As the crypto market steadily recovers and infrastructure matures, investors are already positioning themselves for the next bull cycle. With Layer 0 and Layer 2 innovations accelerating, real-world assets (RWA) gaining traction, and liquid staking derivatives (LSDfi) reshaping DeFi dynamics, strategic portfolio allocation is more critical than ever. This guide breaks down high-potential sectors and tokens poised to lead the next market surge—offering a data-driven, forward-looking investment framework.
Layer 0 & Layer 2: The Foundation of Scalability
The backbone of the next bull market lies in scalable, interoperable infrastructure. Projects enhancing throughput, reducing costs, and enabling cross-chain liquidity are laying the groundwork for mass adoption.
LayerZero: Powering Cross-Chain Liquidity
LayerZero continues to evolve with updates to its codebase, setting the stage for Stargate v2. This upgrade may introduce a revamped commission system supporting ZRO token payments, aligning incentives across the ecosystem. Notably, Stargate v2 will launch a native bridge between zkSync Era and Polygon zkEVM, two of the most promising zk-rollups. This integration could significantly boost capital efficiency across ZK-based ecosystems.
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StarkNet: 10x Throughput Upgrade on Horizon
StarkNet’s v0.12.0 upgrade, expected around July 12, promises to increase transaction throughput by up to 10 times. With over 90% community voting support, this upgrade reflects strong consensus on performance optimization. As StarkNet strengthens its position as a leading ZK-Rollup, developers and dApps are likely to migrate, increasing total value locked (TVL) and ecosystem activity.
Scroll: Mainnet Launch in Early August
Scroll, an Ethereum-equivalent ZK-Rollup, is set to launch its mainnet in early August. By maintaining EVM compatibility while leveraging zero-knowledge proofs, Scroll offers a seamless developer experience with enhanced scalability. Its mainnet debut could attract significant developer interest and early liquidity.
Zora Network: NFT Infrastructure Gains Momentum
OpenSea’s recent integration of Zora Network as a supported chain marks a pivotal moment for decentralized NFT infrastructure. Zora’s focus on creator-centric tools and low-cost minting positions it well for the next wave of digital ownership and community-driven content.
Polygon zkEVM: TVL Jumps 20.76%
Polygon zkEVM saw a 20.76% increase in total value locked last week, with actual TPS rising by 17.83% and average transactions per second reaching 0.8. While still below peak capacity, these metrics indicate growing confidence in Polygon’s ZK-based scaling solution.
Strategic Allocation: RWA & LSDfi
Two sectors stand out for long-term portfolio growth: Real-World Assets (RWA) and Liquid Staking Derivatives Finance (LSDfi).
Real-World Assets (RWA): Bridging Traditional Finance
RWA in 2025 mirrors DeFi’s trajectory in 2019—early stage, high potential. The sector links blockchain with tangible assets like Treasury bonds, real estate, and private credit.
MakerDAO: The RWA Leader
MakerDAO remains the dominant force in RWA, focusing on expanding collateral diversity to mint more DAI. Currently, DAI’s supply sits at $4.65 billion**, far from its all-time high of $10 billion. Notably, wstETH has surpassed ETH** as the top collateral type, signaling growing trust in liquid staking assets.
If RWA-backed DeFi protocols emerge—such as yield-bearing tokenized bonds or RWA-collateralized lending—the ripple effects could be exponential. MakerDAO is well-positioned to benefit from such innovation.
COMP vs MKR: Market Dynamics
While MKR leads in market recognition, COMP has seen higher trading volume despite a smaller market cap. This suggests stronger speculative interest, though higher volatility comes with it. As Compound expands into RWA use cases, its role in the ecosystem could evolve significantly.
RWA isn’t just about digitizing assets—it’s about creating new financial rails that merge on-chain efficiency with off-chain value.
LSDfi: Unlocking Staking Liquidity
Liquid staking derivatives allow users to stake assets while retaining liquidity—a game-changer for capital efficiency.
