed owning up to $230,000 in Bitcoin. She also revealed a Bitcoin purchase in 2021 worth between $50,001 and $100,000.

Senator Pat Toomey disclosed investments in crypto-related products in 2021, including Grayscale’s Bitcoin and Ethereum trusts. In addition, Representative Mike Collins has shown interest in Ethereum and smaller altcoins.

Reschenthaler’s XRP purchase marks the first time a lawmaker has invested in the altcoin. It could set a precedent for other politicians to explore altcoins beyond Bitcoin and Ethereum.  

Meanwhile, XRP’s recent rally, with a 22.4% price increase over the past week, now makes it the biggest gainer among the top 100 assets in the last seven days. XRP now trades for $2.83 at press time, up 11.8% in the past 24 hours.

XRP Starting an Explosive Push to New ATH if Bitcoin Does Not Spoil the Run: Analyst

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Analyst CryptoWZRD says XRP is starting an explosive push toward a new all-time high as long as Bitcoin does not “spoil the fun.”

He disclosed this amid the prevalent uncertainty within the market, as Bitcoin (BTC) continues to consolidate between the highs and lows of the $90,000 psychological mark. Interestingly, while the rest of the market has been largely bearish, XRP appears to be demonstrating more resilience.

XRP Breaks Falling Wedge Despite Broader Market Turbulence 

In his recent analysis, CryptoWZRD confirmed that despite the market’s bearish direction, XRP’s resilience has allowed it to break above a multi-week falling wedge on the 4-hour chart. Market data confirms this, indicating that this breakout occurred over the weekend.

For context, XRP began forming this falling wedge after it faced a roadblock at the seven-year peak of $2.9 on Dec. 3, 2024. At this top, XRP witnessed a pullback and a subsequent consolidation. This pattern persisted for weeks and spilled into the new year, leading to the formation of the falling wedge.

XRP Falling Wedge CryptoWZRD
XRP Falling Wedge | CryptoWZRD

However, the recovery push last weekend, which saw XRP soar by an impressive 10% on Saturday, Jan. 11, led to a breakout above the wedge. At the time of CryptoWZRD’s commentary, XRP price was already witnessing a mild correction, looking to retest this breakout. 

The crypto analyst expressed confidence that the recent breakout would lead to a more impressive run toward new highs. According to him, XRP has already started the move that would trigger an explosive rally to a new all-time high. 

New ATH Looms if Bitcoin Holds Strong

However, he acknowledged that there is the possibility of an invalidation, which he ascribes to a Bitcoin bear push. Despite XRP’s resilience, the token often faces a roadblock to its run when Bitcoin triggers a bearish phase across the entire market. This trend has persisted throughout December 2024 and in the new year.

Bitcoin’s occasional slumps over these past few weeks have been attributable to macroeconomic factors, especially stronger U.S. employment data, which reduces hopes of interest rate cuts. Nonetheless, if another major downtrend does not occur, CryptoWZRD expects XRP’s current run to lead to $4, a new all-time high.

Interestingly, XRP appears to have maintained the bullish push, as recent data suggests. Following a pullback and consolidation on Jan. 12 and 13, XRP resumed the latest rally, surging 5.71% on Tuesday, Jan. 1,4 to conquer the $2.60 region.

This morning, XRP has maintained this upward thrust, with an additional 5.34% gain today. As a result, the token appears to be retesting the $2.80 resistance at press time, currently changing hands at $2.806. A decisive push toward $2.85 would help conquer the $2.8 region. At this point, XRP only needs a 42% gain to claim $4.

Expert Says With XRP You Are Not Just Holding a Crypto, But a Key to a New Financial Ecosystem

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Versan Aljarrah, founder of Black Swan Capitalist, shares a bold new perspective on XRP, the third-biggest crypto asset.

In a recent tweet, Aljarrah asserted that holders of XRP are not simply investing in a cryptocurrency. According to him, they are safeguarding a critical asset that serves as a “key” to the future of the global financial system.

“You’re not just holding a crypto asset with XRP; You’re holding a key to the new financial system,” Aljarrah said.

“XRP Represents More Than Just Wealth”

His statement suggests that XRP could play a crucial role in the evolution of global finance. He stressed the importance of protecting one’s XRP tokens and storing them with non-custodial services.

Aljarrah believes these critical steps are necessary because XRP represents more than just wealth. In his view, XRP is also an access point to an entirely new financial ecosystem taking shape.

Notably, Aljarrah’s latest commentary on XRP highlights the prevalent optimism surrounding XRP’s prospects in the community.

Last month, wealth mentor Linda Jones even compared holding XRP to holding early shares of Berkshire Hathaway. She used the analogy to urge investors to be patient for long-term gains.

