Crypto markets are alive with energy again — but this time it’s not about memecoins or vaporware. Infrastructure tokens are leading the charge while hype-fueled projects are stumbling as speculative air escapes. RIVER and NIGHT are capturing imaginations, MERL and LIT are facing harsh reality.
1. Infra tokens dominate: RIVER and NIGHT's rise tracks with Twitter chatter on staking and modular blockchains.
2. Vesting cliffs sink laggards: MERL’s drop likely tied to token unlocks.
3. Restaking phase 2: Yield needs code, not just buzzwords.
4. Building > farming: Dev updates correlate more with pumps than pure speculation this week.
Markets painted a picture of extremes today, as RIVER led the gainers' charge with a robust 13.43% gain, while MERL plunged nearly 21%. RIVER’s rally appears to mirror renewed interest in modular blockchain architectures and the narrative heating up on Crypto Twitter around low-friction chains optimized for throughput and application-layer innovation.
This isn’t just a random spike. With crypto influencers touting trust-minimized bridges and sober gas fee design, RIVER’s upward momentum feels narrative-driven. Several DeFi builders praised RIVER’s new devnet updates, and chatter suggests integrations with rollup-as-a-service tools could be catalytic. Meanwhile, MERL’s freefall (-20.6%) coincides with murmurs of a vesting cliff hitting — fueling fears of short-term dilution as large token unlocks loom.
The term “modular” is officially the new “multi-chain.” Scrolling through CT, conversations are clustering around staking innovations, data availability layers, and the surge in DePIN (Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Network) interest. The collective mood is shifting from memecoins to middleware — real, infrastructural plays that can onboard actual devs, not just apes.
NIGHT, up 8.7%, has benefited here following a viral thread by a pseudonymous account (@rollup_ranger) touting NIGHT’s multi-hop staking protocol. The demo drew a big crowd in developer Discords, and many speculate NIGHT could emerge as a sleeper L2 for PoS derivatives. JST and KAG also rode similar sentiment waves, piggybacking on staking derivative adoption buzz and minor integration announcements.
On the flip side, ETHFI’s 13.3% drawdown shows that even the religiosity around Ethereum-native yield products has limits. The slide was likely compounded by a cooler-than-expected inflow to its restaking vaults, while EIGEN and WAL – both down 13.5% – suffered from overzealous pre-launch speculation finally deflating. This isn’t the death of restaking, but it might be the market maturing past performative farming and into real utility scrutiny.
LIT’s 15.6% loss is another example of sentiment whiplash. After running hard on narrative momentum around decentralized identity (DID) tooling, it failed to sustain developer attention. A vocal segment of social chatter is calling out the project’s underwhelming roadmap clarity as the culprit.
Twitter isn’t just meme energy these days. It’s a real-time signal-gathering inferno. The hottest threads center around one theme: restaking isn’t going anywhere, but the “ponzinomics” phase is over. There’s a notable pivot toward proving real-world value: uptime guarantees, node diversity, and sustainable emissions schedules.
The rise in RIVER and NIGHT backs this paradigm switch. DeFi degens and infra nerds alike are tired of musical-chair airdrop plays. They’re hunting yield backed by code and uptime — not just vibes. A few influencers highlighted RIVER’s release of slashing logic in public testnets as a sign the project understands institutional validators' risk appetite. Game. Changed.
Let’s break down the leaderboard. Get your watchlists ready:
The market is clearly rewarding projects with narrative synergy to modular and staking infrastructure. Legacy DeFi tokens that haven’t shipped or realigned to this meta are getting sidelined. This microcycle might seem knee-jerk, but there’s clear momentum forming behind projects shipping infra that supports other chains: bridge tooling, DA layers, and tokenomic realignment are hot.
Projects like RIVER and NIGHT didn’t pull these moves in a vacuum—Crypto Twitter provided oxygen, TypeScript-based testnets provided the fire, and modular dreams lit the spark. And appetite? Still here. Still hungry. Just smarter and possibly more composable.
Markets painted a picture of extremes today, as RIVER led the gainers' charge with a robust 13.43% gain, while MERL plunged nearly 21%. RIVER’s rally appears to mirror renewed interest in modular blockchain architectures and the narrative heating up on Crypto Twitter around low-friction chains optimized for throughput and application-layer innovation.
