Top Crypto Gainers Today: KITE, VIRTUAL, ETHFI Lead 24H Rally Update

Daily Market Snapshot of the Crypto Gainers in the Last 24 Hours

If you're tracking crypto gainers today, this daily blog gives you a clear and structured update on the best-performing tokens in the last 24 hours.  As of 25 February 2026, the top crypto gainers today include Kite (KITE), Virtuals Protocol (VIRTUAL), ether.fi (ETHFI), Morpho (MORPHO), and UNUS SED LEO (LEO). The  crypto market is rising today due to speculation that President Donald Trump may introduce a 0% tax on crypto transactions, along with strong ETF buying by institutions and money shifting from Bitcoin into altcoins. Crypto is also moving higher with gains in the S&P 500, showing growing risk appetite in global markets. 

This list of top crypto gainers 24h is based on price momentum, trading volume changes, market cap movement, and overall sector rotation trends. Investors and traders can use this breakdown to understand not just the price increase, but the real reasons behind the move. Let’s break down today’s biggest movers with crypto market insights explained in simple language.

Kite (KITE) – Regulatory Narrative + Altcoin Rotation Boost

KITE Current Price: $0.2614
Market Cap: $467.06M
Market Rank: 80
24H Change: +10.31%
7D Change: +10.98%
24H High: $0.2716

Source: CoinMarkeCap

The main reason behind KITE’s move is progress around a CLARITY regulatory bill. Traders see this as a positive sign because it improves regulatory clarity for digital assets. Usually when the market feels that rules are becoming clearer, mid-cap tokens usually benefit. Investors feel more confident and capital starts flowing in, which is why KITE appears among today’s crypto coin gainers.

Additionally:

• The Altcoin Season Index has increased strongly over the past week. This shows that money is rotating from Bitcoin into higher-risk altcoins.
  

• KITE is a mid-cap token (around $467M market cap). Mid-caps usually react faster and more aggressively when capital rotates.
  

• The token bounced 14% from an important rising trendline support earlier this month. This confirms strong technical structure.
  

• During earlier dips, derivatives open interest declined. This suggests the rally is supported by real spot buying and short covering, not heavy leverage.
  

• High 24-hour trading volume (around $144M previously observed) confirms strong liquidity participation.
  

Technically, holding above the $0.25 support keeps the bullish structure intact. If momentum continues, price could test the $0.30 psychological level. This move shows improving market sentiment, which is often seen during phases when crypto gainers dominate the short-term charts.

Virtuals Protocol (VIRTUAL) – AI Narrative + Alpha Capital Flow

VIRTUAL Current Price: $0.7123
Market Cap: $466.52M
Market Rank: 80
24H Change: +22.98%
7D Change: +8.44%
24H High: $0.7126

Source: CoinMarkeCap

The primary reason behind VIRTUAL’s surge is strong alpha-driven capital rotation into high-beta altcoins. At the same time, its AI agent economy narrative is gaining attention.

Additionally:

• The Altcoin Season Index has risen sharply. This confirms capital is moving from Bitcoin into altcoins.
  

• VIRTUAL outperformed Bitcoin by nearly 6x in 24 hours. This shows targeted buying, not just general market movement.
  

• Trading volume jumped nearly 95% in 24 hours. This confirms real buying interest.
  

• Leadership commentary recently highlighted tokenized AI agents that control revenue-generating wallets. This strengthens its long-term utility positioning.
  

• The AI plus blockchain theme is currently attracting strong narrative-driven capital across the market.

The CEO also shared a broader vision around AI agents and automated revenue systems. This supports its long-term growth story. Because of this strong momentum, VIRTUAL ranks among the biggest crypto gainers in today’s session.

ether.fi (ETHFI) – Optimism Migration + Infrastructure Expansion

ETHFI Current Price: $0.5106
Market Cap: $380.02M
Market Rank: 92
24H Change: +14.99%
7D Change: +6.13%
24H High: $0.5217

Source: CoinMarkeCap

The main reason behind ETHFI’s move is its migration of 70,000 non-custodial Visa cards and over $160M in user TVL to Optimism’s OP Mainnet, following broader OP Stack developments. This is a major infrastructure upgrade.

