Analysis Company Messari Reveals 6 Events It Expects in the Cryptocurrency Market in 2025 That Could Transform the Market

Messari, a leading blockchain analytics platform, has released its annual forecast for 2025, predicting significant shifts in the cryptocurrency, AI applications, and NFT ecosystems. Here are the key takeaways:

Ethereum Will Outperform Solana in 2025

Messari predicts that Ethereum (ETH) will outperform Solana (SOL) throughout 2025 due to several factors:

• ETF Inflows: While Ethereum ETFs are expected to attract significant institutional interest, SOL ETFs may struggle to gain similar traction.
• FTX Liquidation: Over 11 million SOL will be removed from FTX property in March, leading to increased selling pressure.
• Market Dynamics: After a tough 2024, Ethereum is likely to attract marginal buyers in 2025, while Solana faces net selling as crypto-savvy investors turn to alternative assets.

According to the analytics company, the ETH/SOL ratio, which is already showing signs of a peak, is expected to continue to decline.

AI Tool Frameworks to Peak in Q1 2025

Messari believes that AI vehicle frameworks will reach their speculative peak in the first quarter of 2025, but interest will wane after that.

• Lack of Product-Market Fit: Unlike previous blockchain innovations, AI agents lack the proven demand or a defined user base to sustain long-term speculation.
• Speculative Cycle: Excitement around AI agents will wane as markets realize their limited utility beyond being experimental tools.

Pudgy Penguins to Surpass CryptoPunks

Popular NFT collectible Pudgy Penguins is predicted to surpass CryptoPunks as the PFP collectible in 2025.

• Value Creation: Pudgy Penguins leverages airdrops (PENGU) and external protocol distributions to create direct value for its owners.
• Mainstream Appeal: The brands rapid expansion into Web3 and mainstream markets is expected to further increase its cultural relevance and market value.
• Abstract Chain Integration: The launch of Abstract Chain will unlock additional value streams for the Pudgy Penguins ecosystem.

Peaq Will Surpass All Tier 2 Solutions

Peaq, a rapidly rising blockchain project, is predicted to disrupt all other Layer 2 (L2) solutions by 2025.

• Market Positioning: Peaq is already a top 10 L2 with a fully diluted valuation (FDV) of $2.1 billion.
• Competitive Advantage: Its unique approach to network and ecosystem development is expected to provide an advantage over traditional L2s.

Virtual's FDV to Surpass TAO's FDV in Q1 2025

Messari predicts a significant shift in valuation dynamics between VIRTUAL and TAO:

• TAO Supply Pressure: With a daily emission of $3.3 million, the value of TAO is likely to remain stagnant until the dTAO mechanism relieves the persistent supply pressure.
• VIRTUAL Growth: Increasing amounts of VIRTUAL are being locked up in intermediary liquidity pools (LPs).

Hyperliquid's Momentum Could Slow

While Hyperliquid is expected to continue to be a dominant trend in 2025, its performance may already be priced in by Q4 2024.

• Valuation Metrics: Hyperliquid‘s FDV is currently 1/4 that of Solana, 1/2 that of Coinbase, and equal to FTT’s peak FDV, suggesting limited room for growth without new developments.