Massive 50+ Value Growth: Top Layer 1s That Skyrocketed in Rank and Market Cap in 12 Months

• $XPR led Layer-1 rank surges, climbing 314 spots amid heightened activity and protocol development.
  
• $WLD, $SUI, and $ARDR saw notable rank growth of 48, 37, and 31, driven by adoption and technical upgrades.
  
• Layer-1s are benefiting from renewed market focus on blockchain scalability, real-world applications, and sustainable infrastructure.

Over the past year, four Layer-1 blockchain projects have recorded substantial gains in market rank and capitalization. Leading the growth chart is Proton ($XPR), followed by Worldcoin ($WLD), Sui ($SUI), and Ardor ($ARDR). 

Each of these projects has shown remarkable movement, reflecting shifting investor sentiment, adoption trends, and protocol development. The increases come during a broader shift in the crypto sector, where infrastructure tokens are gaining renewed relevance due to scalability and utility demands.

Proton ($XPR): Exceptional 314-Rank Jump Highlights Rapid Momentum

Proton ( $XPR) posted the most dramatic improvement among all Layer-1s, rising 314 positions in market rank over the last 12 months. This exceptional performance underscores the growing relevance of fast, feeless transaction platforms in Web3 environments. XPR’s growth trajectory has coincided with rising transaction volumes and protocol enhancements designed to improve scalability.

The token’s current valuation and rank stand well above its 2023 levels, driven in part by expanded wallet adoption and renewed developer interest. Analysts note that XPR’s protocol has continued to evolve, potentially making it an appealing choice for lightweight financial applications and consumer-facing blockchain use cases.

Worldcoin ($WLD): Groundbreaking Identity Protocol Fuels 48-Rank Rise

Worldcoin ($WLD), known for its focus on decentralized identity and proof-of-personhood systems, recorded a 48-position rise in market ranking. This gain reflects the token’s increased recognition as a Layer-1 project with distinct real-world utility. Over the past year, the protocol’s integrations and product rollouts have drawn significant public attention.

In parallel, WLD’s use in biometric identity infrastructure has brought both scrutiny and traction. Despite market volatility, Worldcoin’s infrastructure layer has continued to scale, positioning it as a unique blockchain solution focused on identity verification — a theme gaining relevance across both Web3 and regulatory spheres.

Sui ($SUI): Remarkable 37-Rank Increase Driven by DeFi Growth

Sui (SUI ), a high-performance Layer-1 developed for low-latency, scalable dApps, has risen 37 places in market rank since last year. The token’s market cap growth has mirrored increasing developer activity and the rollout of decentralized finance (DeFi) tools on the network.

Its native Move programming language and parallel execution model have contributed to its scalability narrative. Analysts report that SUI’s on-chain metrics — including TVL (Total Value Locked) and user wallet growth — have improved steadily, further supporting the token’s upward market trend.

Ardor ($ARDR): Innovative Blockchain-as-a-Service Model Sees 31-Rank Gain

Ardor ($ARDR) climbed 31 spots in the rankings over the past year, supported by its blockchain-as-a-service (BaaS) architecture and enterprise focus. Ardor’s parent-child chain structure has remained appealing to developers seeking modular deployment environments.

Recent protocol upgrades and growing enterprise exploration into blockchain adoption have contributed to ARDR’s steady value appreciation. Unlike newer Layer-1s, Ardor has emphasized long-term development stability and interoperability, allowing it to remain relevant in a competitive infrastructure landscape.