Earlier Bold Claims on XRP Prospects by Black Swan Capitalist Founder

Meanwhile, Aljarrah is known for his ambitious views on the XRP market. His latest statement aligns closely with his earlier bold predictions for the asset.

For instance, in August 2023, Aljarrah boldly argued that owning XRP could mean owning a part of the global money supply. He is particularly optimistic about XRP’s future if the XRP Ledger becomes the main platform for tokenizing global assets.

In another commentary, Aljarrah suggested an investment of $5,000 in XRP could grow to over $2 million. He referenced XRP’s historic price surge from $0.0065 in January 2016 to $3.84 in January 2018.

At its peak, a $5,000 investment would indeed have turned into $2.95 million. While concerns about replicating such a rise due to current market conditions exist, the financial pundit remains optimistic about XRP’s future. 

Even more interestingly, in an interview with Edoardo Farina, CEO of Alpha Lions Academy, Aljarrah discussed the possibility that a $10,000 price for XRP is “inevitable.”

Aljarrah believes that central banks and financial institutions will “set” a high initial price for XRP, similar to IPO pricing, to ensure its role in large transaction settlements. 

Drawing comparisons to Bitcoin’s growth, he asserts that XRP’s utilities in global finance make a $10,000 price achievable.

However, critics repeatedly contest these views due to market cap implications, dismissing them as unrealistic.

5 Underrated Layer 1 Blockchain Tokens To Watch In 2025

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Have you ever noticed how the crypto world feels like high school? Everyone’s fixated on the popular crowd—Ethereum, Solana, Bitcoin—while the real action is happening at the quieter tables. Sure, these big players get all the attention, but there are smaller Layer-1 platforms that are addressing challenges that established platforms struggle to solve.

Layer-1 blockchains are the foundation of decentralized networks. Unlike Layer-2 solutions or applications built on Ethereum, they don’t rely on an existing infrastructure, they are the infrastructure. This independence allows them to innovate directly at the protocol level, addressing scalability, security, and accessibility in ways Layer-2s simply can’t. From integrating groundbreaking consensus models to unlocking unique developer ecosystems, Layer-1s are setting the stage for the next wave of Web3 evolution.

Think about it. Cutting cross-chain transfer times from 16 minutes to 2 minutes, connecting millions of JavaScript developers to blockchain, and securing confidential healthcare data for Fortune 500 companies. All of this is happening under the radar. And while the market caps of these platforms are still relatively small, their real-world use and tech could make them the breakout stars in 2025.

So, let’s dig deeper into these five Layer-1 tokens that could be making waves soon, even if most of the crypto world hasn’t caught on yet.

1. Algorand (ALGO)

Scalability in blockchain is a tough nut to crack—everyone wants speed, security, and decentralization, but getting all three right has been a challenge. Algorand found its answer with Pure Proof-of-Stake, proposed by Turing Award winner Silvio Micali. The result is a platform that processes millions of transactions daily without a hitch.

In January 2024, Algorand handled 43 million transactions in a single day, ranking third in blockchain transaction volume that quarter. With transactions finalized in seconds and no forks, it’s a solid option for financial applications, which need speed and certainty.

Real-world use cases are already rolling in. ZTLment, a European fintech, moved its entire payment infrastructure to Algorand, cutting development time by 85%. King’s College London and financial giant abrdn also chose Algorand to secure data and launch money market funds. Yet, despite these achievements, ALGO’s trading at just $0.33, which signals that the market might be missing something. With financial institutions and large enterprises turning to blockchain, Algorand’s built-for-business infrastructure sets it up for long-term growth in 2025 and beyond.

2. Agoric (BLD)

Blockchain development today is a headache. Multiple programming languages, complex cross-chain transactions, and operations that need dozens of steps. Agoric simplifies all that by bringing JavaScript—the programming language millions of developers already know—into blockchain. By tapping into a developer pool nearly 1000x larger than Solidity’s, Agoric is building a more inclusive Web3 ecosystem.

The platform’s Orchestration API, launched in Q3 2024, reduced cross-chain USDC transfer times from 16 minutes to 2 minutes. By leveraging Interchain Accounts (ICAs) and the Inter-Blockchain Communication (IBC) protocol, this breakthrough has solved one of Web3’s biggest pain points: making cross-chain interactions seamless for both developers and users.

In October 2024, Agoric partnered with Native to bring native Bitcoin to Cosmos, enabling trustless transactions without wrapping or intermediaries. A month later, the platform teamed up with Union to facilitate trustless bridging between Cosmos and major EVM chains like Ethereum and Arbitrum. These collaborations reflect Agoric’s commitment to frictionless interoperability.

