Can These 5 ETH Ecosystem Tokens Outrun the Crypto Market Rally?

Key Insights:

  • Lido’s TVL grew from $33.1 billion to $41.7 billion in August, with price targeting $2.02 if momentum holds.
  • Pendle’s token rose nearly 70%, while its TVL jumped 50%, showing strong demand for yield products.
  • Aave, ether.fi, and Chainlink are the ETH ecosystem tokens that saw major inflows, with Fibonacci charts pointing to higher levels into September.

The ETH ecosystem has been rallying for quite some time now. Since August 1, Ethereum itself has gained close to 30%. But some ETH ecosystem tokens have done even better, outpacing both Ethereum and the broader crypto market. The question now is simple: can these gains carry into September, or will momentum fizzle out?

ETH Ecosystem Tokens Outpacing the Market

Ethereum’s growth was solid, but tokens tied to its ecosystem pushed further. Chainlink (LINK), Lido (LDO), Pendle (PENDLE), ether.fi (ETHFI), and Aave (AAVE) all outperformed.

Top ETH Ecosystem Tokens To Watch | Source: X
Top ETH Ecosystem Tokens To Watch | Source: X

For instance, Lido, the largest liquid staking platform, climbed from $0.84 on August 1 to as high as $1.62.

LDO Price Action | Source: TradingView
LDO Price Action | Source: TradingView

Even after a small pullback, Fibonacci levels show that a move toward $2.02 remains possible if demand continues.

At the same time, its total value locked (TVL) rose from about $33.1 billion to $41.7 billion in just three weeks. That kind of growth suggests staking demand is still climbing.

Lido TVL | Source: DeFiLlama
Lido TVL | Source: DeFiLlama

Chainlink told a similar story. Its price nearly doubled, rising from around $15 to above $27. Fibonacci extensions place the next big target near $41.72.

LINK Price Action | Source: TradingView
LINK Price Action | Source: TradingView

Chainlink’s TVL also rose sharply, climbing from $731 million to $1.13 billion. This shows rising demand for Oracle services as DeFi activity builds.

Chainlink Ecosystem Growth | Source: DeFiLlama
Chainlink Ecosystem Growth | Source: DeFiLlama

Staking and Yield Projects Lead the Charge

Staking and yield tokens in the ETH ecosystem had one of the strongest showings. Pendle’s case stands out. Its token price jumped from about $3.65 at the start of August to above $6.20, with Fibonacci targets pointing to $8.80 if buyers push further.

PENDLE Price Action | Source: TradingView
PENDLE Price Action | Source: TradingView

This is not just a hype-driven run. Pendle’s TVL increased from $7.08 billion at the end of July to more than $10.6 billion by August 25. That is a jump of over 50% in less than a month. It shows traders are actively locking tokens to chase yields, which has fed the rally.

PENDLE TVL Growth | Source: DeFiLlama
PENDLE TVL Growth | Source: DeFiLlama

Ether.fi also quietly kept building momentum. Its liquid restaking service now holds more than 2.2 million ETH, giving it a 6.3% market share.

EtherFi Staking Market Share | Source: Dune
EtherFi Staking Market Share | Source: Dune

That puts it behind only Lido, Binance, and Coinbase. Over the past six months, its deposits rose by about 25%. Price action followed.

EtherFi Price Action | Source: TradingView
EtherFi Price Action | Source: TradingView

ETHFI, the native token, climbed from $0.90 to $1.38 before retracing. Current resistance sits at $1.38, but Fibonacci charts show that $1.82 is possible if strength continues.

Lending and Oracle Growth Back the Rally

Aave’s gains showed the role of lending in the ETH ecosystem. The token went from $244 on August 2 to nearly $385 by mid-month. It then cooled slightly but still traded near $342 on August 25, led by the WLFI-driven controversy.

AAVE Price Action | Source: TradingView
AAVE Price Action | Source: TradingView

If momentum holds, a test of $430 remains possible. On the fundamentals side, Aave’s TVL jumped from $59.5 billion on July 31 to $69.7 billion. That’s an increase of over 17% in less than a month, showing institutions and whales are still active.

AAVE TVL Surge | Source: DeFiLlama
AAVE TVL Surge | Source: DeFiLlama

Chainlink, already covered above, fits into this group too. By powering data feeds for lending and DeFi apps, its surge in TVL and price are connected directly to broader growth in the ETH ecosystem.

The ETH ecosystem tokens clearly outperformed the crypto market in August. Lido and ether.fi show strong demand for staking. Pendle’s TVL surge shows yield chasing is alive. Aave’s lending growth underlines institutional trust. And Chainlink’s oracle strength proves its use case is essential.

Whether the rally extends into September depends on how well these fundamentals hold. Price action shows momentum is still there, and Fibonacci charts suggest higher targets. But traders will watch support levels closely. For now, ETH ecosystem tokens continue to grow stronger in the broader crypto market.

Source: https://www.thecoinrepublic.com/2025/08/25/can-these-5-eth-ecosystem-tokens-outrun-the-crypto-market-rally/