While the crypto market has always been cyclical, cycles are not only just about price, they are about launches.
Every cycle of innovation has always been associated with a corresponding set of projects that recast blockchain thinking and reframed liquidity across the market. The story is no different with the ICO craze in 2017, the rise of DeFi and NFTs, or the scaling epoch of Ethereum Layer 2s; launches are the drivers of narrative and opportunity.
In 2025, we entered into another significant cycle. With a new set of major launches in view: artificial intelligence, real-world assets, Ethereum scaling spinoffs, and a revitalization of GameFi and SocialFi – for traders this is not just interesting, this is liquidity concentration, volatility high and the next momentum of market momentum.
At MEXC, we view the cycles best not as isolated events but as a part of a larger market structure formed by the cycle. And, because we position ourselves at the front of every launch cycle, we see you as the objective observers, but to become part of the launch experience.
1.Why Launches Are More Important Than Ever
In most branches of finance, things tend to move slowly regarding innovation. Public equity markets may facilitate a small number of IPOs each year, with liquidity dedicated to a few established blue chips. By contrast, launches in crypto are more frequent, global, and accessible in real-time. Launches not only dictate what traders buy and sell but also shape how narratives emerge across the broader industry.
For example, when Uniswap launched liquidity mining (likely in 2020), billions rushed into the ecosystem and DeFi Summer began. Similarly, when Arbitrum launched in 2023, it advanced the entire Layer 2 movement and allowed trading opportunities for the entire ecosystem, including liquidity providers. These were not just new tokens; these were new ecosystems for value creation.
The same is true today. Launches are how new narratives get introduced to the market, and in a rapidly shifting landscape (with Ethereum scaling, AI, and real-world applications), 2025 may be one of the most launched and launched seasons in recent memory! Check out the latest launch listings here.
2.The Canvas of 2025: What Comes Next
This year’s launches are consolidated into a handful of macro themes that are already gathering steam.
2.1 AI x Blockchain
AI is arguably the most relevant global narrative of the current time, and we’re finally seeing a practical catalyst for AI and blockchain. We are witnessing the launch of decentralized computer marketplaces, tokenized AI agents, and data sharing protocols that permit communities to monetize their information without revealing it to a centralized platform. Each of these launches is appealing not only to crypto natives, but also to the broader tech world looking for exposure to the growth of AI.
2.2 RWAs and a New Generation of Stablecoins
When it comes to tokenizing real world assets (RWAs), there has been a promise to do so for years; but in 2025, it’s happening in a bold way. The protocols launching in 2025 are bringing U.S. Treasuries, commodities, and even energy markets onto the blockchain in easily accessible formats. Simultaneously, new generations of stablecoins, algorithmic, overcollateralized, yield-bearing are in the field. Again, these launches represent tokens but also gateways to global liquidity, and traders are already positioning themselves to reap the benefits of the early days.
2.3 Ethereum Scaling Offshoots
The Layer 2 ecosystem within the Ethereum economy is no longer a theoretical exercise, it is now the predominant growth vector for the network. What we are observing today in 2025 is the next stage: offshoots of successful L2s, custom execution layers, and specialized rollups targeted at gaming, social media, and high-frequency trading. Each of these offshoots generates tokens which are at the heart of new liquidity flows and each generates volatility which traders can take advantage of.
2.4 The Return of GameFi and SocialFi
After the speculative peaks of 2021, many believed GameFi and SocialFi were over. However, new activity in 2025 is distinct. This time around, projects are coming with sustainable economies, real partnerships, and better-designed incentives. Token launches associated with immersive gaming platforms and creator-driven networks are capturing the attention of not only Web3 traders but also the general market.
3.MEXC’s Role in Supporting the Launch Cycle
For traders, getting in early is critical to capturing the returns but this is only possible when exchanges continue to move quickly to support the new launch cycle. This is where MEXC has a real edge in the market.
Our philosophy is straightforward: if the market is changing, MEXC changes with it. So, we list new tokens at launch, provide deep liquidity out of the gate, and offer spot/derivatives markets enabling traders to manage risk in volatile assets.
