The crypto market’s ongoing bull run has brought renewed attention to long-dormant Layer 1 blockchains. While Solana has dominated headlines, older ecosystems like Avalanche (AVAX), NEAR Protocol, Fantom (FTM), and TON are now experiencing significant momentum. With native token prices climbing and ecosystem activity heating up, investors are asking: Is this a case of capital spillover from top-tier assets, or is there a deeper narrative resurgence driving value across these platforms?
This article explores the catalysts behind the recent rallies in AVAX, NEAR, FTM, and TON—examining ecosystem developments, market sentiment, and on-chain data to determine whether this momentum is sustainable or merely speculative noise.
NEAR Protocol: Riding the AI Wave and Event-Driven Momentum
One of the most notable catalysts for NEAR’s resurgence has been its strategic positioning within the artificial intelligence (AI) narrative. The project has long promoted itself as a blockchain infrastructure layer for AI applications, emphasizing decentralized data governance and transparent pricing models.
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The momentum intensified when NEAR co-founder Illia Polosukhin announced his participation in NVIDIA’s GTC24 conference, specifically in a session titled “Transforming AI.” The fact that he shared the stage with NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang was not lost on the market. Shortly after the announcement, NEAR’s price surged past $5 and has since climbed above $8—a significant move given its previous trading range.
This event-driven rally reflects more than hype; it underscores growing confidence in NEAR’s vision of merging blockchain with AI. By enabling developers to build applications that leverage verifiable data and decentralized compute resources, NEAR aims to become a foundational layer for next-generation AI use cases.
Additionally, NEAR has partnered with Cosmose AI, a consumer behavior analytics platform, to develop a stablecoin-based payment system. This integration allows users to make low-cost cryptocurrency purchases—bridging real-world commerce with Web3 infrastructure.
Meme Coin Resurgence Boosts Ecosystem Engagement
Like many blockchains experiencing renewed interest, NEAR has also seen a revival in its meme coin segment. BLACKDRAGON, a community-driven token on the NEAR network, surged over 700% from its recent lows, reaching $0.0078 with a 15% gain in just 24 hours. While speculative, such activity often signals increased user engagement and liquidity flowing into an ecosystem.
Avalanche: Gaming Partnerships and Technical Upgrades Fuel Growth
Avalanche (AVAX) has emerged as another major beneficiary of the current market cycle, driven by both high-profile partnerships and technical innovation.
On March 11, Nexon Group—the South Korean gaming giant behind MapleStory—announced a collaboration with Ava Labs to launch MapleStory Universe, a Web3 version of its iconic MMORPG built on Avalanche. The original game, launched in 2003, pioneered the free-to-play model and now claims over 180 million users globally across North America, Europe, Japan, and China.
The Web3 iteration, MapleStory N, will allow players to create their own game worlds and earn Web3 rewards. Though specifics around tokenomics remain unclear, NFTs are confirmed as central to the ecosystem’s value structure. The PC version is expected to launch by year-end on Avalanche’s network.
This partnership is significant—not only because of Nexon’s massive user base but also because it represents a major step toward mainstream gaming adoption of blockchain technology.
Durango Upgrade and Interoperability Enhancements
Complementing this news, Avalanche developers recently rolled out the Durango upgrade, introducing “Teleporter”—a new cross-chain messaging protocol designed to improve interoperability between subnets. This enhancement strengthens Avalanche’s unique subnet architecture, making it easier for enterprises and game developers to deploy customized blockchains while maintaining seamless connectivity.
Since these announcements, AVAX has rallied to $54.55—a 15.88% increase in 24 hours. Other ecosystem tokens have followed suit:
- Gamer Arena (GAU): Up 41.5% to $0.11
- Joe (JOE): Up 16.3% to $0.7372
Even meme coins like COQ have rebounded sharply, rising over 300% from recent lows to $0.00558—an indication of broad-based ecosystem revitalization.
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TON: Telegram Integration Drives Real-World Utility
The Open Network (TON), originally developed by Telegram, has seen substantial gains fueled by real-world utility rather than speculation alone.
On February 28, Telegram announced the global rollout of its ad platform to nearly 100 new countries. Crucially, all ad revenue sharing with channel owners—50% of earnings—will be processed via TON blockchain. This creates immediate demand for Toncoin (TON), as creators will need it for withdrawals or reinvestment into promotions.
Telegram emphasized speed and security as key reasons for choosing TON, reinforcing its role as a scalable Layer 1 optimized for microtransactions and mass adoption.
Shortly after the announcement, TON spiked over 27%, reaching $4.39 with a 29.5% 24-hour gain. The launch of TON perpetual futures (1–50x leverage) on Binance on March 1 further amplified bullish sentiment, sparking expectations of a spot listing.
These developments highlight TON’s advantage: direct integration with one of the world’s most popular messaging apps, boasting over 800 million users. Unlike many L1s still searching for product-market fit, TON already has a built-in user base and clear utility.
Fantom (FTM): Smart Money Inflows Signal Renewed Confidence
Fantom has quietly become one of the most watched networks among sophisticated investors. On-chain analytics from Nansen show repeated appearances of FTM in “Smart Money” inflow rankings.
- On March 3, FTM ranked among top inflows with approximately $1.53 million entering smart contracts.
- The next day, price jumped 30.56%, briefly breaking $0.70.
- By March 5, another $1.79 million flowed into FTM-related addresses, placing it alongside assets like RNDR and BEAM in top-tier investor interest.
Spot On Chain data revealed a whale that purchased 4.71 million FTM (~$2.69M) via Gemini and Airswap realized a $600K unrealized profit within just two days—a strong signal of early-stage accumulation by informed players.
With FTM now trading at $0.83 (+2.5% 24h), the question shifts from whether smart money is buying to whether retail will follow.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: Why are older Layer 1 blockchains like NEAR and Fantom surging now?
A: A combination of improved market sentiment, strategic partnerships (e.g., gaming, AI), and real-world utility (e.g., Telegram ads on TON) are reigniting interest. Additionally, capital rotation from saturated markets into undervalued ecosystems plays a role.
Q: Is the NEAR price surge sustainable after the NVIDIA event?
A: While event-driven pumps can be short-lived, NEAR’s focus on AI infrastructure gives it long-term relevance. Continued developer adoption and ecosystem growth will determine sustainability.
Q: How does Avalanche’s subnet model benefit game developers?
A: Subnets allow developers to create custom blockchains with tailored rulesets and fee structures while maintaining interoperability—ideal for games needing high throughput and low latency.
Q: Can TON achieve mass adoption through Telegram alone?
A: Telegram provides an unparalleled distribution channel. With built-in wallet features and seamless ad revenue payouts via TON, adoption could accelerate rapidly if user experience remains frictionless.
Q: What does “smart money” inflow mean for FTM?
A: It suggests that experienced investors see value or upcoming catalysts in Fantom’s ecosystem. Historically, such inflows precede broader price movements once retail awareness increases.
Q: Are meme coins on NEAR and Avalanche a positive sign?
A: Yes—while speculative, rising meme coin activity often correlates with increased network usage, developer attention, and liquidity—all signs of ecosystem health.
As capital continues to rotate beyond Ethereum and Solana, Layer 1 platforms with strong fundamentals, active development, and real-world use cases are reclaiming investor attention. Whether driven by AI narratives, gaming integrations, messaging app synergies, or institutional-grade on-chain activity, AVAX, NEAR, FTM, and TON represent compelling stories in this evolving cycle.
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