Crypto market’s weekly winners and losers – M, ZEC, STORY, JUP

ambcryptoPublished on 2025-12-14Last updated on 2025-12-14

Abstract

This week's crypto market tested investor resolve. While Bitcoin showed decent movement and Ethereum hinted at an altcoin season, several altcoins recorded significant double-digit price changes. Leading the weekly winners, MemeCore [M] surged 42%, marking its first green weekly candle after three consecutive declines. Despite the strong rebound, it faces a key resistance zone between $1.90–$2.00. Merlin Chain [MERL] followed with a 33% gain, breaking out of an eight-week consolidation phase, though it must overcome the $0.50 resistance level to sustain momentum. Zcash [ZEC] also appeared among the top gainers but continues to search for a market bottom. On the losing side, Story [IP] led declines with a 10% drop, extending its bearish trend to seven consecutive red weekly candles. Jupiter [JUP] fell 9.17%, struggling to hold support and risking a break below $0.20. The Graph [GRT] declined 9% as well, with bears repeatedly rejecting buyer attempts to establish a base. Other notable losers included Legacy Token (down 66%), OKZOO (down 64%), and Pieverse (down 52%). The week highlighted continued volatility, with sharp pumps and dips across the board. Traders are advised to stay cautious, conduct their own research, and manage risk accordingly.

This week in the crypto market, investor patience was tested.

Despite the rate cut, Bitcoin [BTC] moved decently. Ethereum [ETH] showed a stronger recovery, hinting at early signs of an altcoin season. Among this, a few altcoins topped the charts with massive double-digit gains.

Weekly winners

MemeCore [M] — Meme-focused L1 led gains with a solid rebound

MemeCore [M] topped the weekly charts with a 42% bounce. The structure is flashing early FOMO signals, with M printing its first green weekly candle after three straight red weeks, following a brutal 60% drawdown.

Zooming in, this run has pushed price back toward its late-November range, which naturally raises questions about follow-through. A near-50% weekly move can be heavy, especially if momentum cools.

That said, the technicals aren’t stretched yet. Weekly RSI is sitting near 60, suggesting the move hasn’t gone overbought. If momentum holds, M could be setting up for a pushback toward the $2 level.

However, bears are creeping back in. After a 6.97% intraday dip, sellers appear to be leaning hard on the $1.90–$2.00 overhead supply zone, marking a key resistance M hasn’t flipped since late November.

If bulls play this right and hold the line, a short squeeze could be back on the menu, with a clean $2 breakout in sight. If not, rejection here likely sends price back to retest lower support as momentum fades.

Merlin Chain [MERL] — Bitcoin L2 needs a resistance break to extend gains

Merlin Chain [MERL] was the second-biggest weekly gainer, ripping 33% off the $0.35 open. The weekly chart is flashing a textbook consolidation-to-breakout setup after an eight-week sideways chop.

Backing the move, on-chain data looks solid. As AMBCrypto noted, MERL’s double-digit gains are supported by a growing HODLer base, showing early FOMO signals. In this setup, momentum still looks constructive.

That said, the $0.50 resistance is the key level to watch.

A clean break above it is crucial for continuation. With fundamentals lining up, a bear trap around resistance looks increasingly likely. Overall, MERL shapes up as a strong short-term momentum play if bulls follow through.

Zcash [ZEC] — Privacy token is still searching for a bottom

Weekly losers

Story [IP] — Layer-1 token erased all of its previous weekly gains

Story [IP] led this week’s losers, sliding 10%. In a risk-off tape, that kind of drop usually looks manageable, especially with L1s broadly seeing on-chain flows dry up.

But IP’s chart tells a rougher story. The weekly structure is firmly bearish, printing its seventh straight red candle since breaking below $6 in mid-October, showing clear signs of capitulation.

From here, a sweep of the $1 level is very much on the table.

From the technical perspective, the RSI sat at around 38, not deeply oversold yet, which suggests there’s still room for downside. With the bears in control, it’s hard to see the bulls mounting a meaningful defense for now.

Jupiter [JUP] — Solana-based DEX failed to hold key support levels

Jupiter [JUP] ranked as the second-biggest weekly loser, dropping 9.17% from its $0.22 open. Like IP, JUP is seeing persistent outflows and is now down roughly 50% from its late-November high at $0.44.

So, is sell-side pressure easing? Not really. The weekly chart still shows a bear-controlled structure, with bulls repeatedly failing to defend key support—signaling sellers are still leaning in.

Even after a short 4% bounce in late November, bulls couldn’t flip $0.25 into support. That rejection pushed price lower, and in this setup, JUP remains at high risk of breaking below $0.20 next if bears stay in control.

The Graph [GRT] — Data protocol shows clear bear control

The Graph [GRT] took third place among weekly losers, slipping 9%. While GRT and JUP are both stuck under bearish pressure and struggling to hold support, GRT’s chart still looks a bit more constructive.

Since Q3, bulls have made two clear base attempts. The first around $0.08, then near $0.07. Each time, bears slapped price back down, dragging GRT deeper into correction.

That said, unlike JUP, buyers are still defending dips, giving GRT a slight edge. If this holds, a phase of heavier accumulation could be next. For now, volume is the key tell to watch.

Other notable losers

In the broader market, downside volatility hit hard.

Legacy Token [LGTC] led the losers with a steep 66% drop, followed by OKZOO [AIOT] falling 64%, and Pieverse [PIEVERSE] slipping 52% as momentum sharply cooled.

Conclusion

This week was a rollercoaster. Big pumps, sharp dips, and nonstop action. As always, stay sharp, do your own research, and trade smart.


