Trending Cryptos of the Week: BTC Reclaims $100k While DeFi Steals the Spotlight

As Bitcoin surpasses the $100K milestone, the crypto market continues to see dynamic activity across DeFi, interoperability, and institutional adoption. Sui’s robust partnerships and DeFi strategies are fueling growth, while Chainlink’s advancements in cross-chain solutions are drawing significant attention.

Altcoins like Solana and Hedera are thriving with innovative updates, while legacy assets like Litecoin and Stellar remain resilient amid rising competition. These ten coins highlight the shifting trends and technological advancements in the ever-evolving crypto market.

XRP (XRP)

Price Change (7D): +26.13% Current Price: $3.21

News XRP experienced strong price movement this week, driven by optimism surrounding regulatory clarity, RippleNet 's expansion, and the potential approval of an XRP ETF.

Ripple’s recent legal victory over the SEC has further strengthened market confidence, with XRP becoming a favorite for institutional investors due to its utility in cross-border payments and favorable trends in call options. However, the SEC has continued its appeal efforts, seeking to classify XRP's retail transactions as securities, sparking ongoing debates. Additionally, Ripple's innovative integration with stablecoins , like RLUSD, has boosted its cross-border transaction efficiency and market presence. Despite minor dips in trading volume mid-week, heightened derivatives activity and bullish sentiment sustained XRP’s momentum.

Forecast XRP’s RSI is currently hovering around 65, indicating that it is nearing overbought territory, but it still shows room for continued upside. Support is currently seen at $3.00, with significant resistance at $3.50. A breakout above $3.50 could lead to a further rally toward $4.00 if bullish sentiment persists, particularly with positive ETF-related developments. However, if bearish pressures prevail, XRP may retest the $2.80 level. Key indicators, including strong funding rates and derivatives activity, suggest that the overall trend remains bullish in the near term.

Solana (SOL)

Price Change (7D): +40.26% Current Price: $262.07

News Solana had a remarkable week, fueled by innovations like its deflationary model exploration and the introduction of its first layer-2 solution, Solaxy , which enhances scalability and DeFi collaboration with Ethereum.

The network dominated the AI token market with a 56.48% share, driven by the GOAT launch and its focus on blockchain scalability through Firedancer upgrades. Additionally, the FDUSD stablecoin launch, which added over $1.7 billion in assets, and the potential approval of Solana ETFs have drawn significant institutional interest, with billions in investments anticipated. Solana also introduced innovative updates like SIMD-215 , powering MoonPay’s Helio payment platform and strengthening its DeFi ecosystem. These developments highlight Solana's growing influence in blockchain technology and financial systems.

Forecast Solana’s RSI is around 70, signaling overbought conditions, which could lead to short-term consolidation. The immediate support level is at $240, with strong resistance near $280. If SOL breaks above $280, it could aim for $300 in the near term. The exponential moving averages (EMA) indicate a strong uptrend, with the 50-day EMA providing additional support around $220. High trading volumes suggest sustained investor interest, but caution is advised as profit-taking at current levels could trigger a pullback toward $240 before resuming the uptrend.

Hedera (HBAR)

Price Change (7D): +22.63% Current Price: $0.3519

News Hedera ’s growth this week was driven by strategic partnerships with major players like SpaceX, Intel, and NVIDIA, accelerating blockchain integration and asset tokenization initiatives. It strengthened its position in the digital asset market through collaboration with the World Gemological Institute (WGI), powering immutable digital certificates to ensure transparency and trust.

The adoption of the PHPX stablecoin by Filipino banks, backed by Hedera’s Distributed Ledger Technology, also showcased its potential to revolutionize cross-border remittances. These initiatives, combined with Hedera’s advancements in AI integrity and workflow security, underscore its growing adoption and influence in financial and technological ecosystems.

Forecast HBAR’s RSI is currently at 60, suggesting neutral to bullish momentum. Support is seen at $0.33, with resistance at $0.40. If HBAR manages to break above $0.40, it could rally toward $0.45, driven by strong market sentiment around its partnerships and tokenization initiatives. However, a failure to hold the $0.33 support could lead to a retest of $0.30. The moving averages suggest an uptrend, with the 50-day moving average at $0.31 acting as strong support. Increased trading volumes this week suggest continued interest, but the pace of the rally may slow if volumes decline.

