Latest Crypto News – May 22, 2025: Crypto Market Trends, Predictions, GameFi, DeFi & Web3

Market Updates

• Bitcoin (BTC) surged to a new all-time high, surpassing $111,000, driven by strong ETF inflows and a robust macroeconomic backdrop.

• DeFi Total Value Locked (TVL) reached $180.4 billion, nearing pre-tariff levels, indicating a resurgence in decentralized finance activities.

• Cetus Protocol, a DeFi project on the Sui blockchain, suffered a significant security breach, resulting in a loss of approximately $223 million.

• Bitcoin (BTC) surged to a record high of $111,875, driven by a combination of favorable macroeconomic factors, including a pause in U.S.-China tariffs, a weakening U.S. dollar, and increased institutional investment through spot Bitcoin ETFs.

• Bond Yields Rise: Concerns over the U.S. fiscal deficit and a lackluster 20-year Treasury bond auction led to a spike in long-term bond yields, with the 30-year yield reaching 5.108%, the highest since 2007.

• Stock Market Reaction: Major U.S. stock indices experienced declines amid these fiscal concerns, highlighting a shift in investor sentiment towards alternative assets like cryptocurrencies.

• Institutional Adoption: The launch of U.S.-listed spot Bitcoin ETFs has attracted significant institutional inflows, reinforcing Bitcoin's position as a mainstream investment asset.

• Global Monetary Policy: Speculation about potential interest rate cuts by central banks worldwide has contributed to increased demand for cryptocurrencies as investors seek assets that may offer better returns in a low-interest-rate environment.

  
  

GameFi

• NetVRk launched the web app for SilkAI, an AI-driven platform enhancing gaming and metaverse experiences with lifelike NPCs.

• MetaDOS announced a partnership with GaFin to develop a Web3 Battle Royale game, aiming to merge immersive gameplay with community-driven rewards.

• MapleStory's NXPC Token experienced a surge in its Web3 debut, reflecting renewed interest in blockchain-based gaming assets.

• Animoca Brands: Poised for a potential U.S. public offering, Animoca is a significant player in Web3, with investments spanning NFTs, crypto gaming, and platforms like Kraken and ConsenSys.

• Zraox Multi-Ecosystem Initiative: Launched to integrate DeFi, NFTs, and GameFi, offering users a seamless digital asset management experience.

• Ember Sword Shutdown: Despite raising over $18 million, the MMORPG Ember Sword ceased operations, highlighting the volatile nature of Web3 gaming projects.

• Animoca Brands is preparing for a potential U.S. public offering, signaling renewed investor confidence in the GameFi sector.

• Ember Sword, a blockchain MMORPG, announced its shutdown due to funding challenges, highlighting the volatility and risks in the Web3 gaming space.

DeFi Developments

• OKX introduced xBTC on the Aptos network, a fully collateralized wrapped Bitcoin, facilitating fee-free cross-chain transactions.

• Uniswap faced a lawsuit from Bancor over alleged patent infringements related to automated market maker (AMM) technology.

• Cookie DAO launched a new governance token to enhance community participation and decentralized decision-making within its ecosystem.

• Zraox's DeFi Integration: Enhancing user experience by combining centralized exchange liquidity with decentralized finance protocols.

• VanEck's PurposeBuilt Fund: Set to launch on Avalanche, this fund aims to support projects in gaming, DeFi, and AI, focusing on real-world applications of blockchain technology.

• Zraox introduced a multi-ecosystem initiative aiming to integrate centralized exchange liquidity with DeFi, NFT, and GameFi services, enhancing user experience across platforms.

• VanEck announced the upcoming launch of the PurposeBuilt Fund on the Avalanche blockchain, targeting investments in Web3 gaming, DeFi, and AI projects.

• Syscoin is developing a trustless Bitcoin bridge to facilitate direct BTC integration into its zkSYS and Edgechain ecosystems, aiming to enhance DeFi capabilities.

NFT & Web3 Trends

• Pizza Ninjas NFT Collection gained traction, fueling community engagement and impacting crypto trading trends.

