October 2025: Top Trending Crypto Tokens

Crypto markets thrive on chaos, and this month is proving no exception! Speculative mind share and dollar flows alike are being dominated by a peculiar mix of veteran tokens and haute upstarts that have abruptly emerged to occupy center stage.

Whether you’re hunting the next moonshot or dodging the next rug, these five tokens stealing the spotlight will no doubt be worth paying attention to during the month ahead. Today, we’re diving into October’s most captivating altcoin stories so far. 👇

Pro tip: view analyst ratings for these tokens in the Bankless Token Hub!

🎭 Zcash

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7-Day Change: +83%
Ticker: ZEC

About:

Zcash is in the midst of a face melting rally.

The long-standing, privacy-focused cryptocurrency climbed 83% this week alone, bringing total gains to 220% for token holders over the past 10 days and cementing ZEC’s position as the best performing top 300 crypto currency on the month.

While the exact impetus behind Zcash’s recent rally is unclear, the project has become increasingly topical among Crypto Twitter commentators in recent weeks, and its move coincides with the arrival of multiple bullish tailwinds.

For true ZEC disciples, the momentum was inevitable. To them, Zcash has always been a better Bitcoin. Separately, privacy has become an increasingly important crypto narrative, numerous Zcash upgrades are on the horizon, and a long-awaited halving approaches.

Token Catalysts:

• Halving Inbound: The Zcash network is set to undergo its second “halving” on November 18, 2025. This will reduce the amount of ZEC emitted for block rewards by 50% and is typically perceived as bullish for token prices. 
• Privacy Meta: Zcash stands to benefit from renewed interest in encrypted money. Its shielded transaction model and upcoming technological upgrades make ZEC a credible bet for speculators who believe privacy will be an ongoing crypto focal point.

🔗 Mantle

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7-Day Change: +31%
Ticker: MNT

About:

Mantle is the EVM-compatible Ethereum Layer 2 blockchain associated with centralized cryptocurrency exchange Bybit.

This special relationship provides its MNT token with unique utility support within the Bybit ecosystem. Holders receive access to the exchange’s incentivized earn pools (e.g.: Launchpad, Launchpool, Rewards Station, and Megadrop) and enjoy trading fee discounts.

At the Token2049 conference in Singapore on October 2, Mantle announced a comprehensive push into RWAs with the launch of its Tokenization-as-a-Service (TaaS) compliance platform and the deployment of World Liberty Financial’s USD1 stablecoin.

Additionally, just this week, Mantle unveiled UR, a unified crypto and fiat neobank account built that offers zero off-ramp fees and access to multiple fiat currencies. The Network’s near-term roadmap seeks to further refine chain abstraction functionalities and drive expansion of the developer ecosystem throughout Q4 2025.

Token Catalysts:

• Sector Bid: Both MNT and BNB – two blockchain tokens associated with crypto exchanges – have led crypto markets to the upside over the past month; continuation of this strength would be positive for token prices.
• UR Launch:  While Mantle’s UR neobank does not appear to be a primary focus today, the early move into stablecoin payments positions the MNT to capitalize if onchain banking and yield-bearing payment products gain mainstream traction.
• Bybit Integrations: Utility can be a powerful driver for token prices. New Bybit benefits that amplify MNT utility could bolster the token’s adoption among exchange users.

💱 Aster

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7-Day Change: +24%
Ticker: ASTER

About:

Backed by Binance founder Changpeng “CZ” Zhao’s YZi Labs family office, Aster is an upstart blockchain-based perpetuals exchange.

Aster offers spot and perpetual trading on cryptos and stock derivatives with up to 1001x leverage across multiple blockchains – including BNB, Ethereum, Arbitrum, and Solana. Looking ahead, Aster is developing a purpose-built Layer 1 blockchain designed for high-performance, privacy-focused trading.

Though operational in some form since 2023, it wasn’t until mid-September 2025 that Aster would emerge from obscurity as a leading Hyperliquid competitor. Its token skyrocketed over 10,000% in a matter of days following a series of CZ tweets endorsing Aster and widespread recognition that it was backed by YZi Labs.

Token Catalysts:

• Relative Value: Aster’s popularity is rapidly growing, and available exchange data suggests that it processes multiples more trading volume than Hyperliquid, yet the ASTER token trades at one third the valuation of HYPE.
• Stats Controversy: DeFiLlama founder 0xngmi recently questioned the accuracy of Aster's reported trading data, alleging that crypto exchange Binance may be making wash trades through the platform to artificially inflate volumes.
• L1 Development: Aster's roadmap includes a privacy-centric Layer 1 blockchain that aims to meaningfully differentiate the exchange by anonymizing trades, potentially attracting privacy-conscious traders and boosting long-term utility.

🏦 Synthetix

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7-Day Change: 0%
Ticker: SNX

About:

One of the oldest decentralized trading platforms in existence, Synthetix has taken a back seat throughout 2025, seeing notional trading volumes plunge 90% during the first three quarters of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024.

In an attempt to regain its once-dominant perps position, Synthetix recently announced that it will redeploy to the Ethereum Layer 1 sometime this November with a refreshed vision for the future of onchain exchanges that combines centralized performance with the benefits of Ethereum’s world-class security.

While the SNX token is trading flat on the week, it is the 10th best performing top 300 crypto asset over the past 30 days according to CoinGecko, up 64% on the back of its L1 pivot and swelling perpetual DEX momentum.

Token Catalysts:

• Perp DEX Mania: Perpetual DEXs have seen trading volumes sore throughout the summer, with the sector breaking above $1T of volumes in September alone. If Synthetix’s L1 redeployment proves successful, it could capture a sizable percentage of these trading volumes.
• Extreme Value: If ASTER is a relative value play, SNX may just be a bargain basement buy. With its meager $384M FDV, the SNX token is worth just 2% of Aster and 0.8% of Hyperliquid on a fully diluted basis.
• ETH Alignment: Synthetix’s pivot back to Ethereum ties it to the chain’s unmatched liquidity and credibility, positioning it as the go-to perps exchange for ETH-native traders.

🪙 Plasma

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7-Day Change: -15%
Ticker: XPL

About:

The preferred token investment vehicle for crypto connoisseurs seeking liquid exposure to the stablecoin narrative, Plasma is a high-performance blockchain purpose-built for stablecoins that offers near instant, fee-free transfers on USD Tether (USDT).

Freshly launched just weeks ago, Plasma boasts backing from numerous crypto heavyweights, ranging from exchanges Bitfinex and Bybit, to prolific venture groups like Framework and Founders Fund, to notable angel investors including Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino and Crypto Twitter personality Cobie.

Proponents identify Plasma as a viable replacement for existing payments networks like MasterCard and Visa with the potential to make stablecoin payments rival in accessibility and efficiency with traditional fiat rails.

Token Catalysts:

• Plasma One: The upcoming Plasma One neobank will be a stablecoin payments platform designed to offer 10%+ yields on balances and 4% cash back on purchases with support in more than 150 countries at over 150M merchants.
• Yield Incentives: The Plasma “Ecosystem and Growth” holds 40% of XPL token supply, with 20% of these reserves earmarked DeFi incentives. Higher XPL prices increase the value of these incentives, potentially creating a self-reinforcing growth flywheel.
• High Ceiling: Possible Plasma competitors that might anchor its valuation include payments processors Visa and MasterCard. Both companies currently trade above $500B market capitalizations.