The crypto market has seen an extraordinary week of momentum, with several mid-cap and DeFi tokens delivering triple-digit gains. While Bitcoin and Ethereum continue to dominate headlines, it is the altcoin sector that has provided investors with explosive returns. From new market entrants to seasoned players finding fresh legs, here are the top five biggest gainers of the week.
Aster (ASTER) Emerges as the Breakout Star
Aster (ASTER), ranked 75 by market capitalisation, has delivered one of the most remarkable rallies of the year. The token is currently priced at $0.69703, recording a 26.21% surge in the last 24 hours. On a weekly basis, it has skyrocketed by 725.99%, placing it firmly at the top of this week’s leaderboard. Over the last 30 days, Aster has posted a 612.09% gain, proving that its growth is not just a flash in the pan.
Aster’s momentum has been fuelled by strong liquidity, with its market cap at $1.15 billion and 24-hour trading volume at $478.08 million. The breakout gained additional credibility when Changpeng Zhao, former CEO of Binance, endorsed the project. The endorsement sparked a 377% jump in a single day, catapulting Aster from $0.17 to above $0.60 and pushing its valuation over $1 billion.
Backed by YZi Labs and PancakeSwap, Aster positions itself as a decentralised perpetual exchange operating across BNB Chain and other ecosystems. While some investors see parallels with Hyperliquid’s $19 billion valuation, concerns remain around token concentration in a few wallets, a factor that could heighten volatility. Nonetheless, retail enthusiasm and institutional whispers suggest Aster could continue drawing attention.
APX (APX) Extends Its Multi-Month Explosion
Another major winner is ApolloX (APX), a token that has been on a relentless rally for months. Priced at $0.69058, APX surged 23.03% in the last 24 hours and an astonishing 654.76% over the past week. Its 30-day rise sits at 777.13%, while its 90-day performance shows a 726.84% increase.
With a market cap of $367.73 million and daily trading volume of $83.71 million, APX continues to prove its staying power. Unlike sudden pump-and-dump tokens, APX has shown consistent buying pressure that reflects growing investor confidence. Analysts note that following the Fed’s latest rate cut, speculative assets like APX are benefiting from renewed appetite for high-risk, high-reward plays.
Its fundamentals appear to resonate with the market, with many traders treating APX as a bet on sustained DeFi adoption in a recovering macro environment.
Immutable X (IMX) Finds Fresh Strength in Gaming Push
Immutable X (IMX), one of the better-known tokens in the gaming and NFT sector, has also joined the list of top gainers. IMX has gained 51.84% over the past week and 59.32% in the last 30 days, currently trading at $0.88297. Its market cap stands at $1.67 billion, backed by a healthy daily trading volume of $288.45 million.
Though IMX remains 43.24% down on a year-to-date basis, the recent rally signals a turnaround. Unlike many play-to-earn tokens that have collapsed under weak funding, Immutable’s hybrid approach combining Web2 partnerships with Web3 infrastructure appears to be resonating with both developers and investors.
The announcement of Immutable’s new mobile gaming division, targeting the booming $121 billion mobile gaming market, has further boosted sentiment. The initiative drove a 10% intraday spike, adding fuel to IMX’s multi-week momentum. For now, investors are watching to see if this pivot will help the project break free from the struggles of the wider play-to-earn niche.
SwissBorg (BORG) Posts Steady Climb
Not all rallies this week have been fuelled by explosive volatility. SwissBorg (BORG) has been a steady performer, advancing 9.02% in the last 24 hours, 46.81% in the past week and 61.15% over the last 30 days. On a 90-day basis, BORG has gained a more measured but impressive 140.12%.
At $0.42194, BORG carries a market cap of $414.60 million with daily trading volume of $4.43 million. Its relatively gradual climb makes it attractive to investors who prefer sustainable growth over sharp spikes.
The project, which promotes community-centric wealth management in DeFi, has consistently attracted long-term backers. BORG’s strong showing indicates that investors are not only chasing high-beta tokens but also placing bets on projects with solid governance and steady adoption curves.
Drift Protocol (DRIFT) Captures Market Inflows
Rounding out the list is Drift Protocol (DRIFT), trading at $0.91519. The token has risen 41.1% over the last week and 78.86% in the past month, while longer-term gains include 55.10% over 60 days and 112.25% over 90 days.
With a market cap of $336.23 million and a strong 24-hour trading volume of $182.38 million, Drift is benefitting from robust capital inflows. Its consistent upward trajectory suggests it is capturing a share of the market’s heightened demand for high-yield DeFi opportunities.
The Fed’s policy easing has amplified risk appetite and Drift, with its focus on perpetual futures and derivatives, is well-positioned to ride this wave.
A Strong Week for DeFi and Mid-Cap Altcoins
This week’s performance underscores a key theme: DeFi tokens and mid-cap altcoins are outpacing the majors. While Bitcoin continues to set the tone for overall market sentiment, tokens like Aster and APX demonstrate the kind of exponential returns that keep retail and institutional investors engaged in the sector.
However, with rapid growth comes heightened risk. Concentrated token supply, regulatory uncertainty and speculative trading behaviour could amplify volatility in the weeks ahead. For now, though, the top five gainers showcase the renewed energy flowing through the crypto markets.
