Which Altcoins Thrived Amid the November 2025 Crypto Crash?

The November 2025 crypto crash marked one of the most severe market corrections in recent history, with Bitcoin plummeting from over $126,000 to $80,000 and the total market capitalization shrinking by $1 trillion in a matter of weeks according to analysis. Amid this chaos, while most altcoins crumbled under the weight of macroeconomic pressures and speculative selling, a select few demonstrated resilience-retaining value or even outperforming during the turmoil. This article identifies these standout projects, analyzes their structural advantages, and contrasts them with the vulnerabilities of NFTs, meme coins, and DeFi derivatives. For investors, the lessons from this crash underscore the importance of fundamentals, institutional adoption, and market relevance in navigating extreme volatility.

Resilient Altcoins: Fundamentals Over Frenzy

Algorand (ALGO) and Arbitrum (ARB): Institutional Partnerships and TVL

Algorand (ALGO) and Arbitrum (ARB) emerged as two of the most notable performers during the crash. Algorand, a blockchain platform focused on scalability and cross-chain interoperability, retained its value despite the broader downturn. This resilience was driven by its active network development and strategic partnerships, including a collaboration with Google on the AP2 Aentic Payments Protocol. Similarly, Arbitrum (ARB), an Ethereum layer-2 solution, maintained its position as a leader in total value locked (TVL) and network activity, even as its price remained at cycle lows. These projects benefited from their institutional-grade infrastructure and real-world utility, which insulated them from the speculative selling that plagued other assets.

Wormhole (W): Cross-Chain Innovation

Wormhole (W), a cross-chain communication protocol, also demonstrated resilience. Despite its price not reflecting its fundamentals, the project continued to secure new partnerships and development milestones. Wormhole's role in enabling interoperability between major blockchains (e.g., Ethereum, Solana, and Cosmos) positioned it as a critical infrastructure layer, attracting institutional and developer interest even during the crash.

Cardano (ADA) and Avalanche (AVAX): Developer Activity and TVL

Cardano (ADA) and Avalanche (AVAX) showed early signs of recovery. ADA's reduced selling pressure and increased developer activity suggested a potential rebound, while AVAX retained more TVL in DeFi than most competitors, bolstered by recent partnerships and liquidity programs. Both projects emphasized long-term development over short-term hype, a trait that proved advantageous during the crash.

Niche Performers: TURBO, Subsquid (SQD), and Monero (XMR)

Lesser-known tokens like TURBO (an AI-created meme coin), Subsquid (SQD), and Monero (XMR) also defied the bearish trend. TURBO surged by 27.05% in 24 hours, driven by AI-driven demand. Subsquid, a decentralized data infrastructure project, saw a 62.79% intraday spike, while Monero's 12.30% seven-day gain highlighted its appeal as a privacy-focused asset. These tokens, though volatile, attracted speculative buyers seeking opportunities in a collapsing market.

Structural Weaknesses: NFTs, Meme Coins, and DeFi Derivatives

While resilient altcoins showcased strength, other sectors collapsed under the weight of their own vulnerabilities.

NFTs: A Market in Freefall

The NFT market, once a symbol of crypto's creative potential, saw its global market cap drop to $2.78 billion-a 43% decline from October 2025. Speculative demand for digital collectibles evaporated as investors fled to safer assets. Unlike utility-driven tokens, NFTs lacked the infrastructure or institutional backing to weather the crash, exposing their reliance on hype rather than fundamentals.

Meme Coins: Fragility and Concentrated Ownership

Meme coins, epitomized by Dogecoin (DOGE) and Shiba Inu (SHIB), were among the hardest hit. The meme coin sector's market cap plummeted to $39.4 billion, a 66.2% drop from its January 2025 peak. These tokens, often controlled by a small group of holders, became hyper-volatile and prone to dumping. As noted in a recent analysis, politically themed memecoins like TRUMP and MELANIA exhibited extreme fragility, with price swings tied to sentiment rather than utility.

DeFi Derivatives: Leverage and Security Risks

DeFi derivatives also faltered. Total DeFi TVL fell from $178 billion to $115 billion between October and November 2025, as investors withdrew capital amid the Balancer exploit and broader market uncertainty. The sector's reliance on leverage and complex smart contracts made it particularly susceptible to cascading liquidations and security breaches.

Investment Lessons and Cautious Entry Points

The November 2025 crash offers critical lessons for investors. First, projects with strong fundamentals-such as institutional partnerships, real-world utility, and active development-proved more resilient than speculative assets. Second, the collapse of NFTs, meme coins, and DeFi derivatives highlights the risks of over-leveraged and hype-driven markets.

For cautious entry points, investors should prioritize projects with:
1. Institutional Adoption: Algorand and Arbitrum's partnerships with tech giants and Ethereum's layer-2 dominance suggest long-term viability.
2. TVL and Liquidity: Avalanche's TVL retention and Cardano's developer activity indicate a solid foundation for recovery.
3. Privacy and Interoperability: Monero's privacy features and Wormhole's cross-chain capabilities address persistent market needs.

However, even these projects require careful due diligence. The crash underscored that no asset is immune to macroeconomic shocks, and diversification remains key.

Conclusion

The November 2025 crypto crash was a stark reminder of the market's volatility and the importance of fundamentals. While Algorand, Arbitrum, and Avalanche demonstrated resilience through institutional adoption and utility, NFTs, meme coins, and DeFi derivatives exposed structural weaknesses. For investors, the path forward lies in identifying projects that address real-world problems and withstand the test of time-rather than chasing fleeting trends.