Final Thoughts

  • MemeCore [M], Merlin Chain [MERL], Zcash [ZEC] led the week in gains.
  • Story [IP], Jupiter [JUP], The Graph [GRT] saw significant declines.

Trending Cryptos

Related Reads

Vitalik's Algorithmic Stablecoin Vision: Interpreting the Mechanism and Challenges from an Options Perspective

Vitalik Buterin's recent algorithmic stablecoin proposal envisions using an option-like mechanism to create a stablecoin without the liquidation risks inherent in traditional collateralized debt position (CDP) models. The design splits one unit of ETH into two components: a 'stable' leg (P) that maintains value up to a certain strike price, and an 'upside' leg (N) that captures any appreciation above that price. Together, they always sum to one ETH, eliminating the need for debt or liquidation mechanisms. From an options perspective, the stable leg essentially functions as a synthetic, covered call position. However, significant challenges exist. For the stable asset to maintain its peg, it must continuously roll deep in-the-money call options, leading to potential rollover slippage, predictable trading paths vulnerable to front-running, and liquidity issues. Crucially, the system's scalability depends on a constant demand for the upside leg—a form of leveraged ETH long position without funding rates or liquidation risk. It's unclear if such persistent, specific demand will materialize from speculators or market makers who have simpler alternatives like perpetual swaps. The author, drawing from experience with Rysk, argues that DeFi options have struggled as standalone trading products due to complexity and fragmented liquidity. Their potential lies instead as foundational infrastructure underpinning more complex financial primitives like stablecoins, structured yields, or index products—transforming from a direct product into a core pricing and risk distribution engine for the next generation of on-chain finance.

marsbit1h ago

Vitalik's Algorithmic Stablecoin Vision: Interpreting the Mechanism and Challenges from an Options Perspective

marsbit1h ago

GPT-5.6 Countdown: Abandon the Illusion of a Single API, Computational Iteration Can't Outpace a Single Page of Compliance

In mid-June, three seemingly independent industry events—the compliance-driven throttling of Fable 5, the open-sourcing of GLM-5.2, and the leaked release timeline for GPT-5.6—are pushing the global AI industry toward a watershed moment. These shifts signal a fundamental restructuring of the industry's underlying logic. First, **"usability" has substantially overtaken "advanced capabilities"** as the primary weight, pushing the global large language model (LLM) supply chain into a "dual-track" phase of controlled closed-source and local open-source coexistence. Second, **the competitive moats of closed-source giants are shifting**. Their technical focus is moving from "language intelligence" toward "spatial intelligence (world models)"—a domain heavily reliant on computing power. Third, faced with常态化 transnational compliance risks, **a "model-agnostic" decoupled design has become a survival necessity for application-layer developers to maintain business continuity.** The article details how Anthropic's Fable 5, despite its advanced engineering feats, was restricted for non-U.S. citizens within 72 hours of launch, highlighting how geopolitical compliance can instantly limit even the most advanced models. In response, the open-source camp, exemplified by Zhipu AI's MIT-licensed GLM-5.2, is gaining market share by offering stable performance improvements and significant cost advantages (up to 70% savings for enterprises), while achieving full adaptation with domestic semiconductor platforms. Meanwhile, closed-source leaders like OpenAI are pivoting. The anticipated GPT-5.6 reportedly shifts focus from language to spatial intelligence and world models, aiming to rebuild a generational gap in areas like 3D understanding, simulation, and industrial design that demand immense compute. The core conclusion is that the LLM supply chain's logic has changed. Enterprises must now evaluate infrastructure based on a composite of technical performance and policy compliance. For developers, complete reliance on a single closed-source API poses unacceptable risk. Implementing a truly model-agnostic architecture—enabling swift switches to compliant, locally deployable open-source alternatives—is no longer just good practice but a fundamental baseline for business continuity.

marsbit3h ago

GPT-5.6 Countdown: Abandon the Illusion of a Single API, Computational Iteration Can't Outpace a Single Page of Compliance

marsbit3h ago

Is the 'Token Subsidy War' Among AI Giants Almost Over?

The article discusses the ongoing "token subsidy war" among AI giants like OpenAI and Anthropic, questioning whether it's nearing its end. It reveals that current AI subscription prices are heavily subsidized, with some plans offering tokens at up to 70 times the actual cost to attract and retain heavy users, especially developers and enterprises. This strategy mirrors past internet-era subsidy battles, but with a key difference: AI tokens lack "lock-in" effects. Unlike ride-hailing or food delivery apps, users can easily switch between AI providers as APIs become standardized, making it difficult for companies to raise prices post-subsidy. The piece highlights a structural asymmetry in the competition. Giants like Google, with massive advertising revenue, can afford to subsidize tokens indefinitely, akin to using "tokens as a weapon." In contrast, venture-backed companies like OpenAI and Anthropic face pressure to become profitable, especially as they approach IPO. The article cites Google Ventures founder Bill Maris, who suggests Google could slash token prices by 80%, putting immense pressure on competitors. Two potential endgames are presented: the "internet service" model (subsidize, monopolize, then raise prices) and the "utility" model (tokens become a standardized, low-margin commodity like electricity). Given the low switching costs, the latter seems more likely. The competition may not have a single winner but could instead accelerate AI's evolution into a foundational, infrastructure-level technology, akin to a public utility. For now, users continue to benefit from heavily subsidized token costs.

marsbit4h ago

Is the 'Token Subsidy War' Among AI Giants Almost Over?

marsbit4h ago

Trading

Spot
Futures

Hot Articles

Discussions

Welcome to the HTX Community. Here, you can stay informed about the latest platform developments and gain access to professional market insights. Users' opinions on the price of S (S) are presented below.

活动图片