In 2025, memecoins and AI-themed altcoins dominated discussions among cryptocurrency enthusiasts, yet their popularity did not equate to performance. A recent CoinGecko report reveals both sectors have experienced significant year-to-date (YTD) losses. As 2025’s volatile final quarter unfolds, the market’s cautious approach has diminished the appetite for pure speculation. Although market interest remains high, generating profits has become challenging for many investors this year.
Memecoin and AI Token Trends
According to CoinGecko, memecoins, a popular narrative in 2025, reported an average YTD loss of 31.6%. Larger-scale memecoins experienced declines between 44.6% and 82.5%. However, within the Virtuals ecosystem, Ribbita stood as an exception, resisting the downward trend.
The AI-themed altcoins followed a similar pattern, with most observing losses ranging from 49.8% to 84.3%. Notable exceptions include Alchemist AI and Kite, which managed to avoid steep drops. The report highlights the increasing difficulty investors face in transforming popular narratives into returns in 2025.
Weakness extended beyond memecoins and AI altcoins to other narratives like DeFi and DEX coins. DeFi trailed closely with an average loss of 34.8%, while DEX coins mirrored AI’s downfall with a 55.5% decline. Layer 2 solutions, despite scaling promises, underwhelmed with an average YTD loss of 40.6% for the second consecutive year.
RWA and Layer-1 Yield Positive Results
In contrast to negative returns elsewhere, Real World Assets (RWA) emerged as the most profitable narrative of 2025. Major RWA altcoins surged by an average of 185.8% YTD, driven by the substantial rally of Keeta Network, which soared 1,794.9%. Zebec Network and Maple Finance also contributed significantly to the positive performance. However, returns fell short compared to the 819.5% leap seen in 2024.
Layer-1 solutions claimed the second spot, achieving an average YTD gain of 80.3%. Blockchains focused on privacy, like Zcash and Monero, showed notable gains. They were joined by Bitcoin Cash, BNB, and Tron, maintaining an upward trajectory in this narrative. CoinGecko identified RWA and Layer-1 as the only narratives to produce consistent positive returns over two years.
The “Made in USA” altcoin narrative recorded a modest gain of 30.6% YTD. Gains from Zcash offset losses in other areas. Meanwhile, Gaming and DePIN witnessed severe declines, with decreases of 75.2% and 76.7%, respectively. Although prominent in mindshare, the Solana ecosystem underperformed by dropping 64.2% YTD.
