Ethereum Classic jumped 8.66% to $9.02, topping the 24-hour gainers chart, according to CoinGecko data. Aave fell 6.23% to $116.77 to lead the losers as dispersion widened across majors and mid-caps.
Ethereum Classic (ETC) rose 8.66% to $9.02, lifting its market cap to $1.40B. The proof-of-work smart contract chain preserves Ethereum’s original rules from before the DAO fork and remains EVM-compatible, drawing miner-secured security. ETC’s outperformance put it at the top of the day’s leaderboard.
Morpho (MORPHO) gained 7.76% to $1.56, with a market cap of $853.15M. The DeFi project focuses on optimizing lending markets and governance for its protocol. No specific news has been tied to the move.
NEAR Protocol (NEAR) advanced 5.50% to $1.07, bringing its market cap to $1.38B. NEAR is a sharded Layer 1 focused on low-latency smart contracts and user-friendly accounts that support consumer and DeFi use cases. The token’s 24-hour climb extended interest in high-throughput base layers.
Filecoin (FIL) added 5.37% to $0.9722, taking its market cap to $731.72M. The network’s token secures decentralized storage markets connecting storage providers and clients for verifiable data deals. Traders pointed to broader altcoin rotation as FIL caught a bid alongside other infrastructure plays.
Cosmos Hub (ATOM) increased 5.34% to $2.40, with a market cap of $1.19B. ATOM anchors the Cosmos ecosystem, enabling Inter-Blockchain Communication (IBC) and shared security via the hub’s validator set. Interest in interoperability tokens supported the day’s move.
Aave (AAVE) dropped 6.23% to $116.77, putting its market cap at $1.77B. The governance token is tied to the Aave protocol, a leading money market for overcollateralized lending and borrowing. Rate-sensitive DeFi names often see outsized swings on risk-on or risk-off days, and AAVE led declines among the day’s large caps.
Midnight (NIGHT) fell 4.46% to $0.0609, setting its market cap at $1.01B. The project has positioned itself around privacy-preserving smart contracts and data protection. NIGHT’s pullback put it among the session’s weaker performers.
Toncoin (TON) slipped 2.18% to $1.34, with a market cap of $3.27B. TON is a Layer 1 linked to Telegram’s ecosystem, designed for scalable payments, apps, and on-chain services using dynamic sharding. No clear driver was evident during the session.
Rain (RAIN) eased 1.42% to $0.009575, for a market cap of $4.58B. Its low unit price reflects a large circulating supply that supports a multi-billion dollar valuation. No major headlines accompanied the downtick.
Zcash (ZEC) edged down 1.39% to $261.93, bringing its market cap to $4.34B. ZEC is a privacy coin employing zk-SNARKs for shielded transactions and selective disclosure. The coin’s decline was relatively mild compared with larger percentage moves on the board.
The day’s tape was defined by dispersion: the top gainer climbed 8.66% while the biggest loser shed 6.23%. Gainers skewed toward infrastructure and interoperability names—ETC, FIL, and ATOM—while DeFi and privacy tokens such as AAVE and ZEC lagged. Mixed breadth suggests rotation rather than a single-factor move.
Into the weekend, watch Bitcoin’s range for directional cues, ETH network costs for on-chain risk appetite, and any macro headlines that could shift liquidity. Liquidity pockets around large caps can still drive outsized prints in mid-caps, so tracking cross-exchange spreads and funding into Monday matters.
Bruce Buterin is an American crypto analyst passionate about the evolution of Web3, crypto ETFs, and Ethereum innovations. Based in Miami, he closely follows market movements and regularly publishes in-depth insights on DeFi trends, emerging altcoins, and asset tokenization. With a mix of technical expertise and accessible language, Bruce makes the blockchain ecosystem clear and engaging for both enthusiasts and investors. Specialties: Ethereum, DeFi, NFTs, U.S. regulation, Layer 2 innovations.
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