DeFi Tops Crypto Sectors With 44.6% YTD Gains as RWAs and Stablecoins Follow Close

• DeFi protocols gained 44.6% in 2025 and have outpaced Bitcoin, Layer 1s, and crypto sectors.
• RWAs deliver 38.7%, and stablecoins 38.6%, driving top-tier crypto sector growth.
• Meme coins fall 7.4%, and gaming tokens drop 43.6%, showing sharp underperformance.

Decentralized Finance protocols have captured the top position among cryptocurrency sectors in 2025 and have generated 44.6% year-to-date returns. Crypto investor Rand highlighted DeFi’s leadership alongside real-world assets and stablecoins as standout performers driving market growth into the fourth quarter.

Real-World Assets follow closely with 38.7% gains, and stablecoins achieved 38.6% returns. These three categories have distinguished themselves from other cryptocurrency segments that have delivered more modest results during the same period.

Other Crypto Sectors Show Mixed Results

Layer 1 blockchains generated 24.6% returns, while Bitcoin managed 19.8% gains year-to-date. E…

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