As the final quarter of 2025 begins, the cryptocurrency market is once again flashing bullish signals. Total market capitalisation has climbed back toward the $4 trillion mark, its highest level since early 2022, with Bitcoin reclaiming dominance above 48%. Yet, it is the altcoin sector that has drawn the most attention this month, as several projects approach key technical and psychological thresholds.
While many tokens have traded sideways following a volatile September, a select few are showing renewed strength backed by solid on-chain data, investor confidence and strong project fundamentals. Among these, Aster (ASTER), Mantle (MNT) and ApeX (APEX) stand out as three cryptocurrencies that could challenge or even surpass their previous all-time highs in October 2025.
Below is a detailed look at the factors fuelling their momentum and what price levels traders are watching.
Aster (ASTER): DEX Perpetual Leader Ready for Another Breakout
Aster has rapidly become one of the most talked-about projects in the decentralised perpetual exchange (DEX) ecosystem. At press time, ASTER trades around $1.92, just 20% below its record high of $2.24 reached on 24 September 2025.
Investor optimism towards Aster has been bolstered by its deep connections to industry veterans and strong institutional backing. The project received early support from Yzi Labs (formerly Binance Labs), with public endorsement from Changpeng “CZ” Zhao, who described Aster as a “DEX built to compete with Binance itself.”
Interestingly, CZ noted that Aster competes with Binance but indirectly strengthens the BNB ecosystem, creating a nuanced synergy that has attracted both retail and institutional traders.
On-chain activity supports this narrative. According to DeFiLlama, Aster’s perpetual DEX recorded over $225 billion in weekly trading volume, surpassing several established competitors. Such figures point to sustained liquidity and active participation, both critical ingredients for a retest of record highs.
Technically, ASTER’s 4-hour chart reveals a bullish setup. A double bottom pattern has formed near a key horizontal support, aligning with the upper breakout of a descending triangle, often a sign of strong reversal potential. The Chaikin Money Flow (CMF) indicator has also crossed above the zero line, signalling the return of net capital inflows.
If buying pressure continues, ASTER could break resistance at $2.42 and aim for $3.60–$3.65 during October. Conversely, if liquidity weakens, the token may retreat toward $1.25–$1.30, where major support lies.
Still, the sentiment around DEX perpetuals and Aster’s rapid ecosystem expansion make it one of the month’s most promising altcoins.
Mantle (MNT): Ethereum Layer-2 Shows Strength After 50% Rally
Mantle (MNT), the native token of Ethereum’s layer-2 scaling network, has been another standout performer heading into October. After rallying nearly 50% in September, MNT now trades just 8% below its previous all-time high, showing clear signs of accumulation.
Mantle’s growth has been driven by the broader Layer-2 narrative, as users and developers migrate toward cheaper and faster Ethereum solutions. The Mantle ecosystem has also benefited from strong integration with the Ethereum mainnet, offering competitive fees and high throughput without compromising on security.
On the charts, Mantle is forming a bullish flag pattern, often a continuation setup following strong rallies. Price action has repeatedly tested the upper trendline of the flag, a breakout here could trigger the next wave of upside momentum.
If MNT manages to close above $1.91, analysts expect the token to retest and surpass its former record near $2.75, with extended targets toward $3.10.
However, traders are also watching downside risks. If selling pressure intensifies near resistance, MNT could slip back to the $1.35–$1.40 range. Even so, the fundamentals remain strong: Mantle’s total value locked (TVL) continues to climb and network transactions have doubled month-on-month, according to on-chain analytics platform L2Beat.
With Ethereum’s long-awaited Verkle Tree upgrade expected later this year, Layer-2 solutions like Mantle could gain even more traction, potentially fuelling another record-breaking rally.
ApeX (APEX): Buyback Programme Sparks 762% Weekly Surge
Rounding out the trio is ApeX (APEX), one of the most explosive tokens in the DEX perpetuals sector. The token has soared over 760% in the past week, currently trading near $2.27 and remains only 40% below its historical peak set in 2024.
The catalyst behind APEX’s stunning rally is the project’s aggressive buyback programme, announced on 28 September. According to the team, 50% of daily protocol revenue will be allocated to buy back APEX tokens, backed by an additional $12 million commitment. This proportion will gradually rise to 90% of total revenue, dramatically reducing circulating supply over time.
Buybacks of this scale are rare in the DeFi sector and signal strong project confidence. Combined with a surge in perpetual trading volumes across the DEX landscape, APEX has captured trader attention as a high-momentum play.
Technical indicators reinforce the bullish view. On the 4-hour chart, the Awesome Oscillator (AO) remains firmly in positive territory, indicating sustained buying pressure. The immediate resistance sits near $2.70 and a confirmed breakout could propel the token toward $4.20–$4.30, setting a new record high.
Nevertheless, volatility remains a risk. If market enthusiasm cools, APEX could retrace toward $1.70–$1.80 before finding new support.
Still, the combination of strong tokenomics, an ambitious revenue-based buyback model and rising DEX market share positions ApeX as one of October’s strongest contenders for a new high.
Outlook: October’s Bullish Tradition Could Extend Further
Historically, October has been one of crypto’s most bullish months, often dubbed “Uptober” by traders. With Bitcoin consolidating above key levels and market liquidity improving, altcoins like Aster, Mantle and ApeX are well-positioned to benefit.
Each of these projects represents a growing segment of the crypto landscape:
- Aster dominates in decentralised perpetual exchanges,
- Mantle leads among Ethereum Layer-2 solutions and
- ApeX showcases innovative tokenomics in DEX trading.
If market momentum persists through mid-October, all three could challenge or exceed their previous all-time highs, potentially setting the stage for a strong Q4 across the broader altcoin market.
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