The cryptocurrency market continues to demonstrate its dynamic nature, with certain digital assets experiencing explosive growth over the past week. As investor sentiment shifts and macroeconomic factors evolve, a new wave of top performers has emerged—driving momentum across decentralized finance (DeFi), infrastructure protocols, and privacy-focused networks. This article explores the leading crypto gainers, analyzes the catalysts behind their surge, and highlights key developments shaping the current market landscape.
Stellar (XLM) Shines Among Top 50 Cryptocurrencies
Among the top 50 cryptocurrencies by market capitalization, Stellar (XLM) stood out as the best performer with impressive weekly gains. Designed as a decentralized payment protocol, Stellar facilitates fast, low-cost cross-border transactions between individuals, financial institutions, and payment systems. Founded in 2014 by Jed McCaleb—co-founder of Ripple—and Joyce Kim, the project operates under the nonprofit Stellar Development Foundation, emphasizing accessibility and financial inclusion.
Recent developments have significantly boosted market confidence in XLM. Grayscale Investments, one of the most influential digital asset managers, filed a Form 10-K in preparation for launching a Stellar Lumens Trust in the United States. Such a move signals growing institutional interest and could pave the way for broader adoption through regulated investment vehicles.
👉 Discover how institutional interest is reshaping crypto valuations
In addition, on-chain analytics platform DeFiLlama reported that the Total Value Locked (TVL) in Stellar’s DeFi ecosystem surged to **$52.85 million** on November 26—more than doubling from just $21 million two weeks prior. This rapid expansion reflects increasing activity within Stellar-based decentralized applications and lending platforms.
Jed McCaleb himself described Stellar as “the most underrated and least understood crypto project,” a sentiment that may now be shifting as visibility increases. With strong fundamentals and renewed ecosystem growth, XLM is gaining attention not just for its utility but also for its long-term potential in global payments.
Celestia (TIA), Polkadot (DOT), and Uniswap (UNI) Show Strong Momentum
While XLM led the pack, other major players also posted notable gains:
- Celestia (TIA): As a modular blockchain infrastructure project, Celestia enables developers to deploy independent blockchains with customizable data availability layers. Its innovative architecture supports scalability and interoperability—key demands in today’s multi-chain environment.
- Polkadot (DOT): The Polkadot network saw increased traction due to ongoing upgrades and parachain integrations. Its cross-chain messaging capabilities are being adopted by emerging Web3 projects seeking seamless interoperability.
- Uniswap (UNI): As one of the largest decentralized exchanges, Uniswap benefited from rising trading volumes across Ethereum and Layer 2 networks. Regulatory clarity discussions around DeFi may have also contributed to renewed investor optimism.
These assets reflect a broader trend: infrastructure and DeFi protocols are regaining momentum as developer activity and user engagement rise across the blockchain ecosystem.
TORN Soars After Landmark Legal Ruling
Outside the top 50, TORN, the governance token of Tornado Cash, experienced an extraordinary rally—surging approximately 410% over seven days to trade near $17.34. This dramatic price movement followed a pivotal legal decision that sent shockwaves through the crypto community.
On November 26, a three-judge panel of the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) exceeded its authority when sanctioning Tornado Cash’s immutable smart contracts. The court determined that these self-executing code protocols do not constitute "property" under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), as they cannot be owned or controlled by any individual or entity.
This ruling is widely seen as a landmark victory for decentralization and protocol neutrality. It reinforces the principle that open-source software should not be subject to sanctions simply because it can be used for privacy-preserving transactions.
Tornado Cash functions as a non-custodial privacy solution on Ethereum, leveraging zero-knowledge proof technology to break on-chain links between sender and recipient addresses. While controversial due to misuse concerns, its core innovation remains central to advancing transactional privacy in public blockchains.
The verdict could set a precedent for future regulatory approaches to decentralized protocols, potentially influencing how agencies like the SEC or CFTC engage with DeFi projects.
👉 Explore how legal developments are shaping the future of decentralized finance
Why These Gains Matter: Market Sentiment and Strategic Insights
The recent performance of these cryptocurrencies underscores several important themes:
- Institutional interest is returning, as evidenced by Grayscale’s trust filing.
- Privacy and decentralization remain high-value propositions, especially amid increasing regulatory scrutiny.
- Infrastructure and scalability solutions like Celestia and Polkadot are attracting developer mindshare and capital.
- Legal clarity can drive price action, as shown by TORN’s rally following judicial intervention.
For investors and participants, understanding these drivers is essential for identifying alpha opportunities in volatile markets.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: What caused Stellar (XLM) to surge this week?
A: XLM’s rise was fueled by Grayscale’s announcement of a potential investment trust and a doubling of DeFi TVL on the Stellar network—from $21M to over $52M in two weeks.
Q: Why did TORN increase by over 400%?
A: The surge followed a U.S. appeals court ruling that OFAC overstepped its authority by sanctioning Tornado Cash’s smart contracts, reinforcing legal protections for decentralized protocols.
Q: Is Tornado Cash legal after this ruling?
A: The ruling does not make Tornado Cash fully “legal” but establishes that immutable smart contracts cannot be classified as property under IEEPA—limiting OFAC’s ability to sanction them directly.
Q: What is Total Value Locked (TVL)?
A: TVL measures the amount of assets deposited into DeFi protocols. A rising TVL indicates growing user trust and platform usage.
Q: Can I invest in Grayscale’s new Stellar trust yet?
A: Not yet—the filing is preparatory. Investors should monitor official updates from Grayscale regarding product launches.
Q: How does Celestia differ from other blockchain platforms?
A: Celestia uses a modular design where consensus and data availability are separated from execution, allowing developers to build scalable, application-specific blockchains more efficiently.
Looking Ahead: What’s Next for These Projects?
As we move deeper into 2025, projects like Stellar, Celestia, Polkadot, and Tornado Cash exemplify how technology innovation, regulatory developments, and ecosystem growth converge to create value in crypto markets.
Whether through institutional adoption or judicial recognition of decentralization principles, these narratives are shaping investor strategies and long-term outlooks.
👉 Stay ahead of market trends with real-time data and insights
For those tracking digital asset performance, staying informed about both technical progress and external catalysts will remain crucial. The top gainers this week aren’t just riding momentum—they’re building foundations for sustained relevance in the evolving Web3 economy.
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