The best cryptos of 2025: which were they and why?

The year 2025 was, in some respects, an unusual year for the crypto market. 

In fact, since Bitcoin’s inception in 2009, every year that has seen U.S. presidential elections has been followed by years of bull runs accompanied by at least one altseason.

At the end of 2024, the latest presidential elections were held in the United States, but the bullrun was effectively confined to the last months of that year, with no altseason in the following year. 

Moreover, 2025 was also a year marked by the absence of a memecoin boom, although to be fair, this had already partially occurred in the previous year. 

In other words, last year saw a resurgence in more structured and utility-oriented projects, with the total crypto market capitalization rising to approximately $3.364 trillion, an increase of 1.6% compared to the close of 2024. 

However, by the end of 2015, many of the major cryptos, including Bitcoin and Ethereum, ended with negative price performances in dollars, with BTC down 7.96% and ETH 15.25%, despite having recorded new all-time highs during the year. 

And so, other cryptos have shown the best performances. 

Here is the top 10 list of cryptos with the best percentage price returns. 

MYX Finance (MYX)

At the top of this ranking stands MYX Finance, with a staggering gain of 3,358%.

MYX debuted on the crypto markets in May 2025 around $0.097, reaching its all-time high in September at an impressive $19.03. 

This is a decentralized derivatives protocol native to BNB Chain, specializing in perpetual futures (perpetual contracts). 

Its success is due to a combination of factors: an airdrop program that distributed tokens to active users, attracting a large community, and the popularity of the “perpetual” narrative in DeFi. 

Additionally, BNB Chain experienced a surge in adoption due to low fees and high speeds, and MYX capitalized on this. 

However, there have also been several accusations of insider trading and various controversies regarding the airdrop beneficiaries, which have caused volatility, with the price then dropping below $3 by the end of the year. 

Zcash (ZEC)

However, the crypto that garnered the most attention in 2025 is another: Zcash. 

ZEC amazed with an incredible +573%, thanks to a rally that began particularly at the end of September due to renewed interest in “privacy coins”. 

Zcash was actually launched in 2016, the year after Ethereum, and uses advanced cryptography (zk-SNARKs) to obscure transactions and user identities, offering a high level of privacy, but only optionally. 

In 2025, factors such as increased government surveillance and regulatory debates have driven investors towards privacy-protecting assets. 

Its success is also linked to integrations with wallets and exchanges, which have improved accessibility. 

In a year where privacy has become a hot topic – with three privacy coins in the top 10 – Zcash has demonstrated that mature technologies can thrive with the right regulatory context.

Rain Protocol (RAIN)

In third place is Rain Protocol, with a more than considerable +184%.

RAIN is the token of a protocol for decentralized prediction markets, similar to platforms like Augur or Polymarket. Rain indeed allows users to bet on real-world events (elections, sports, economy) in a decentralized manner, unlike, for example, Polymarket. 

The year 2025 witnessed a boom in these markets, especially during global events like the US elections, and decentralization offered intriguing alternatives to traditional centralized platforms prone to censorship. 

Rain has also benefited from partnerships with oracles like Chainlink for reliable data, and its tokenomics have incentivized liquidity. 

Zebec Network (ZBCN)

In fourth place, just below RAIN, is Zebec Network.

This is the token of a platform focused on payments and Real World Assets (RWA), and it gained 164% during 2025. 

This platform specifically enables payment streaming, such as real-time salaries, and the tokenization of real assets like real estate or commodities. 

In 2025, interest in RWAs exploded, primarily due to clearer regulations that allowed institutions to enter the crypto world without direct exposure to volatility. 

Zebec has capitalized on this, with integrations into ecosystems like Solana for speed and low costs. Its business model, which includes transaction fees, has made the ZBCN token attractive even for long-term holders.

Zora (ZORA)

In fifth position, not far behind, is Zora, with an impressive +138%.

This is a layer 2 for SocialFi (social finance) that combines social media with decentralized finance, specifically allowing creators to monetize content through NFTs and tokens. 

The year 2025 marked the rise of SocialFi, with users weary of centralized platforms like X or Instagram migrating towards blockchain alternatives. 

Zora has benefited from a vibrant ecosystem on Optimism, with tools for community building. Its success reflects a broader trend: the tokenization of creativity and social interactions.

Monero (XMR)

In sixth place is the quintessential privacy coin, Monero, with a solid +115%.

Unlike Zcash, Monero does not offer optional privacy, but mandatory privacy, as it uses Ring Signatures and Stealth Addresses for every transaction. 

The revival of privacy coins in 2025 was driven by concerns over transaction traceability on public chains, and Monero saw its adoption grow in dark markets and among privacy activists, but also from institutional investors. 

OKB

The +115% of OKB also stands out.

It is the token of the renowned exchange OKX, thus in some ways similar to BNB, as it offers discounts on fees and access to exclusive services. 

BNB closed the year with a 20% increase, but OKB managed to perform much better. The fact is that investors and speculators were looking for alternative “exchange tokens,” and they found OKX’s because it expanded its ecosystem with launchpad and DeFi integrations. 

This demonstrates how centralized exchanges remain the pillars of the crypto market, despite the growth of DeFi.

Alchemist, Maple, and Midnight

The last three are Alchemist AI (ACH), with +89%, Maple Finance, with +75%, and Midnight Network (NIGHT), with +58%.

Alchemist AI is a token that aligns with the AI narrative, still very popular in 2025. 

Maple Finance is a platform for DeFi loans to institutions, while Midnight Network, launched only in December, focuses on privacy. 

General Trends 

The most significant trend in 2025 appears to have been privacy coins, but DeFi, derivatives, and AI have also performed very well. 

In reality, 2025 reshaped the crypto landscape, rewarding innovation and privacy instead of mere speculation for its own sake. 

In reality, the main narrative of the year has been the diversification of narratives, as there hasn’t been a completely dominant narrative. 

In particular, the decline in interest for memecoins has indicated a maturation of the sector, with a focus on solid fundamentals rather than viral hype.