Emerging Assets in the Altcoin Season
Bitcoin and Ethereum often take center stage in cryptocurrency discussions, but the latter half of 2025 is poised to highlight a different category of assets that are gaining traction through their practical utility as the Altcoin season gains momentum. As investments shift towards tokens that integrate infrastructure, governance, and functionality, three lesser-known contenders are emerging: SUI, ARB, and GALA. These tokens, typically overlooked in mainstream conversations, are supported by their ecosystems, user engagement metrics, and key upcoming developments, positioning them for a possible surge in the third and fourth quarters.
SUI: The Undervalued Layer 1 Solution
Sui is carving out a unique niche among Layer 1 blockchains with its innovative object-oriented architecture and parallel execution capabilities, which facilitate faster and scalable applications. Although it boasts features like zkLogin and sponsored gas to enhance user experience, SUI hasn’t garnered as much attention as more prominent networks like Ethereum or Solana. While many current infrastructures assume isolated development, the Sui Stack promotes collaborative building among users, data, applications, and agents. This represents a fundamental shift in software development philosophy. By mid-2025, Sui’s total value locked (TVL) surpassed $580 million, according to DeFiLlama data. The network is experiencing an uptick in activity, particularly within its DeFi platforms and the burgeoning GameFi sector, with applications like DeepBook and Navi Protocol gaining traction. With a market capitalization exceeding $13 billion and 2.4 million tracked interactions via LunarCrush, Sui is witnessing growing interest despite a lack of media coverage. Currently, Sui’s trading price stands at $3.96, reflecting a 66% increase over the past month.
ARB: The Governance Token with Strategic Influence
Arbitrum is the leading Layer 2 network on Ethereum in terms of total value locked, yet the ARB token has not seen a corresponding rise in its market valuation. As of July 2025, ARB holds a market cap of $2.5 billion, even as Arbitrum secures over $14 billion in assets and processes substantial transaction volumes across its ecosystem. The current shift in focus is on governance, with token holders actively participating in ecosystem decisions via the Arbitrum DAO, including a recent commitment of $200 million aimed at bolstering gaming development. The introduction of Stylus, an upgrade that permits programming languages like Rust and C++, could further engage developers. As usage of the protocol expands and the DAO’s management of its treasury becomes more transparent, ARB may start to better reflect its significant network influence. Recently, ARB has experienced an 85% increase in value, trading now at $0.48, driven by the ongoing Altcoin season.
GALA: Transitioning from Speculation to Functional Ecosystem
GALA, which saw significant trading activity during the crypto boom of 2021, has shifted its focus towards establishing a comprehensive Web3 ecosystem. The token now plays various roles within Gala Games, including facilitating in-game transactions, supporting NFT activities, and maintaining node infrastructure. Despite a decline in media attention since its initial rise, the platform is actively developing. In 2025, anticipated game releases like Mirandus and Legends Reborn are on the horizon, alongside growing support for Gala Film and Gala Music from creators. The decentralization of GalaChain is progressing, and node activity is on the rise, with GALA’s market cap hovering around $900 million. Community engagement is also increasing, with July reporting 265,000 interactions and nearly 4,000 social media mentions. Should the GameFi sector regain traction, Gala’s multifaceted approach may attract renewed interest. GALA’s price has surged by 65% in the last month, currently trading at $0.02.
Potential for Asymmetric Growth
SUI, ARB, and GALA present tangible utility with relatively low market exposure. While the broader market remains fixated on major cryptocurrencies, these projects are demonstrating significant strides in development and user engagement. If investment continues to flow towards assets driven by practical use cases during the Altcoin season, these undervalued tokens could see a resurgence in interest over the coming months.