Binance Research highlights LSDfi’s rapid growth, noting increasing TVL and protocol innovation. Two tokens worth watching:
- $LBR: Currently leads in TVL within its niche. An upcoming V2 launch and planned deployment on LayerZero could catalyze growth. LayerZero’s potential token launch adds further momentum.
- **$TENET**: An emerging LSDfi player with strong fundamentals. Both $LBR and $TENET may present buying opportunities during market pullbacks.
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High-Potential Tokens for 2025
OCEAN: Data as the New Asset Class
OCEAN operates in the data trading market, serving as infrastructure for monetizing data assets. Partnerships with IBM, Mercedes-Benz, and AI firms underscore its enterprise relevance.
With AI entering its second phase—where data quality outweighs model complexity—OCEAN is strategically positioned. The protocol recently enabled audio data tokenization, expanding its utility. Long-term price targets could reach $2, driven by increased demand for structured, tradable data.
SOL: The Resilient Smart Contract Platform
Despite regulatory uncertainty, Solana (SOL) remains a top-tier contender.
- NFT sales recently surpassed Ethereum’s
- Ecosystem staking grew 91% in H1 2025
- Increasing institutional interest dubbed “Wall Street’s comeback play”
SOL trades around $20—a level seen as a strong accumulation zone. Contrary to fears over SEC classification as a security, such scrutiny may actually validate its significance, potentially triggering a rally similar to Binance Launchpad assets post-listing.
XEC: The Digital Cash Vision
As a fork of Bitcoin Cash (BCH), XEC combines PoW security with AVAX-like consensus speed, aiming to fulfill Bitcoin’s original vision as peer-to-peer electronic cash.
BCH shows resilience at current levels, suggesting strong support. However, XEC remains correlated—any major BTC or BCH downturn could impact it. Still, its low fees and fast transactions make it viable for micro-payments and emerging markets.
AGLD: NFTs with Utility and Buybacks
AGLD (Adventure Gold) leads the text-based NFT segment, built on OpenSea’s Base layer-2. The project benefits from ongoing capital buybacks and a growing ecosystem of games and narratives.
With NFTs shifting from speculative art to utility-driven assets, AGLD’s integration into interactive platforms could drive sustained demand.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Why focus on RWA now?
A: RWA is at an inflection point—similar to DeFi in 2019. Early movers stand to gain from institutional adoption and regulatory clarity expected by 2025.
Q: Is LSDfi safe for long-term investment?
A: While still evolving, LSDfi protocols with strong audits, transparent reserves, and real yield (like $LBR) offer compelling risk-reward profiles.
Q: Can SOL survive SEC scrutiny?
A: Regulatory attention often precedes mainstream adoption. SOL’s technical resilience and ecosystem growth suggest it can weather legal challenges.
Q: How does OCEAN benefit from AI trends?
A: As AI models require vast datasets, OCEAN provides a decentralized marketplace for secure, compensated data sharing—making it essential infrastructure.
Q: Is XEC just another meme coin?
A: No. XEC is rooted in Bitcoin’s original whitepaper vision—fast, cheap transactions for everyday use—giving it fundamental utility beyond speculation.
Q: What makes AGLD different from other NFTs?
A: AGLD is designed for interoperability across games and platforms, backed by corporate buybacks and real-world use cases in narrative-driven ecosystems.
Final Thoughts
The next bull market will reward those who invest in infrastructure, real-world utility, and capital efficiency. Prioritize projects with strong fundamentals, growing ecosystems, and clear paths to adoption.
Whether it’s Layer 0 interoperability via LayerZero, RWA expansion through MakerDAO, or LSDfi innovation with $LBR and $TENET—the building blocks are in place.
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By focusing on scalable solutions and emerging trends like tokenized assets and liquid staking, investors can position themselves at the forefront of the next crypto revolution.