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

Bitcoin and Ethereum Soar Together! Eight Altcoins Worth Watching in the Later Market

Bitcoin and Ethereum Surge, Fueling Altcoin Speculation. Bitcoin Eyes $77,000, Ethereum Gains 20% in a Single Day. Market anticipates capital rotation from major cryptos to high-beta altcoins, but a selective rise is expected, favoring projects with genuine users, protocol revenue, and healthy tokenomics. Analysts highlight eight altcoins across key sectors: **High-Performance Blockchains:** * **SOL (Solana):** Market cap ~$51.88B. A dominant player with a strong ecosystem. Considered a relatively safe bet for potential catch-up growth. * **SUI (Sui):** Market cap ~$3.03B. High volatility potential but faces risks from its low circulating supply and future token unlocks. **DeFi Lending:** * **UNI (Uniswap):** Market cap ~$2.38B. Transitioning to a revenue-capturing asset post-fee switch implementation. * **AAVE (Aave):** Market cap ~$1.53B. Features balanced tokenomics and revenue but has seen significant recent gains. * **MORPHO:** Market cap ~$1.50B. Rapid protocol growth but weaker token value capture and opaque supply data. **Perpetual DEX:** * **HYPE (Hyperliquid):** Market cap ~$16.41B. The clear sector leader with strong revenue but high valuation and a large portion of tokens still locked, warranting caution. **RWA & On-Chain Finance Infrastructure:** * **LINK (Chainlink):** Market cap ~$8.09B. A key oracle provider positioned to benefit from multiple trends like RWA and institutional adoption, offering strong fundamentals. * **ONDO (Ondo Finance):** Market cap ~$1.77B. Shows strong business growth but carries high risks due to concentrated token holdings and a massive unlock scheduled for 2027. **Conclusion:** The altcoin rally is expected to be selective. Recommendations include a medium position in SOL, small allocations to SUI and UNI/AAVE for DeFi exposure, and caution with HYPE and ONDO due to their specific risks. LINK is suggested as a core holding for the RWA thematic.

marsbit1h ago

Bitcoin and Ethereum Soar Together! Eight Altcoins Worth Watching in the Later Market

marsbit1h ago

Shanghai's $10 Billion Unicorn Is About to Go Public

Shanghai-based automotive-grade millimeter-wave radar chip unicorn Calterah Microelectronics Technology (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. has filed for an IPO on Shanghai's STAR Market, aiming to raise 3.49 billion yuan. Founded in 2014 by Chen Jiashu, a UC Berkeley PhD graduate, and his professor Ali Niknejad, Calterah pioneered CMOS technology for 77GHz radar chips, breaking the decades-long monopoly of international giants like Texas Instruments. Its low-cost, highly integrated solutions enabled millimeter-wave radar to move from luxury to mass-market vehicles. By 2025, Calterah captured a 31.1% share in China's automotive millimeter-wave radar chip market (second domestically, fourth globally), with cumulative shipments exceeding 30 million units. Its client list includes BYD, Geely, Nio, and Volvo. The company has undergone 11 funding rounds, attracting high-profile investors such as the National Integrated Circuit Industry Investment Fund Phase II, China Capital Management, and GD Capital. Its valuation has reached tens of billions of yuan, with a projected post-IPO valuation of approximately 14 billion yuan. Despite rapid revenue growth—increasing from 206 million yuan in 2023 to 632 million yuan in 2025 with a 75.28% CAGR—Calterah remains unprofitable. It reported net losses of 323 million yuan, 334 million yuan, and 193 million yuan from 2023 to 2025, accumulating over 900 million yuan in losses over three and a half years. These losses are primarily attributed to heavy R&D investment, which totaled over 1.039 billion yuan in the reporting period, often exceeding annual revenue. The company faces significant risks, including high customer concentration (its top five customers accounted for over 99% of revenue from 2023-2025, with BYD alone representing over 50% in 2025) and supply chain concentration. Revenue pressure from key customers and dependencies on overseas suppliers for EDA tools and IP pose challenges to sustainable growth. The IPO is seen as crucial for securing capital to expand production, diversify its customer base, and reduce supply chain dependencies.

