XRP News Today: Grayscale Adds Avalanche and Morpho to Top 20 Crypto Tokens for Q3 2025

Grayscale Investments has released its Top 20 crypto tokens for the third quarter of 2025, marking significant changes in its closely watched rankings. The asset management firm has added Avalanche (AVAX) and Morpho (MORPHO) to its list, while continuing to exclude established names like XRP and Cardano (ADA). This reshuffle reflects Grayscale's evolving evaluation methods and shifting priorities within the digital asset industry.

Avalanche and Morpho have secured their spots on the Q3 list due to their recent performance and fundamental growth. Morpho's inclusion is particularly notable, following the launch of Morpho V2, which aims to integrate decentralized finance (DeFi) with traditional financial institutions. Grayscale Research has highlighted that Morpho's on-chain lending activity may surpass that of other assets, indicating increased institutional interest in DeFi innovation.

In contrast, Lido DAO (LDO) and Optimism (OP) were removed from the Top 20 despite their significant roles within the Ethereum ecosystem. Grayscale cited regulatory uncertainty surrounding staking services as a reason for Lido's removal, which could impact its fee revenue. Optimism's token, while supported by widespread technology adoption, reportedly struggled to achieve economic value capture. These removals suggest a shift in Grayscale's assessment criteria, focusing more on short-term momentum and adoption rather than sector leadership.

The persistent exclusion of XRP and Cardano has raised questions among industry watchers. Both projects have seen high trading activity and ongoing development, making their omission from Grayscale's list particularly noteworthy. The decision comes as discussions around potential spot ETF approvals for assets like XRP continue to advance.

Grayscale's Q3 report also covers major sector trends from the second quarter of 2025. Bitcoin outperformed other digital assets in the Currencies category, while Smart Contract Platforms experienced higher transaction volumes but declining fee revenues as memecoin activity slowed. The update also highlights continued interest in decentralized artificial intelligence, DeFi lending, and emerging smart contract solutions.

In addition to the Top 20 reshuffle, Grayscale has finalized the launch of its AI Crypto Sector index, now tracking 24 tokens with a combined value of $15 billion, led by Bittensor (TAO). This index reflects the firm's commitment to adapting to changing market conditions and the evolving priorities of institutions and retail participants in the digital asset industry.