The Web3 landscape continues to evolve at a rapid pace, with major movements across decentralized finance (DeFi), non-fungible tokens (NFTs), and blockchain infrastructure. As global macroeconomic signals like potential Federal Reserve rate cuts in September 2025 fuel investor optimism, the crypto ecosystem is witnessing increased activity in liquidity, innovation, and governance. This article explores the latest data, project milestones, and strategic developments shaping the future of Web3.
DeFi Market Overview
Total DeFi Market Cap Reaches $66.5 Billion
As of September 2025, the total market capitalization of decentralized finance (DeFi) tokens stands at $66.52 billion, reflecting steady growth amid broader market consolidation. This figure underscores growing institutional and retail confidence in permissionless financial protocols.
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DEX Trading Volume Surges to $3.31 Billion
Over the past 24 hours, decentralized exchanges (DEXs) recorded a combined trading volume of $3.31 billion, highlighting strong on-chain activity. Platforms like Uniswap, Curve, and Jupiter continue to lead in liquidity and user engagement, particularly on Ethereum and Solana networks.
Total Value Locked Hits $78.07 Billion
The total value locked (TVL) across DeFi protocols has reached $78.07 billion, with leading platforms including Lido, Aave, and MakerDAO maintaining dominant positions. The top 10 DeFi projects account for over 45% of this locked value, indicating concentrated yet resilient ecosystem health.
NFT Market Dynamics
NFT Market Cap at $23.4 Billion
The total market capitalization of NFTs currently sits at $23.41 billion, driven by renewed interest in digital collectibles, generative art, and utility-based tokens. Blue-chip collections such as CryptoPunks and Art Blocks maintain price stability despite market fluctuations.
24-Hour NFT Trading Volume Jumps to $1.3 Billion
In the last day alone, NFT trading volume surged to $1.299 billion, signaling heightened speculative and collector activity. This spike coincides with new mint launches and platform incentives on marketplaces like Blur and Magic Eden.
Top Gainers: NFTs with Highest Sales Surge
Within the past 24 hours, several NFT collections experienced explosive growth in sales volume. Projects like Pudgy Penguins and Mfers ranked among the top gainers, driven by community campaigns and cross-platform integrations.
Political Momentum: Trump Advocates for Crypto Adoption
In a landmark speech at the New York Economic Club, former U.S. President Donald Trump reaffirmed his support for blockchain innovation, pledging to make America the global hub for cryptocurrency and Bitcoin if re-elected. He emphasized embracing “future industries” such as artificial intelligence and decentralized technologies, stating, “We will not attack the future—we will lead it.”
Trump also announced plans to establish a Government Efficiency Committee advised by Elon Musk, aimed at reducing federal waste and streamlining regulations—potentially paving the way for clearer crypto policy frameworks.
This pro-innovation stance could significantly influence regulatory sentiment and investor confidence heading into 2025.
NFT Innovation: Blend Lending Platform Surpasses $6.8 Billion in Volume
Blur’s NFT lending platform, Blend, has achieved a milestone with over $6.81 billion in total transaction volume and more than 755,000 loans issued. The platform enables NFT-backed borrowing with flexible interest models, attracting high-net-worth collectors and traders seeking liquidity without selling assets.
This success highlights the maturation of NFT financialization tools and growing demand for asset-backed credit solutions in Web3.
DeFi & Infrastructure Advancements
DRiP Raises $8M to Empower Solana Creators
DRiP, a Solana-based creator platform, has secured $8 million in seed funding led by NFX, Progression, and Coinbase Ventures. Additional participation came from Placeholder, 6th Man Ventures, and over 30 angel investors.
Funds will accelerate the launch of DRiP’s consumer mobile app and expand its suite of creator tools—aiming to simplify NFT distribution for artists, musicians, and digital content producers.
With Solana’s low fees and high throughput, DRiP is well-positioned to capture growing demand for scalable creator economies.
Linea Mainnet Crosses 1.2 Million Transactions
ConsenSys’ Layer 2 network Linea has surpassed 1.2 million transactions, with over 556,500 unique addresses interacting with the chain. The network has seen ETH bridge deposits exceed 765,000 ETH, reflecting strong adoption among developers and DeFi users.