Litecoin (LTC)

Price Change (7D): +16.85% Current Price: $122.48

News Litecoin saw increased momentum this week, driven by speculation around its potential spot ETF approval, which has sparked institutional interest and large-holder accumulations. Nasdaq 's filing for the Canary Litecoin ETF, along with named custodians, highlights growing trust in Litecoin as a digital asset. The network also maintained strong transaction volumes, achieving a notable milestone as the most transacted cryptocurrency on BitPay in 2024. However, the week was marred by the compromise of Litecoin's X account , which highlighted security vulnerabilities but did not deter market activity. Despite this incident, growing derivatives volume and a rising hash rate have supported Litecoin’s positive market sentiment.

Forecast LTC’s RSI is currently at 68, approaching overbought conditions. Immediate support is at $115, with resistance at $130. A breakout above $130 could open the door to $150, particularly if ETF approval speculation continues to drive market enthusiasm. However, if the price fails to sustain above $115, a retracement to $110 or even $105 is possible. The moving averages indicate a bullish trend, with the 50-day moving average at $110 providing strong support. Litecoin’s high hash rate and increasing derivatives activity are positive indicators, but caution is advised as the market consolidates near key resistance levels.

Chainlink (LINK)

Price Change (7D): +17.04% Current Price: $23.70

News Chainlink has been at the forefront of enhancing blockchain interoperability with the launch of its Cross-Chain Interoperability Protocol (CCIP) v1.5 , which enables seamless ERC-20 token integration across multiple blockchains. Partnerships with entities like BTguru in Turkey and integrations on Linea Mainnet with BNB/USD and ETH/USD price feeds have further boosted Chainlink's position in decentralized finance (DeFi). The integration of smart contract automation with low-latency data has strengthened its role in decentralized exchanges. Additionally, strategic developments like StakeStone leveraging Chainlink for ETH staking and collaborations with Swift to improve payment systems have solidified Chainlink’s presence in the DeFi ecosystem.

Forecast Chainlink's RSI is around 63, signaling moderate bullish momentum. The immediate support level is at $22, while resistance is expected at $26. A breakout above $26 could push prices toward $30, particularly if demand for cross-chain interoperability continues to rise. However, a dip below $22 could trigger a retracement to $20. The 50-day moving average at $21 acts as strong support, while trading volumes suggest sustained interest in Chainlink's innovative solutions.

Algorand (ALGO)

Price Change (7D): +15.89% Current Price: $0.4353

News Algorand's 4.0 upgrade has brought significant advancements to its blockchain ecosystem, including improved staking rewards and scalability enhancements. This has bolstered both security and developer capabilities, attracting institutional attention. Algorand's collaboration with Mastercard aims to enhance blockchain utility and improve liquidity, while staking upgrades have increased investor confidence. These developments have led to a surge in market activity, with trading volumes spiking over 100% earlier this week.

Forecast Algorand’s RSI is currently at 58, indicating neutral-to-bullish momentum. Support is at $0.40, with resistance at $0.50. Breaking above $0.50 could lead to a rally toward $0.55, especially if staking rewards and liquidity improvements continue to drive investor interest. If the price dips below $0.40, it may retest the $0.38 level. The moving averages show a positive trend, with the 50-day moving average at $0.39 providing solid support.

Stellar (XLM)

Price Change (7D): +8.00% Current Price: $0.4771

News Stellar has partnered with Nansen AI to enhance on-chain wallet analytics, further improving its ecosystem’s efficiency and transparency. Collaborations with OpenZeppelin to develop a Stellar Contracts Library have strengthened developer tools, supporting growth on the Soroban smart contract platform. Stellar’s integration of advanced on-chain analytics and its ability to handle millions of daily transactions underscore its expanding role in DeFi and blockchain-based finance.

Forecast Stellar’s RSI is at 54, indicating a neutral market position. Support lies at $0.45, with resistance at $0.50. If Stellar breaks above $0.50, it could target $0.55, driven by increased developer adoption and ecosystem growth. However, a decline below $0.45 could lead to further downside toward $0.42. Moving averages suggest consolidation, with the 50-day moving average at $0.46 providing stability.

