The crypto market witnessed a surge today, with several digital assets skyrocketing over 30%. The rally is driven by a mix of meme coins, NFT-linked tokens, and new blockchain protocols, creating an environment of renewed optimism and speculation. 5 Cryptocurrencies Leading the Charge: Virtuals Protocol Leads the Pack. Topping the list is Virtuals Protocol (VIRTUAL), which saw its price jump 53.32% in just one day, reaching a market cap exceeding $822 million. This surge likely stems from growing interest in decentralized simulation platforms and their real-world applications. Brett (Based) Sees Explosive Growth. Coming in second is meme coin Brett (BRETT), gaining 46.41% over the past 24 hours. Its continued popularity, bolstered by a strong community and speculation, has resulted in impressive trading volume exceeding $754 million. Pepe Continues Its Rise. Meme coin Pepe (PEPE) also saw substantial gains of 38.93% today, further solidifying its position as a major player in the market. The token’s tiny price tag of $0.00001146 and massive trading volume of over $1.8 billion highlight its appeal to retail traders. Pudgy Penguins Take Off. NFT-linked token Pudgy Penguins (PENGU) also experienced impressive gains of 30.89% today, driving its market cap to $424 million. Ethena Joins the Rally. Rounding out the top five is Ethena (ENA), advancing 30.58% on the day to $0.3472. This token, benefiting from rising demand for synthetic assets and liquid staking derivatives, sees a daily trading volume exceeding $2 billion.