The crypto market is once again brimming with optimism, driven by a renewed wave of risk appetite that’s fueling gains across major altcoins. Two standout performers in Thursday’s session are Hyperliquid (HYPE) and Aptos (APT)—both riding high on a powerful comeback in the DeFi sector.
At the center of this bullish action? A historic bounce in DeFi Total Value Locked (TVL), signaling renewed investor confidence in decentralized protocols.
Trade Deal Buzz Sets Stage for Crypto Optimism
Adding fuel to the fire is growing speculation that U.S. President Donald Trump is about to unveil a landmark trade deal with the United Kingdom, as hinted in a social media tease on Wednesday. Confirmation from a senior UK official Thursday morning has only strengthened expectations, pushing the broader market into a bullish frenzy.
Bitcoin is inching ever closer to the psychological $100,000 mark, Ethereum is holding strong above $1,900, and Ripple is consolidating above $2.20. With risk-on sentiment dominating, altcoins like HYPE and APT are getting their moment in the spotlight.
Hyperliquid Rockets Past $20 as DeFi Surge Continues
Hyperliquid (HYPE) has made a dramatic comeback, leaping from an early April low of $9.30—a dip that followed tariff jitters—to currently trade above $21.70, marking an eye-popping 133% rally. The surge aligns with a sharp rebound in its DeFi TVL, which cratered to $311.55 million last month before skyrocketing to an all-time high of $872 million, according to DefiLlama.
This revival in TVL—a critical measure of activity and capital trust within decentralized platforms—points to growing user confidence in Hyperliquid’s offerings, ranging from staking to liquidity pools.
Technically, HYPE is showing bullish resilience. The price is comfortably trading above both the 50-day and 100-day EMAs, while the Relative Strength Index (RSI) at 68.45 suggests more upside could be ahead. If momentum persists, the token could test resistance at $24.00, and perhaps even $28.00.
Still, traders should remain watchful. RSI readings nearing the overbought zone can sometimes precede a cooldown, especially if profit-taking kicks in.
Aptos: Eyeing a Climb Toward $10
Aptos (APT) is another altcoin catching a lift from the market’s risk-on mood. The token is now hovering around $5.00, recovering from a dip to $4.50, and is up more than 6% on the day.
Behind the scenes, Aptos has also seen its DeFi TVL rise sharply—up 5.4% in the past 24 hours to hit $1.16 billion, rebounding from an April low of $947.77 million. This uptick suggests stronger engagement from developers and users alike, which could provide the foundation for further price appreciation.
From a technical standpoint, Aptos is flashing bullish signals. The MACD indicator is on the cusp of a buy crossover, and the RSI at 49.12 shows room for growth. If APT breaks above the 50-day EMA at $5.28, the road could be clear for a move toward $10.00.
However, traders should be mindful of resistance levels looming at the 100-day EMA near $5.94 and the 200-day EMA at $6.93. Failure to crack these levels could see a retest of lower supports—possibly revisiting April’s low of $3.89.
The Bigger Picture
For both HYPE and APT, the road ahead looks promising but not without hurdles. Their recent gains are rooted in genuine on-chain growth, especially in DeFi participation, not just market speculation. If broader macro conditions—like the U.S.-UK trade deal and stable interest rate policies—remain favorable, these tokens could continue their ascent.
In a market that’s as reactive as it is fast-moving, Hyperliquid and Aptos have managed to stand out for the right reasons.