TRON (TRX)

Price Change (7D): +1.24% Current Price: $0.2435

News TRON has made headlines with its interception of $132 million in illicit funds through a collaboration with Tether, highlighting its focus on security and regulatory compliance. The launch of USDD 2.0 stablecoin with a 20% yield and its adoption for tokenized legal notices in Hong Kong courts have showcased TRON's expanding utility in financial systems and legal frameworks. Additionally, TRON’s sponsorship of major crypto events and its potential ties with Trump-backed World Liberty Financial are drawing attention to its role in the blockchain ecosystem.

Forecast TRON’s RSI is at 51, signaling a neutral outlook. Support is seen at $0.24, with resistance at $0.25. A breakout above $0.25 could pave the way for a move toward $0.27, fueled by increasing adoption and positive sentiment around stablecoin innovations. However, if TRON falls below $0.24, it may retest $0.22. The moving averages suggest consolidation, with the 50-day moving average at $0.23 providing support.

Ethereum Name Service (ENS)

Price Change (7D): +4.25% Current Price: $33.69

News Ethereum Name Service (ENS) continues to expand its infrastructure role with Venmo and PayPal integrating .eth names, signaling future adoption potential. During frENSday, Vitalik Buterin emphasized ENS’s infrastructure potential, while Venmo and PayPal revealed steps to bridge traditional payment systems with blockchain technology. These developments highlight ENS’s growing utility and its potential to become a critical part of blockchain-based digital identity systems.

Forecast ENS’s RSI is at 49, indicating a neutral trend. Support is at $32, with resistance at $35. If ENS breaks above $35, it could target $38, driven by adoption in mainstream financial systems. However, a decline below $32 could lead to a drop to $30. The moving averages are flat, indicating a consolidation phase, with the 50-day moving average at $31 providing additional support.

Sui (SUI)

Price Change (7D): +0.76% Current Price: $4.85

News Sui has strengthened its presence in the blockchain space with significant advancements in both security and DeFi. Its partnership with Chainalysis enhances on-chain activity monitoring, bolstering security measures. The Sui Foundation has also driven DeFi growth through protocols like DeepBook and Suilend , alongside the adoption of stablecoins, contributing to its Total Value Locked (TVL) reaching $1.8 billion. Additionally, its collaboration with SEED to revolutionize gaming technology for 100 million users underscores its commitment to innovation and scalability.

Forecast Sui’s RSI stands at 52, indicating a neutral position with the potential for upward momentum. Support lies at $4.60, while resistance is seen at $5.10. Breaking above $5.10 could see Sui rally toward $5.50, driven by continued DeFi adoption and gaming-related initiatives. However, if the price falls below $4.60, it may retest the $4.40 level. Increased trading volumes this week highlight sustained interest, positioning Sui for further growth in the DeFi sector.

Bitcoin (BTC)

Price Change (7D): +1.33% Current Price: $104,753.56

News Bitcoin crossed the $100K mark once again amid a surge in institutional interest. BlackRock’s ETF purchases of 5,250 BTC and over $1.3 billion in ETF inflows have signaled widespread adoption and mainstream acceptance. The SEC’s approval of spot Bitcoin ETFs in 2024 has generated $30 billion in investments, while states like Oklahoma are exploring Bitcoin reserves as strategic assets. Bitcoin’s Total Value Locked (TVL) in DeFi has skyrocketed by 2,000% in 2024, driven by staking and innovative financial applications.

Forecast Bitcoin’s RSI is at 70, indicating overbought conditions and potential for short-term consolidation. Support lies at $100K, with strong resistance near $110K. A breakout above $110K could pave the way for a rally toward $120K, supported by increasing institutional demand and ETF inflows. If BTC fails to hold $100K, a correction to $95K is possible. The exponential moving averages show a bullish trend, with the 50-day EMA at $97K acting as critical support. Bitcoin’s dominance and consistent trading volume underscore its strong position as a market leader.

Closing Thoughts

The crypto market this week is characterized by a clear shift towards institutional adoption and cross-chain interoperability.

Bitcoin’s dominance is bolstered by ETF inflows and mainstream acceptance, while altcoins like Chainlink and Sui continue to lead in DeFi innovation. The interoperability sector is seeing strong participation, with coins like Chainlink and Sui pioneering new solutions. Meanwhile, assets like Stellar and Hedera emphasize blockchain’s integration into traditional finance. As the market gains momentum, DeFi and interoperability stand out as the most active sectors, setting the stage for continued growth and adoption across the ecosystem.