Near Protocol rides AI and privacy wave
The $NEAR token has been one of the better performers in crypto over the past few months, gaining over 172% from its lowest point this year. That puts it alongside other AI-focused tokens like Akash Network and Venice AI. The token’s rally has continued as the Near team rolled out a new feature: confidential payments on its Near.com platform. This allows users to send tokens privately, with only the sender and recipient knowing the details. They have also launched some significant AI models on their Near.ai platform. So Near finds itself positioned where two fast-growing sectors in crypto meet: artificial intelligence and privacy.
Hyperliquid surges on ETF inflows and volume
Hyperliquid’s $HYPE token is trading near its all-time high, and there are a few reasons for that. The recently launched ETFs focused on Hyperliquid have attracted serious cash. Combined inflows have passed $74 million. Specifically, 21Shares’ THYP has pulled in over $48 million, while Bitwise’s BHYP has added about $40 million. So American investors are clearly betting on the token’s fundamentals.
The token also got a push from a busy weekend, where traders traded crude oil and gold futures on the platform. That surge followed President Trump’s announcement of a deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, which boosted volume in those markets. Looking at numbers, Hyperliquid’s trading volume hit $6.2 billion in a single day—that’s more than Aster, ApeX Protocol, Lighter, and edgeX combined.
Also worth noting: Hyperliquid has become one of the most profitable players in crypto, earning over $850 million in the past 12 months. The company is using that revenue to buy back and burn its own tokens.
Ondo Finance benefits from RWA demand
Ondo Finance’s token has risen from $0.2091 in March to $0.48 now. A lot of that is tied to strong fundamentals. There’s growing demand for its products like USDY and OUSG, which have continued to attract investors. Ondo Global Markets, which lets traders trade tokenized assets like stocks and ETFs, has also done well. Its total value locked has climbed past $1 billion.
Then there’s the technical picture. The token has formed a cup-and-handle pattern, a well-known bullish signal in technical analysis. It appears to be in the handle section now, which suggests it might continue climbing in the coming days or weeks. No guarantees, of course, but the setup is there.
