Layer-1 Ecosystem: Emerging Public Chains Lead the Way
L1 public chains delivered a solid performance, becoming a key focus area. Their upward moves reflected not only market demand for foundational infrastructure, but also a re-pricing of growth potential tied to new app deployments and user adoption.
● M (MEME, L1): With a remarkable 178% gain this week, MemeCore (M) was the most impressive performer. As the first Layer-1 chain built specifically for “Meme 2.0,” it challenges the traditional model of meme projects relying on major chains.
● SOON: Up 41% this week, signaling heightened investor interest in new L1 narratives. Compared to traditional public chains, SOON is committed to providing more efficient and lower-cost infrastructure to support the large-scale rollout of Web3 applications.
DeFi Rebound: Renewed Confidence and Capital Inflows
The broad-based rally in DeFi wasn’t coincidental. On one front, institutional capital poured in—via RWA, compliant lending products, and 401(k) crypto allocations—injecting durable momentum. Simultaneously, renewed bull sentiment among retail participants reignited demand for on-chain yields. As technology continues to evolve, new use cases have re-emerged, driving capital back into the space.
The strong performance of several legacy DeFi projects indicates restored confidence and could signal the start of a new wave of competitive.
● RED: Up 63% this week. While its listing on Upbit provided a boost, the project’s core strength lies in RedStone (RED)’s rise as one of the fastest-growing DeFi oracle networks.
● EIGEN: Up 18% this week. Fueled by ETH reserve staking momentum, EigenLayer (EIGEN) hit a new TVL milestone of over $22 billion in August—marking a historic high.
AI Sector: Steady Progress of Key Projects
The integration of AI and blockchains is driven by both technological innovation and market attention. Investors continue to favor projects with practical use cases and strong ecosystem development potential.
● WLD: Up 28% this week. With dual support from AI and identity authentication sectors, Worldcoin (WLD) has maintained a strong upward momentum.
● BUZZ: Up 20% this week. The rally of Hive AI (Buzz) is mainly driven by its capability of attracting significant investor and user attention as a Defi Agent.
BTC Layer 2: A New Force Emerges
The BTC Layer 2 ecosystem is gradually demonstrating its practical application value. This growth reflects both short-term market sentiment and a long-term investment logic built on the sector’s infrastructure and ecosystem potential.
MERL: Up 25% this week. As the native token of Merlin Chain, MERL enhances Bitcoin’s transaction speed and scalability through Layer 2 networks, improving BTC’s utility in payment, staking, and smart contract scenarios.
Market Outlook: New Opportunities Amidst Fluctuations
Historically, September has typically been a relatively weak month for Bitcoin, with returns often negative, reflecting investor caution due to volatility and risk. However, current market-positive factors are gradually accumulating: The inclusion of crypto assets in 401(k) pension plans provides support for long-term capital inflows; and expectations of Federal Reserve interest rate cuts may improve overall risk preferences. These two forces are expected to positively impact the market, potentially opening up new structural opportunities and upward trends for crypto assets amidst ongoing fluctuations.
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