- Meme coin hype fades as investors pivot toward utility-focused cryptocurrencies.
- XRP and HBAR compete for dominance in global payments with SWIFT partnerships.
- Quant and Cardano target enterprise and privacy advancements for future growth.
The crypto market is witnessing a noticeable shift in sentiment as the meme coin frenzy appears to be cooling off. According to analysis by Altcoin Buzz, an analytic firm, trading volume on platforms like “Pump Fun” has dropped by a staggering 94%, suggesting retail investors are moving on. This decline signals a broader transition back to utility-driven cryptocurrencies with real-world applications.
While meme coins offered quick gains, investors are now focusing on more stable, long-term projects backed by solid fundamentals and regulatory relevance. Among these emerging front-runners are Ripple (XRP), Quant Network (QNT), Cardano (ADA), and Hedera (HBAR), which are showing resilience and potential despite broader market downturns.
Ripple (XRP): Eyeing the Global Payment Rails
Ripple continues to make strategic moves in the global payments sector. With Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse present at the recent White House Crypto Summit, the company is positioning itself at the policy table.
Ripple also gained regulatory approval for crypto payments in the UAE, reinforcing its global ambitions. A key point in a new SEC proposal mentions XRP as a potential replacement for SWIFT, which handles $1.5 trillion in daily transactions.
While the legal battle with the SEC nears its end, the outlook remains cautiously optimistic. If XRP is integrated into mainstream finance, it could experience explosive growth.
Quant Network (QNT): Powering Enterprise Blockchain Integration
Quant is steadily gaining ground through its Overledger OS, which facilitates multi-chain decentralized applications (MDAPs). Its focus on enterprise-grade interoperability makes it a key player in the growing Real-World Asset (RWA) market.
Analysts project this sector could expand from $30 billion to $30 trillion by 2030. Consequently, Quant’s infrastructure is tailored for banks and institutions, offering scalable solutions across chains. Its relevance continues to grow as more organizations explore blockchain for tokenizing traditional assets.
Cardano (ADA): Expanding International Influence
Despite being left out of the White House summit, Cardano’s founder Charles Hoskinson is building global ties. He recently engaged in Web3 discussions with a former Japanese government minister. Meanwhile, the upcoming Midnight launch will introduce privacy features, strengthening Cardano’s utility. Importantly, the token associated with Midnight will have no pre-sale or VC involvement, ensuring fair distribution. While the SEC’s stance on ADA remains unclear, Cardano’s global outreach and innovation keep it competitive.
Hedera (HBAR): Quietly Gaining Institutional Traction
Hedera stands apart with its patented Hashgraph consensus mechanism and diverse use cases in DeFi, NFTs, AI, and digital identity. Notably, a new ETF application by Grayscale could make HBAR more accessible to retail investors.
Additionally, SWIFT is testing Hedera’s integration, positioning it as a serious rival to Ripple in the payments space. If successful, this could lead to significant institutional adoption and market capitalization gains.
