Sui Blockchain Soars: Top Projects to Watch in Its Growing Ecosystem

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In recent months, the Sui blockchain has emerged as a standout performer among Layer 1 networks, with its native token SUI reaching a record high of $3.30 on November 11. This surge has been accompanied by strong momentum across its ecosystem, including notable gains in native tokens like CETUS, DEEP, NAVX, and a wave of meme coins. The growing attention is not just speculative—Sui’s technical advancements, institutional interest, and vibrant project ecosystem are converging to create a compelling narrative for long-term growth.

With Sui’s total value locked (TVL) hitting $1.46 billion—up 49.14% in just seven days—and ranking 8th among all blockchains according to DeFiLlama, the network is gaining serious traction. SUI has also climbed to the 15th largest cryptocurrency by market cap, now surpassing Bitcoin Cash with a valuation of $90.68 billion (CoinMarketcap data).

But what’s driving this momentum? And which early-stage projects on Sui are worth watching?

Why Sui Is Gaining Momentum

SUI’s journey hasn’t been linear. After launching on exchanges in May 2023, it dipped to a low of $0.37 before rebounding to $2.00 by March 2024—a 440% gain. However, like many altcoins, it pulled back sharply during market corrections, bottoming near $0.46.

The real breakout began in mid-2025. From a low of $0.74 in August, SUI surged to $2.368 by October—an increase of over 220%. Then, fueled by broader market optimism following major macro developments, it pushed past $3.30, marking a 346% rise from its recent low.

Several catalysts have contributed to this rally:

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Promising Projects in the Sui Ecosystem

As Sui’s ecosystem expands, over 80 projects have already been cataloged across DeFi, GameFi, and meme sectors. Below are some of the most promising early-stage initiatives gaining traction.

DeFi Innovators

NAVI Protocol
NAVI is a native all-in-one liquidity and lending platform on Sui. It supports collateralized loans for SUI, USDC, USDT, wETH, and wBTC, with features like isolated pools, flash loans, and upcoming cross-chain lending. In October, NAVI became Ondo Finance’s official lending partner on the Sui network—a major validation of its infrastructure.

Cetus Protocol
Operating on both Sui and Aptos, Cetus is a decentralized exchange leveraging Concentrated Liquidity Market Making (CLMM), inspired by Uniswap V3 and Trader Joe. Its Q3 2024 report revealed impressive metrics:

DeepBook Protocol
DeepBook serves as a shared decentralized order book built specifically for Sui’s high-speed architecture. By leveraging Sui’s low-latency execution engine, it enables fast trade settlement and efficient liquidity distribution across DeFi applications.

Scallop
As a money market protocol, Scallop offers high-yield lending and borrowing with low fees. It also integrates AMM functionality and asset management tools, making it a comprehensive financial hub. Backed by the Sui Foundation, Scallop is actively expanding its feature set.

Suilend
An automated lending platform on Sui, Suilend is preparing for a major milestone—the launch of its native token SEND, expected in December.

Haedal Protocol
Haedal enables liquid staking on Sui. Users stake their SUI tokens and receive haSUI in return, allowing them to maintain liquidity while earning staking rewards and participating in DeFi activities simultaneously.

Turbos Finance
A non-custodial liquidity layer on Sui Network, Turbos Finance combines CLMM-based AMM with derivatives trading capabilities—offering advanced trading tools in a decentralized environment.

GameFi & NFT Projects

Sui 8192
Inspired by the classic game 2048, this on-chain puzzle game lets players combine tiles to climb leaderboards. Developed by Ethos, it uses pre-approved transactions to enhance gameplay speed—a clever use of Sui’s low-latency capabilities.

Panzerdogs
An NFT-based tank battle game where players own in-game assets and compete for rewards. Think Brawl Stars meets CryptoKitties, but with tanks and play-to-earn mechanics.

Arcade Champion
A nostalgic reimagining of arcade games, this title blends NFTs with single and multiplayer mini-games. Players use NFT heroes that can be upgraded, fused, and traded—adding strategic depth and economic utility.

Haven's Compass
A first-person tactical shooter developed by Ghost Ivy. The final version will support both solo and multiplayer modes, targeting competitive Web3 gamers.

Final Stardust
This media franchise-in-the-making kicks off with Final Stardust: Cosmic Nexus, a digital collectible card game inspired by Pokémon and Yu-Gi-Oh!. With anime-style art and deep gameplay mechanics, it aims to attract traditional TCG fans into Web3.

Meme Coins Fueling Community Hype

Meme tokens often act as cultural barometers for emerging ecosystems—and Sui is no exception.

Turbos.Fun
Launched on November 7, this meme coin launchpad recorded over $5 million in trading volume within 24 hours and facilitated more than 1,300 new token launches—demonstrating strong community engagement.

HIPPO
Nicknamed “SU DENG,” this hippo-themed token has reached a market cap of $136 million—one of the largest meme coins on Sui.

BLUB
The first meme coin on Sui, themed around marine life, currently holds a $30 million market cap.

Uni
Named after the dog of a SUI founder, Uni has gained emotional appeal among early supporters. Market cap: $167 million.

SHORK
A shark-themed meme token riding the wave of aquatic-themed digital collectibles. Market cap: $5 million.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why is SUI outperforming other Layer 1 blockchains?

SUI’s performance stems from a mix of technical superiority (low latency via Mysticeti), rising institutional interest (Grayscale, Valour ETP), strong developer activity, and high-yield DeFi opportunities that attract capital.

Is it too late to invest in Sui ecosystem projects?

While SUI has seen significant gains, many ecosystem projects remain early-stage with relatively low market caps. Protocols like NAVI, Cetus, and Scallop still offer asymmetric growth potential as adoption increases.

What makes Sui different from Solana or Ethereum?

Sui uses a novel object-centric data model and parallel transaction processing (via Move language), enabling faster throughput and lower fees than account-based models used by Ethereum or Solana.

Are meme coins on Sui worth considering?

Meme coins carry high risk but can yield outsized returns during hype cycles. Projects like HIPPO and Uni have strong communities—key drivers of longevity in meme culture.

When will the SuiPlay0X1 device launch?

Expected in 2025, the handheld gaming console aims to bring blockchain games to mainstream audiences by combining portability with native Web3 integration.

How do I participate in liquid staking on Sui?

Through Haedal Protocol, users can stake SUI and receive haSUI tokens—representing their staked position—which can then be used across DeFi platforms for yield generation.

Final Thoughts

Sui’s rise isn’t just about price—it reflects growing confidence in its architecture, ecosystem maturity, and long-term vision. With robust infrastructure projects laying the foundation and innovative GameFi/meme initiatives driving user engagement, the network is well-positioned for sustained growth.

As new narratives emerge around mobile gaming (SuiPlay0X1), institutional access (ETPs), and scalable DeFi (DeepBook, Cetus), now may be an ideal time to explore opportunities within this rapidly evolving ecosystem.

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