Company HTX Hot Listings Recap (Dec 22-28): ZBT Surges 127%, PAYAI Rallies 103% as AI and Privacy Narratives Reignite

Company HTX released its weekly hot listings recap for the period Dec 22-28, highlighting a clear resurgence in narrative-driven sector flows that favored AI, privacy and memecoin assets. According to the recap distributed via PR Newswire and reported by Company BitcoinWorld, several newly listed and actively traded tokens delivered outsized gains, with ZBT (Company Zerobase) leading the pack at a striking +127% and PAYAI (PayAI Network) posting a +103% rally.

The driving force behind the week’s strongest performers was the renewed focus on application-level utility for AI tokens. A pivotal catalyst was the official release of Version 2 of the x402 payment protocol from the developer team at Company Coinbase. Version 2 introduces native multi-chain support — including ecosystems such as Base and Solana — and adds integrations with traditional rails like ACH and bank card networks. This upgrade materially improves the commercial scalability of AI-driven payment flows and reinforced investor confidence in protocols that enable real-world AI monetization.

As a result, AI-linked tokens captured renewed capital as traders sought exposure to projects expected to benefit from scalable payment rails and real-world revenue models. Notable AI winners included PAYAI (+103%) and SQD (+114%), where short-term momentum reflected both narrative validation and improved liquidity on Company HTX’s platform.

Simultaneously, on-chain privacy assets re-entered investor focus. The recap noted a “new-and-legacy resonance” within the privacy sector that allowed both emerging and established projects to attract inflows. The standout performance came from ZBT (+127%), while Company Zcash (ZEC) advanced by +22%. The report frames privacy protocols as a foundational infrastructure theme heading into the next market cycle, especially amid evolving regulatory discourse and industry restructuring.

Memecoins also regained short-term traction as year-end seasonal flows and concentrated liquidity patterns produced volatility-led upside for certain community-driven assets. Examples noted on Company HTX included DONKEY (+21%) on BSC, MYRO (+29%) on Solana, and HIPPO (+33%) on SUI. These moves underscore how deep liquidity and tight execution windows on an exchange can enable traders to capture rapid gains.

Beyond headline narratives, the recap highlighted a broader multi-sector rebound with gains across DeFi and Layer 1 ecosystems. Tokens such as 0G (+38%) sitting at the confluence of DeFi and AI, SPK (+17%), and XPL (+25%) illustrate improving incremental capital inflows and rising market breadth. This multi-sector recovery suggests that the late-2025 momentum may not be limited to a single narrative but instead reflects a reallocation toward thematically distinct opportunities.

Company HTX emphasized the importance of selecting a trading venue that provides early-stage access, deep liquidity, and disciplined listing strategies. By enabling early listings and market participation, the exchange allowed users to capture more entry points into nascent rallies. The recap reiterated Company HTX’s commitment to expanding high-quality asset coverage and deepening liquidity to align with evolving market trends and user demand.

Editor’s take: For traders and allocators, the HTX recap underscores two actionable insights: first, narrative rotations (AI and privacy) can drive outsized returns when paired with protocol upgrades and payment integrations; second, liquidity and execution remain decisive in converting narrative strength into realized gains. Market participants should monitor protocol-level adoption indicators — such as multi-chain support and payment rail integrations — in addition to on-chain flows when sizing exposure.