Additionally:

• ether.fi was selected as Optimism’s official liquid staking partner. This gives its weETH token strong ecosystem validation.
  

• The migration moves ether.fi beyond restaking and into consumer crypto payments infrastructure.
  

• Trading volume increased over 70%, showing strong buyer conviction.
  

• The rising Altcoin Season Index is also supporting broader capital inflow into altcoins.
  

• The Fear & Greed Index remains low. This suggests investors are positioning early rather than chasing hype.
  

ETHFI’s rally shows both narrative strength and real ecosystem growth. That is why it stands out among today top crypto gainers in the current rotation cycle.

Morpho (MORPHO) – Institutional Accumulation Narrative

MORPHO Current Price: $1.79
Market Cap: $682.88M
Market Rank: 67
24H Change: +16.02%
7D Change: +20.47%
24H High: $1.8317

Source: CoinMarkeCap

The main reason behind MORPHO’s rally is institutional accumulation. Apollo Global Management committed to acquiring up to 90M tokens over four years, which equals around 9% of total supply.

Additionally:

• Institutional interest from large financial players is positioning MORPHO as DeFi infrastructure, not just a speculative token.
  

• The long-term acquisition plan shows strategic alignment, not short-term trading.
  

• Trading volume increased strongly, confirming active participation.
  

• The rising Altcoin Season Index is supporting mid-cap DeFi tokens.
  

• Weekly gains above 20% show sustained momentum, not just a one-day spike.
  

Technically, holding above $1.70 keeps the bullish bias intact. Resistance is near $1.90. If price drops below $1.60, short-term consolidation could begin. This strength places MORPHO among the leading top gainers crypto 24hr.

UNUS SED LEO (LEO) – Market Rebound + Technical Breakout

LEO Current Price: $8.69
Market Cap: $7.99B
Market Rank: 12
24H Change: +9.62%
7D Change: +5.27%
24H High: $8.825

Source: CoinMarkeCap

Why Is UNUS SED LEO Price Up Today?

The main reason behind LEO’s rise is the broader crypto market rebound. Strong Bitcoin ETF inflows improved overall market confidence.

Additionally:

• Bitcoin recovered from recent lows, which pushed capital into large-cap altcoins.
  

• Spot Bitcoin ETFs recorded strong daily inflows, boosting sector sentiment.
  

• LEO broke above short-term moving averages. This confirms technical strengt
  

• RSI remains in a neutral zone, which leaves room for further upside.
  

• High liquidity makes LEO a preferred choice during market recoveries.
  

Unlike the others, LEO’s move is more driven by overall market recovery and technical structure rather than a specific token catalyst. If momentum continues, price could move toward $8.80–$9.00, keeping it relevant in the crypto top gainers 24 hours category.

Final Thoughts: Can These Crypto Gainers Today Sustain Momentum?

Today’s crypto gainers today reflect improving liquidity conditions and active sector rotation. The rally is supported by technical structure and targeted capital flow rather than random speculation. Traders tracking top crypto gainers 24h should monitor volume sustainability, key support levels, Bitcoin stability, ETF inflow trends, and institutional follow-through to assess whether momentum can continue.

The current trend suggests a short-term risk-on phase. However, long-term sustainability for the biggest crypto gainers today will depend on continued altcoin capital flow, progress in regulatory clarity, consistent institutional accumulation, and overall market stability. For investors and traders, this daily blog provides a structured snapshot of market leaders, focusing on real catalysts instead of hype. Stay tuned for tomorrow’s update as market conditions evolve.

Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and not financial advice. Cryptocurrency markets are volatile. Always conduct your own research before investing.