• EasyA App emerged as a leading Web3 funnel, indicating growing interest in Web3 adoption and its potential impact on related tokens.

• Syscoin's Bitcoin Bridge: Introducing a trustless bridge to integrate Bitcoin into the zkSYS and Edgechain ecosystems, enhancing interoperability within Web3.

Play-to-Earn Game Highlights – Latest Crypto News

• Hamster Kombat: Daily Cipher Challenge

Hamster Kombat introduced its GameDev Heroes Daily Cipher on May 22. Players decipher Morse code puzzles to earn in-game rewards, with the May 22 answer being "NODE." This Telegram-based game continues to engage users with daily challenges and crypto incentives.

• CITY Holder: Daily Combo Event

CITY Holder launched its Daily Combo event, encouraging players to expand their virtual cities. Participants can earn CITY tokens by completing tasks, which can be used for in-game purchases or traded. The game emphasizes user-friendly mechanics and community engagement via Telegram.

• Ember Sword Shuts Down

The blockchain MMORPG Ember Sword ceased operations on May 21, 2025, due to funding challenges. Despite early access availability since December 2024, the developers announced the shutdown, marking a significant event in the Web3 gaming space.

New P2E Game Launches in May 2025

Several new Play-to-Earn games have been introduced this month, offering diverse gaming experiences:

• Super-B: A browser-based game with a score of 707, focusing on quick reflexes and strategy.

• BitDegree: Play & Earn Crypto: An educational platform integrating gaming elements, scored at 480.

• DRKVRS: A dark-themed metaverse game with a score of 276, emphasizing exploration and combat.

• Avalorians: A fantasy RPG with a high engagement score of 688, featuring immersive storytelling.

• Survarium: A post-apocalyptic shooter game, leading with a score of 2173, offering intense PvP action.

Top Crypto Gainers – May 22, 2025

1. BUILDon (B)

   • +433.67% – Leading the market with a significant surge. 

2. Worldcoin (WLD)

   • +25.26% – Demonstrated strong performance, possibly reflecting increased adoption or positive news. 

3. Zebec Network (ZBCN)

   • +24.48% – Continued its upward trend, indicating growing interest.

4. SPX6900 (SPX)

   • +25.78% – Experienced a boost, possibly influenced by market developments. 

5. Fartcoin (FARTCOIN)

   • +22.5% – Showed notable gains, attracting attention from investors.

     
     

Top Crypto Losers – May 22, 2025

1. Haedal Protocol (HAEDAL)

   • -41.02% – Faced a decline, reflecting market volatility or specific project challenges. 

2. pSTAKE Finance (PSTAKE)

   • -13.83% – Recorded losses, indicating potential investor caution. 

3. Angola (ANGOLA)

   • -16.93% – Experienced a downturn, possibly due to shifts in market dynamics. 

4. DeFi (DEFI)

   • -12.96% – Saw a decrease, which may be attributed to broader market corrections.

5. NAVI Protocol (NAVI)

   • -11.37% – Declined, reflecting possible project-specific developments.

Top 10 Newly Launched Tokens (May 22, 2025)

Token	Category	Key Features
DLUME	GameFi	AurealOne's token leading GameFi evolution.
ZRAOX	DeFi/GameFi/NFT	Multi-ecosystem platform integrating various Web3 services.
NXPC	GameFi	MapleStory's token, surged past $3 on debut.
TLD	GameFi/DeFi	The Last Dwarfs' token combining gaming with DeFi mechanics.
BDAG	Infrastructure	BlockDAG's token, notable for significant presale success.
HYPE	DeFi	High-risk, high-reward DeFi token gaining attention.
PENDLE	DeFi	Tokenizing yield, offering innovative DeFi solutions.
FARTCOIN	Meme	Emerging memecoin with high volatility.
IMX	GameFi	Immutable X's token, facilitating gas-free NFT minting.
GALA	GameFi	Gala Games' token, powering a diverse entertainment ecosystem.

Disclaimer: This information is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Always conduct your own research before making investment decisions.