Agoric’s dual-token system provides stability to its innovative ecosystem. With 667 million tokens in circulation from a maximum of 1.06 billion, BLD secures the network through staking and governance. Complementing this, IST, an over-collateralized stablecoin pegged to the US dollar, provides a stable medium of exchange across the ecosystem, facilitating seamless liquidity and predictable transaction fees. Despite its technical strengths, BLD is currently trading at $0.05, with a market cap of approximately $32.77 million. This positions Agoric as an undervalued player in the growing Cosmos ecosystem. As Agoric’s Orchestration API and partnerships, like those with Native and Union, continue to drive adoption, BLD is set for growth. Its unique ability to integrate mainstream developer expertise and its relentless focus on usability and interoperability make it one to watch in 2025

3. MultiversX (EGLD)

While many blockchains struggle with scaling without sacrificing decentralization, MultiversX (formerly Elrond) has cracked the code. Its adaptive state sharding splits the network into manageable pieces, achieving 30,000 transactions per second while maintaining decentralization across over 3,200 validator nodes. The result is a reliable, high-speed performance—even during periods of high demand—and transaction costs that stay at a steady $0.001.

In addition to scalability, MultiversX takes sustainability seriously. The platform is carbon-neutral, offsetting more CO2 than it produces since 2021, with a relatively small carbon footprint of 5,253 tonnes annually—much lower than most blockchain networks.

Its EGLD token is crucial in securing the network and offers stakers an average APR of 7.32%. MultiversX has been chosen by major companies like Google Cloud and Tencent Cloud, signaling growing confidence from enterprise players. In 2024, the launch of Growth Games, a $1.5 million grant program aimed at accelerating AI and blockchain integration, shows that MultiversX is more than just a promising blockchain—it’s building an ecosystem.

Still, EGLD’s market cap is far behind larger competitors, trading at $30.38 as of time of writing while blockchains with similar or lower transaction speeds surpass it. If more investors recognize MultiversX’s solid infrastructure and eco-friendly approach, EGLD could see a significant rise in value in 2025.

4. Oasis Network (ROSE)

Blockchain’s transparency is a great thing, but when it comes to sensitive data, it can be a liability. As DeFi, AI, and other applications grow, the need to process private data securely becomes even more critical. Oasis Network steps in with a dual-layer architecture that integrates confidential computing with blockchain, ensuring data security without compromising the benefits of decentralization.

ROSE, the network’s token, is used for staking, transaction fees, and governance. With a total supply of 10 billion tokens, it helps facilitate network operations and rewards users. In 2024, Oasis introduced a “subtract-fee” flag to improve transaction efficiency, which allows users to adjust for gas fees, another example of its user-focused improvements.

Though its tech is strong, ROSE is still undervalued at around $0.069. As privacy concerns become more prominent and industries like healthcare and finance demand blockchain solutions, Oasis’s ability to provide secure, scalable privacy solutions makes it an exciting platform to watch. The adoption of ROSE for privacy-centric applications could make it a long-term growth play in the coming years.

5. Injective (INJ)

Injective has honed in on one area: decentralized finance (DeFi). With its Layer-1 platform, it’s designed specifically for DeFi applications, offering high-performance features like decentralized exchanges (DEXs), derivatives, and cross-chain interoperability. Its 0.64-second block times and sub-penny transaction fees set it apart as one of the most efficient platforms in the space.

Injective’s tokenomics is unique. Instead of traditional fee structures, 60% of protocol fees are funneled into a buy-back-and-burn auction, removing 6.38 million INJ tokens from circulation. This deflationary approach could increase the value of INJ over time.

Despite its impressive stats, INJ is still undervalued at around $19.1, far from its all-time high of $52.94. As the DeFi sector continues to expand, Injective’s ability to deliver scalable, decentralized financial products makes it one of the top projects in the space for 2025. Its focus on interoperability and decentralized exchanges could give it a significant edge in the rapidly evolving DeFi market.

Conclusion

While the crypto world remains obsessed with Ethereum and Solana, these five underrated Layer-1 tokens—MultiversX, Algorand, Agoric, Oasis Network, and Injective—are quietly solving some of Web3’s most pressing issues. Whether it’s slashing cross-chain transfer times, enabling privacy for sensitive data, or creating scalable ecosystems, these platforms are not just solving isolated technical challenges, they help create a more scalable, interoperable, and user-friendly blockchain ecosystem.

Just as the high school stars of yesterday fade into the background, the steady rise of these Layer-1 projects signals that the blockchain world is ready to embrace its secret heroes. If you’re searching for the next breakout stars in 2025, look beyond the headlines. These platforms’ ability to solve real-world problems, backed by solid tech and growing adoption, positions them as strong contenders for long-term success.

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