MEXC didn’t list Arbitrum or Optimism during the Layer 2 boom between 2023 and 2024. We built entire markets around the ecosystems of those projects, supplying traders access to not only the headline token, but also to those projects that launched within these networks too. This approach is consistent throughout 2025. Whether we’re dealing with AI-linked protocols, RWA tokens, or the next breakout launch in GameFi, MEXC will continue to establish the ability to trade these assets freely, while providing accessibly and liquidity.
Liquidity is more than just volume. It is confidence. Traders choose MEXC because they know that they can enter and exit their positions without the friction of illiquid markets. This reliability is particularly important when launch day arrives and volatility is at its highest. Reliability allows us to turn speculative trading opportunities into structured trades, establishing a true advantage for users on our exchange.
4.Launches as Market Signals
In addition to the excitement, token listings can also provide leading indicators for market movement and direction. When major protocols launch, they don’t just bring a new asset; they also bring momentum. Liquidities will migrate into this asset, narratives will solidify, and trader’s focus will shift.
This was apparent during the DeFi boom, where each launch resulted in secondary waves of yield farming and governance token activity. It rang true again during NFT and GameFi cycles when cultural adoption brought millions of new participants into the crypto ecosystem. And it still applies today, especially with the emergence of Ethereum’s L2s, where each launch represents the next progressive step to achieve global scalability.
At MEXC, we think of launches as signals. For example, a surge of AI-related listings doesn’t only create new trading pairs, it signals that the market is prepared to assign real value to that intersection of technologies. Similarly, a wave of RWA launches signals that traders are mobilizing themselves for blockchain to continue to merge into traditional finance. Signals like these are one driver of how we structure our listings, liquidity pools, and opportunities we provide to traders.
4.1 Traders are at the center
What we say is that the launch of projects is not simply about projects themselves, but about people. Each launch brings together a combination of a developer, community, investors, and traders who will collectively define the early trajectory of the token. MEXC plays an important role as a connector for those communities to the global market.
4.2 For traders, this means two things:
Accessibility: MEXC guarantees that during a token launch, you don’t have to worry what region or ecosystem that coin comes from. It is accessible, tradable, and available on a truly global playing field.
4.3 Opportunity
By providing early access along with tools to manage risk, MEXC gives traders the confidence to capture upside without being inundated with volatility.
This trader-focus is a key differentiator for us at MEXC. We build the infrastructure to support our users benefiting from launches, rather than simply responding to launches.
5.Looking Ahead
As we get further into 2025, the cadence of major launches will quicken. We are at the dawn of new waves of innovation: we have AI and RWAs in the driver’s seat, Ethereum scaling initiatives in process, and fresh cultural narratives like GameFi popping up again all signalling that the next cycle is firmly developing. Traders that observe this climate will recognize launches aren’t a singular happening but are part of a larger macro structure related to where liquidity, volatility, and opportunity are flowing.
For MEXC, we have a crystal-clear mission. We want to give our traders the fastest, most reliable channel to access these moments. We want them to be confident, when there is a major launch happening, they can both see it and access it, not one or the other.
In a space that is built on speed and narrative, that alignment is everything. While launches might define the cycle, it is access that defines the outcome.
6.Conclusion
Major launches are the heartbeat of crypto markets. It’s how narratives enter the space, how liquidity shifts, and opportunities arise. By 2025, as AI, RWAs, Ethereum scaling, and new cultural platforms capture the public’s imagination, traders will again find themselves at the intersection of innovation and volatility.
MEXC’s role is simple but its importance is paramount: to ensure that every launch becomes a tradable opportunity. By providing early listings, depth of liquidity, and a global gateway, it can convert narratives into markets and speculation into trading strategies.
Crypto will always be defined by its launches. And when the next wave of launches appears, traders at MEXC will be at the center of it all not just to tell the story, but to trade the story.
Disclaimer: This content is for educational and reference purposes only and does not constitute any investment advice. Digital asset investments carry high risk. Please evaluate carefully and assume full responsibility for your own decisions.
Join MEXC and Get up to $10,000 Bonus!
