Risk-On Crypto Shift: AI, Memes, and GameFi Surge as Giants Stagnate

The crypto market's latest volatility has seen a surge in momentum across niche sectors, with HTX — the global digital asset trading platform — highlighting a 222% weekly gain for Solana-based token DARK (Dark Eclipse) amid a broader rally in memecoins, GameFi, and AI-driven assets, according to its Hot Listings Weekly Recap. The week of October 20–26, 2025, marked a shift toward smaller projects and high-narrative tokens, reflecting renewed risk appetite as Bitcoin and Ethereum showed limited movement.

Ethereum's Layer 2 network, Base, emerged as a key catalyst for growth, with AI-focused tokens leading the charge. GAME (GAME by Virtuals) surged 167%, climbing from $0.013 to $0.034, driven by Base's network upgrades and renewed enthusiasm for AI integration. VIRTUAL (Virtuals Protocol) also rose 80% to $1.45, buoyed by the Base x402 protocol announcement, which reignited interest in AI-driven economies. Analysts note that the Base AI ecosystem is transitioning from speculative potential to tangible utility, with on-chain business models and generative service applications gaining traction.

Memecoins, long criticized for their volatility, dominated secondary market activity. DARK, a hybrid of AI and memecoin narratives, led the pack with a 222% rally, fueled by community hype and liquidity expansion. GIGGLE (Giggle Fund), a BSC-based memecoin, gained 56%, driven by social media engagement and airdrop campaigns. While these gains underscored the sector's emotional appeal, experts caution that memecoins remain speculative, lacking fundamental value.

DeFi platforms also saw strong performance, with SynFutures' governance token F jumping 106%. The platform's Perp Launchpad, enabling instant listings for assets like memecoins and LSTs, attracted traders seeking leverage. Avantis' AVNT token rose 51% to $0.74 after listing on Binance.US, positioning the platform as a leader in real-world asset (RWA) perpetuals trading. Privacy tokens, too, gained traction, with Zcash (ZEC) rising 46% following Arthur Hayes' $10,000 price prediction, reigniting debates on privacy as a core crypto principle.

GameFi saw a resurgence, with Heroes of Mavia's MAVIA token surging 167% as the game's new season attracted millions of players. Integration with BNB Chain bridges further boosted liquidity, enabling players to earn RUBY rewards through real-time battles. The sector's revival highlights the growing intersection of gaming and blockchain, where governance tokens empower users to monetize in-game achievements.

HTX's curated listings underscored its role as a gateway to emerging narratives, offering traders early access to projects with tangible progress. The platform's focus on Base AI, GameFi, and DeFi efficiency tools aligns with broader market rotations toward high-narrative assets. With on-chain revenue in DeFi nearing $10 billion in H1 2025, HTX's ability to identify and list high-potential tokens positions it as a key player in the next phase of digital asset innovation.

The recap was also covered in a Decrypt report.