HTX Weekly Review Identifies Key Developments in DeFi, AI, and Layer-1 Sectors
Panama City, Panama, September 11th, 2025, Chainwire
HTX has released data covering the period from September 1 to 7, highlighting sector-specific trends in the cryptocurrency market. While Bitcoin and Ethereum remained within a narrow trading range and overall market sentiment was cautious, the data shows that tokens in the DeFi, AI, and Layer-1 sectors recorded notable price increases during the week.
Layer-1 Ecosystem: Emerging Public Chains Lead the Way
HTX data indicates that Layer-1 public blockchains demonstrated stable performance over the past week, drawing increased market attention. Analysts attributed the trend to growing demand for core blockchain infrastructure and renewed assessments of growth potential linked to new application deployments and user activity.
- M (MEME, L1): a Layer-1 blockchain, recorded a 178% increase over the week, marking the highest performance among tracked assets. Positioned as the first Layer-1 network developed for “Meme 2.0,” the project introduces an alternative approach to meme-related projects that have traditionally operated 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
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.
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.
To provide users with more diverse wealth opportunities, HTX has launched Random Airdrop #2 event. From 10am, September 10 to 10am, September 18 (UTC), users who trade any designated cryptos (APEPE, BONK, FARTCOIN, FLZ, M, PEPE, WLD, XMR) will receive random airdrop rewards up to $1,888 worth of $HTX. Top3 traders in terms of trading volume will also win tickets to Blockchain Life 2025.
HTX remains committed to providing users with a secure, transparent trading platform and a diversified asset selection, helping crypto users accurately capture the next wealth appreciation cycle in a market environment filled with both opportunities and challenges.
About HTX
Founded in 2013, HTX (formerly Huobi) has evolved from a virtual asset exchange into a comprehensive ecosystem of blockchain businesses that span digital asset trading, financial derivatives, research, investments, incubation, and other businesses.
As a world-leading gateway to Web3, HTX harbors global capabilities that enable it to provide users with safe and reliable services. Adhering to the growth strategy of “Global Expansion, Thriving Ecosystem, Wealth Effect, Security & Compliance,” HTX is dedicated to providing quality services and values to virtual asset enthusiasts worldwide.
To learn more about HTX, users can visit https://www.htx.com/ or HTX Square , and follow HTX on X, Telegram, and Discord. For further inquiries, users can contact glo-media@htx-inc.com.