According to CryptoRank, among tokens with a market capitalization above $500 million, the best performers were ZEC, WBT, XMR, OKB, PAX Gold, Tether Gold, Bitcoin Cash, Beldex, BNB, and Dash.
Gains ranged from a remarkable 861% for ZEC to a solid 12% for Dash, showing that even established projects can surprise investors when market conditions align.
Privacy coins and gold-backed tokens lead
The biggest news of the year was Zcash (ZEC), which surged 861%. ZEC is a privacy-focused coin that allows confidential transactions, attracting users who value anonymity. Likewise, Monero (XMR) increased by 123%, reinforcing the demand for privacy solutions in the crypto space. These gains reflect broader trends in user interest in financial privacy and security, particularly in regions where digital surveillance or regulatory uncertainty is increasing.
2025 was a tough year for altcoins, but a few managed to perform despite the market turmoil.
The discourse on privacy turned out to be the strongest, led by $ZEC (+861%), $XMR (+123%), and $DASH (+12%)..
What narrative do you think will shape 2026? pic.twitter.com/1GdlOOCsEL
– CryptoRank.io (@CryptoRank_io) January 3, 2026
Gold-backed tokens also performed strongly. PAX Gold and Tether Gold rose 67% and 66%, respectively, benefiting from rising gold prices and growing investor interest in digital assets tied to real-world commodities. These tokens offer the stability of traditional assets while maintaining blockchain liquidity and ease of transfer. A real-world example is Tether Gold, which allows investors to digitally own fractions of gold, combining traditional market trust with the modern convenience of crypto.
Established coins remain stable
Some of the big winners were more familiar names. Bitcoin Cash grew by 37%, BNB by 22%, and Dash saw growth of 12%. These tokens illustrate the continued resilience of established projects, even amid volatile markets. OKB, the native token of the OKX exchange, soared 118%, reflecting both the utility of the exchange and the overall growth of centralized crypto platforms.
2025 recap: milestones and events
Relive 2025 through our recap of the defining moments that shaped the year. What event do you think became its real turning point?
👇– CryptoRank.io (@CryptoRank_io) December 25, 2025
Recent trends highlight that 2025 has been favorable for mid- and large-cap projects combining utilities, security or real-world assets. Data from CryptoRank shows that investor attention is increasingly driven by innovation and stability, privacy, with asset-backed tokens and exchange tokens seeing significant inflows.
Disclaimer
The information provided by Altcoin Buzz does not constitute financial advice. It is intended for educational, entertainment and informational purposes only. Any opinions or strategies shared are those of the editors/reviewers, and their risk tolerance may differ from yours. We are not responsible for any losses you may incur as a result of investments related to the information provided. Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies are high-risk assets; therefore, perform thorough due diligence. Copyright Altcoin Buzz Pte Ltd.
