• Smart contract platform tokens have seen double-digit gains and the total value locked in defi has jumped above $40 billion for the first time since mid-December 2022.
• The top smart contract platform coins by market capitalization increased 7.1% on January 9, 2023, and most have seen double-digit gains over the last week.
• Lido Finance has emerged as the most dominant defi protocol, surpassing Makerdao in TVL size.
Smart contract platform tokens have seen a surge in their prices over the past week, and the total value locked in decentralized finance (defi) has jumped back above the $40 billion mark for the first time since mid-December 2022. The top five smart contract platform coins by market capitalization saw an average increase of 7.1% on January 9, 2023, with Solana (SOL) experiencing the highest gain at 24.2%. Additionally, all five of the top smart contract assets have seen double-digit spikes over the last seven days, with SOL leading the pack at 72.3%.
The increase in the price of smart contract platform tokens has had a direct impact on the total value locked (TVL) in defi, as it has climbed back above the $40 billion milestone. Lido Finance has emerged as the most dominant defi protocol in terms of TVL, surpassing Makerdao in size. The entire crypto economy has also seen a boost, rising 3.6% to $893 billion on Monday around 11:00 a.m. (ET).
The rise in the prices of smart contract platform tokens could be attributed to the increased demand for these assets as a means of accessing the defi space. The surge in the prices of these tokens has been further compounded by the fact that more and more users are entering the space, and the total amount of value locked in defi continues to climb.
This surge in the prices of smart contract platform tokens could also be seen as a sign of the growing maturity of the defi space. As more users enter the space, more capital is being deployed into various defi protocols, which could lead to further growth in the future. It is also likely that the continued increase in the total value locked in defi will further fuel the rally in the prices of these tokens.
Overall, it is clear that the prices of smart contract platform tokens have been on a steady rise since the start of the year. With the total value locked in defi now above the $40 billion mark, it is likely that this trend will continue into the future. As the defi space continues to mature and more users enter the space, it is likely that the prices of these tokens will continue to rise.