marsbit2h ago

Shanghai's $10 Billion Unicorn Is About to Go Public

marsbit2h ago

Ray Dalio's Latest Macro Analysis Full Text: Buy More Gold, Add Some Bitcoin

In his latest macro analysis, Ray Dalio applies his framework from "How Countries Go Broke: The Big Cycle" to the current global debt environment. He highlights recent events like Japan selling U.S. Treasuries and rising U.S. long-term yields as signs of an unsustainable debt dynamic. Dalio explains that excessive government debt leads to either unacceptably high interest rates, severe economic downturns, or significant currency debasement through central bank money printing. He summarizes the U.S. fiscal situation: with $5.5 trillion in revenue, $7.5 trillion in spending, a $2 trillion deficit, and total debt at six times annual revenue, debt servicing costs are immense. Without correction, U.S. debt could reach $55-$60 trillion in a decade. Dalio proposes a "3% Three-Way" solution: reducing the budget deficit to 3% of GDP through balanced spending cuts, tax increases, and interest rate reductions to avoid a traumatic adjustment. In response to FAQs, he argues that the risk of a U.S. debt crisis is high and could materialize within a few years if the current path continues. He dismisses the notion that the dollar's reserve status makes the U.S. immune, citing historical precedents of reserve currency declines. He is also unconvinced by Japan's high-debt stability, noting poor returns for yen-denominated assets. For investors, Dalio recommends diversifying globally, underweighting bonds, and overweighting assets like gold and a small allocation to Bitcoin (around 10-15% to gold) to hedge against currency debasement and poor debt returns.

marsbit3h ago

Ray Dalio's Latest Macro Analysis Full Text: Buy More Gold, Add Some Bitcoin

marsbit3h ago

Stripe’s 16-Year Chronicle: From 7 Lines of Code to a $100 Billion Valuation

Stripe's 16-year journey began with a simple promise: "7 lines of code to accept payments." Founded by Patrick and John Collison, the company started by hiding the complexity of bank integrations and merchant accounts behind a clean API, initially targeting developers at startups. This early focus on user experience and technical simplicity fueled rapid adoption. A key early milestone was establishing vital bank partnerships, a challenge overcome by hiring Billy Alvarado, who brought crucial institutional relationship skills. From this foundation, Stripe systematically expanded its product boundaries. It launched Connect for platform payments, Atlas for company formation, Radar for fraud prevention, and Billing for subscriptions. This transformed Stripe from a payment processor into a broader financial infrastructure suite for internet businesses. The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated growth but also led to over-hiring. A 14% layoff in 2022 marked a period of organizational correction. Subsequently, Stripe shifted its growth strategy towards strategic acquisitions to enter new domains quickly. It acquired Bridge (stablecoin infrastructure), Privy (wallet infrastructure), Metronome (usage-based billing), and agreed to buy OpenRouter (AI model routing). These moves signal Stripe's ambition to build a "programmable money system" for the emerging AI and agent-based economy, managing not just currency flows but also the measurement and pricing of computational resources like AI tokens. Internally, Stripe leverages AI agents (like "Minions") to boost engineering productivity. Despite scaling to nearly 8,000 employees and processing $1.9 trillion in payment volume annually, the company remains private. A recent employee tender offer valued it at $159 billion. The core question for Stripe's future is whether it can successfully integrate its expanding product matrix—spanning payments, crypto, and AI infrastructure—into a cohesive platform, positioning itself as the foundational economic layer for autonomous software agents.

marsbit3h ago

Stripe’s 16-Year Chronicle: From 7 Lines of Code to a $100 Billion Valuation

marsbit3h ago

Trading

Spot

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