This isn’t just a random spike. With crypto influencers touting trust-minimized bridges and sober gas fee design, RIVER’s upward momentum feels narrative-driven. Several DeFi builders praised RIVER’s new devnet updates, and chatter suggests integrations with rollup-as-a-service tools could be catalytic. Meanwhile, MERL’s freefall (-20.6%) coincides with murmurs of a vesting cliff hitting — fueling fears of short-term dilution as large token unlocks loom.
The term “modular” is officially the new “multi-chain.” Scrolling through CT, conversations are clustering around staking innovations, data availability layers, and the surge in DePIN (Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Network) interest. The collective mood is shifting from memecoins to middleware — real, infrastructural plays that can onboard actual devs, not just apes.
NIGHT, up 8.7%, has benefited here following a viral thread by a pseudonymous account (@rollup_ranger) touting NIGHT’s multi-hop staking protocol. The demo drew a big crowd in developer Discords, and many speculate NIGHT could emerge as a sleeper L2 for PoS derivatives. JST and KAG also rode similar sentiment waves, piggybacking on staking derivative adoption buzz and minor integration announcements.
On the flip side, ETHFI’s 13.3% drawdown shows that even the religiosity around Ethereum-native yield products has limits. The slide was likely compounded by a cooler-than-expected inflow to its restaking vaults, while EIGEN and WAL – both down 13.5% – suffered from overzealous pre-launch speculation finally deflating. This isn’t the death of restaking, but it might be the market maturing past performative farming and into real utility scrutiny.
LIT’s 15.6% loss is another example of sentiment whiplash. After running hard on narrative momentum around decentralized identity (DID) tooling, it failed to sustain developer attention. A vocal segment of social chatter is calling out the project’s underwhelming roadmap clarity as the culprit.
Twitter isn’t just meme energy these days. It’s a real-time signal-gathering inferno. The hottest threads center around one theme: restaking isn’t going anywhere, but the “ponzinomics” phase is over. There’s a notable pivot toward proving real-world value: uptime guarantees, node diversity, and sustainable emissions schedules.
The rise in RIVER and NIGHT backs this paradigm switch. DeFi degens and infra nerds alike are tired of musical-chair airdrop plays. They’re hunting yield backed by code and uptime — not just vibes. A few influencers highlighted RIVER’s release of slashing logic in public testnets as a sign the project understands institutional validators' risk appetite. Game. Changed.
Let’s break down the leaderboard. Get your watchlists ready:
The market is clearly rewarding projects with narrative synergy to modular and staking infrastructure. Legacy DeFi tokens that haven’t shipped or realigned to this meta are getting sidelined. This microcycle might seem knee-jerk, but there’s clear momentum forming behind projects shipping infra that supports other chains: bridge tooling, DA layers, and tokenomic realignment are hot.
Projects like RIVER and NIGHT didn’t pull these moves in a vacuum—Crypto Twitter provided oxygen, TypeScript-based testnets provided the fire, and modular dreams lit the spark. And appetite? Still here. Still hungry. Just smarter and possibly more composable.
The quiet rise of RIVER and NIGHT shows the return of infrastructure narratives. Modular design, restaking platforms, and decentralized infra coordination are back in vogue. Twitter is no longer just meme megaphone — it's a radar for fundamental movement.
Follow the builders, not just the hype. Tokens with frequent developer updates and public testnets are resonating more with investors than flashy announcements. RIVER’s slashing logic update, for example, directly preceded its 13% spike.
Be sure to join us on Telegram, Discord and Twitter!
Quad Terminal simplifies crypto portfolio management by unifying digital asset exchanges into a seamless, all-in-one platform. Traders and investors of all skill levels can access automated bot strategies and a comprehensive 360° portfolio view. Create your free account here!
Disclaimer: The content of this article is for general market education and commentary and is not intended to serve as financial, investment, or any other type of advice.
Manage all your crypto assets on the go with zero-gas swaps and a unified portfolio at your fingertips.
Disclaimer: Information contained herein should not be construed as investment advice, or investment recommendation, or an order of, or solicitation for, any transactions in financial instruments; We make no warranty or representation, whether express or implied, as to the completeness or accuracy of the information contained herein or fitness thereof for a particular purpose. Use of images and symbols is made for illustrative purposes only and does not constitute a recommendation to buy, sell or hold a particular financial instrument; Use of brand logos does not necessarily imply a contractual relationship between us and the entities owning the logos, nor does it represent an endorsement of any such entity by Quad Terminal, or vice versa. Market information is made available to you only as a service, and we do not endorse or approve it.
Copyright © Quad Terminal