Linea’s EVM equivalence and zk-rollup architecture make it an attractive destination for Ethereum-native dApps seeking scalability without sacrificing security.
Starknet Launches First On-Chain Governance Vote
Starknet is set to conduct its first mainnet governance vote from September 10–13, 2025, via Snapshot X. The proposal centers on defining the token emission curve for STRK staking rewards—an essential step toward full decentralization.
All STRK holders can participate by delegating voting power before September 10 at 12:00 UTC. This marks a pivotal moment in Starknet’s transition from centralized development to community-driven governance.
👉 Stay ahead of governance trends—learn how to participate in next-gen blockchain decisions.
LayerZero Maintains ZRO Stability Through Anti-Bot Measures
LayerZero CEO Bryan Pellegrino revealed that proactive Sybil attack mitigation (“witch hunting”) helped stabilize the price of its native token ZRO post-airdrop. By filtering out bots and sybil actors during distribution, LayerZero ensured tokens reached genuine long-term users and developers.
Compared to other recent L2 airdrops like Starknet (STRK) and ZKsync (ZK), ZRO has shown superior price retention—down only 23% since launch—demonstrating the effectiveness of fair distribution mechanisms.
SmartChain Invests in SmartWatch for DePIN Expansion
SmartChain, a public blockchain focused on decentralized physical infrastructure networks (DePIN), has announced a strategic investment in SmartWatch. Through partnerships with DePIN DAO and CoralApp, the initiative aims to integrate wearable tech into Web3 ecosystems, enabling real-world data contribution and user rewards.
This move signals growing convergence between IoT hardware and blockchain incentive models.
Solana TVL Reaches $4.6 Billion
Solana’s total value locked (TVL) now stands at $4.596 billion**, despite a minor 0.9% dip in 24-hour metrics. Its DeFi transaction volume rose by **20.5%**, reaching nearly **$569 million, underscoring robust on-chain activity driven by yield farms, DEXs, and NFT platforms.
Web3 Gaming: Earn Alliance Prepares for TGE
Earn Alliance, a Web3 gaming community platform, has appointed Jeff Drobick—former CEO of Tapjoy—as its new Chief Operating Officer. With deep expertise in mobile gaming ecosystems, Drobick will lead growth efforts ahead of Earn Alliance’s planned Token Generation Event (TGE) on October 10, 2025.
The platform recently integrated with Sky Mavis’ Ronin network, positioning itself at the intersection of traditional gaming communities and blockchain-based play-to-earn models.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: What factors are driving DeFi growth in 2025?
A: Regulatory clarity in key markets, improved cross-chain interoperability, and rising institutional participation are fueling DeFi expansion. Additionally, Layer 2 solutions like Linea and Starknet are enhancing scalability and user experience.
Q: Why is Trump's pro-crypto stance significant?
A: His endorsement could influence U.S. policy direction, potentially accelerating approval of spot Bitcoin ETFs, easing regulatory burdens on startups, and boosting mainstream adoption.
Q: How does Blend’s lending model work?
A: Blend allows NFT holders to use their digital assets as collateral for loans. Borrowers set interest rates and loan terms, while lenders earn yield—creating a peer-to-peer credit market for NFTs.
Q: What makes ZRO’s price performance stand out?
A: LayerZero’s aggressive anti-bot measures during its airdrop ensured wider distribution among real users, reducing sell pressure from speculative farmers—a common issue with other token launches.
Q: Is now a good time to invest in NFTs?
A: While volatile, NFTs with strong utility—such as access passes or gaming assets—are seeing renewed interest. Investors should focus on projects with active communities and clear use cases.
Q: How can I participate in Starknet’s governance vote?
A: You must delegate your STRK tokens before September 10 at 12:00 UTC via Snapshot X. Only delegated votes will count in the on-chain referendum.
👉 Get ready for the next wave of Web3 innovation—start exploring today.
Core Keywords: DeFi, NFTs, cryptocurrency, Bitcoin, Web3, Solana, LayerZero, Starknet