In the past week, from October 27 to November 2, the cryptocurrency market experienced a downward trend amidst volatility. Despite this, mainstream funds flowed back into emerging narrative sectors, with concepts like AI, privacy tokens, and Layer 2 solutions showing strong momentum. Several mid- and small-cap tokens delivered impressive performances, indicating a dynamic market environment. Multiple sectors listed on HTX are flourishing simultaneously, contributing to a sustained increase in trading activity on the platform. Specifically, the AI narrative regained traction due to the x402 protocol boom, while the privacy sector staged a powerful comeback led by established assets. Together, AI and privacy emerged as the primary growth drivers of this market cycle.
AI Narrative Returns: DARK, GAME, and VIRTUAL Take the Lead
The AI sector was a significant focus this week. The emergence of the x402 protocol reignited on-chain enthusiasm for AI narratives. Initiated by Coinbase, this protocol aims to enable AI agents to directly access services through on-chain micropayments, laying the groundwork for an "AI self-paying economy." Its rapid development has fueled a market frenzy around a series of projects tagged as "AI & x402."
- •DARK (Dark Eclipse): As one of the few projects in the Solana ecosystem integrating both AI and x402 applications, DARK saw a surge of 110% this week, becoming the top gainer. The recent breakouts of AI-related assets on Solana have more than tripled DARK's trading volume, positioning it as a representative asset of the current AI narrative wave.
- •GAME (GAME by Virtuals): GAME, from the Base AI sector, continued its strong momentum with an 80% rally this week. As the AI agent token of the Virtuals Protocol, GAME is built on the Base ecosystem and carries dual "AI" and "x402" tags, combining robust trading activity with substantial conceptual potential.
- •VIRTUAL (Virtuals Protocol): VIRTUAL experienced a 30% increase, demonstrating steady performance. As the x402 ecosystem matures, VIRTUAL is poised to become a flagship project in the AI plus virtual asset space.
This Thursday, HTX is launching a limited-time Spot Trading Carnival, distributing 20,000 USDT in airdrops to reward active traders. The campaign encompasses this week's most popular AI and x402 ecosystem tokens. Users trading popular spot pairs involving GIGGLE, VIRTUAL, KITE, PAYAI, BLUAI, PING, and PALU are eligible to share in the 20,000 USDT airdrop distribution.
Privacy Sector Stands Out: DASH and ZEC Stage a Strong Comeback
- •DASH (Dash): Up 77% this week, DASH led the privacy sector. Known for its "hybrid privacy plus instant payment" model, DASH possesses distinct advantages in payment network restructuring and on-chain settlements. The recent community-driven DASH Evolution upgrade has revitalized market confidence in the project's long-term potential.
- •ZEC (Zcash): With a 20% increase this week, ZEC marked a strong rebound for this veteran privacy token. As one of the pioneering privacy tokens, ZEC is built on zero-knowledge proof (zk-SNARKs) technology and continues to provide foundational support for on-chain privacy protection.
Layer 2 and Derivatives: ZK and ASTER Advance Steadily
- •ZK (ZKsync): ZK surged 70% this week, representing the Layer 2 sector. The ZK ecosystem made advancements in Rollups, cross-chain interoperability, and privacy expansion, while infrastructure improvements such as zkEVM and zkBridge drove capital inflows. As Ethereum's scaling roadmap enters a new phase, investors are re-evaluating the medium- to long-term value of ZK-related assets.
- •ASTER (Aster): ASTER rose 20% this week, standing out in the decentralized perpetuals (PerpDEX) market. The PerpDEX sector is largely influenced by trading volume and market volatility. As activity in the derivatives market increased, ASTER steadily expanded its user base through its low-fee, high-leverage product mechanism.
AI and Privacy Resonate, Intensifying Structural Market Rotation
Overall, AI and privacy emerged as the two primary forces driving market recovery this week. The AI sector represents the push to expand the boundaries of innovation and efficiency, while the privacy sector signifies both a steadfast commitment to and a revival of the decentralized ethos. From DARK's explosive rally to the resurgence of DASH and ZEC, the market is witnessing the convergence and resonance of new and traditional narratives.
About HTX
Founded in 2013, HTX (formerly Huobi) has evolved from a virtual asset exchange into a comprehensive ecosystem of blockchain businesses. This ecosystem spans digital asset trading, financial derivatives, research, investments, incubation, and other related ventures.
As a leading global gateway to Web3, HTX possesses worldwide capabilities that enable it to provide users with safe and reliable services. Adhering to its growth strategy of "Global Expansion, Thriving Ecosystem, Wealth Effect, Security & Compliance," HTX is dedicated to delivering quality services and value to virtual asset enthusiasts globally.