It’s been an interesting week for NFTs and cryptocurrencies, with some lesser-known names emerging alongside recent heavyweights. Both NFTs and tokens have seen incredible growth in their original market cap, which is unusually challenging in such a volatile market. The Pudgy ecosystem has become the focus of the NFT field, and sales of Pudgy Rods have soared by 74.5%. Meanwhile, among tokens, Phala Network saw a staggering increase of 264.15%.
These leaps occur in year-end trading dynamics and often amplify sudden rallies, especially in the face of new news, exchange listings, or community events that spark speculation. As the new year dawns, speculators are wondering whether these gains signal continued momentum or whether profit-taking will dampen excitement. In our weekly review, we’ll take a look at what’s driving these stellar performances.
NFT’s biggest gainer
This week’s NFTs Data comes from CoinGecko And highlighted the projects whose market value increased significantly this week. Pudgy’s three collections lead the way, reflecting strong brand synergy and strong community interest. Read on for a quick overview of each standout.
Chunky penguin
This week, the Chunky Penguin brand once again proved its resilience and broad appeal to collectors. Despite already occupying a strong position in the NFT market, the original Penguin series still achieved a healthy growth of 32% in market capitalization. Observers believe continued community engagement and continued brand expansion, such as real-world merchandise partnerships, can reignite interest.
Source: CoinGecko
in little fat man
Lil Pudgys, an offshoot line featuring smaller, cuter versions of the iconic birds, saw shares rise 29.4%. The relative affordability of Lil Pudgys compared to their parent line continues to attract newcomers seeking exposure to the Pudgy ecosystem without the high cost of entry. The recent growth in sales also suggests that there are a large number of new buyers interested in the potential future of Chunky collectibles.
Source: CoinGecko
chunky stick
The biggest NFT success story of the week so far may be the least known in the Pudgy ecosystem, Pudgy Rods. The series’ market capitalization soared 74.5% in just 7 days. Rods were initially overlooked by some mainstream NFT observers, but are now attracting attention as holders anticipate a wider collaboration with the Pudgy brand. Some have speculated that these sticks could unlock future collectible utilities or special events, making them prime targets for speculators. While it remains to be seen how long this momentum will last, the Pudgy ecosystem’s triple gains this week suggest that loyal fans and strategic branding initiatives will continue to solidify its position at the forefront of the NFT space.
Source: CoinGecko
Cryptocurrency Biggest Winners
For token performance we turn to Data from CryptoSlate To determine the top three stocks with the highest gains during the same period. The percentage of these crypto assets has grown significantly due to a combination of utility, announcements, and favorable market sentiment. See a quick summary below of what’s driving its growth.
Phala Network($PHA)
Phala Network made the most eye-catching announcement, with its market capitalization surging 264.15% over the past week. As more organizations look for ways to protect sensitive data on decentralized platforms, PHA’s privacy-focused, blockchain-based cloud computing service appears to be catching the market’s attention. Rumors of upcoming partnerships and exchange listings could help fuel this massive rally.
Source: CryptoSlate
Bitget Token($BGB)
Bitget Token ranks second with a significant growth of 90.97%. BGB is becoming increasingly popular among active traders due to Bitget Exchange’s growing user base and promotions aimed at expanding its ecosystem. News of potential product updates and improved trading incentives may have sparked new investor demand.
Source: CryptoSlate
Greenwich Mean Time ($GMT)
GMT ranked last, up 38.56%. While GMT’s performance isn’t as jaw-dropping as that of Phala Network or BGB, its performance stands out in a market that has seen some consolidation. Some attribute GMT’s steady climb to its unique method of earning cryptocurrency through physical activity, as well as the expansion of staking rewards and newly released useful features to keep existing holders and new users engaged.
Source: CryptoSlate
Look carefully at the big picture
The last week of December typically sees liquidity changes and lower trading volumes as investors lock in profits or adjust portfolios before the new year. However, these looser conditions can also set the stage for significant price swings when new catalysts such as partnerships, listings, or ecosystem launches catch the market off guard. For the projects with the biggest gains, momentum and community support played a crucial role in helping them stand out from other projects that were mostly trading sideways.
Notably, we continue to see the NFT ecosystem deliver multi-set synergies, as evidenced by the rise of Pudgy Penguins, Lil Pudgys, and Pudgy Rods. This “collective branding effect” often increases engagement and speculation across multiple launches. On the coin side, Phala Network’s astronomical jump exemplifies how a specialized use case (privacy-focused cloud services) can quickly spark interest from retail and institutional buyers. Meanwhile, regulatory sentiment remains an uncertain factor, with some analysts warning that unexpected policy news could disrupt markets at any time.
Summarize
From a triple surge in the Pudgy ecosystem to a notable rally in Phala Network, this week has seen strong growth driven by strong community interest and timely market catalysts. Whether these projects can maintain momentum in the new year depends on the utility’s continued growth, strategic partnerships and investor sentiment. As the holidays come to an end, both NFT and cryptocurrency traders should remain alert to sudden changes in liquidity and regulatory developments that could once again reshape the market outlook.
