XMR enters the top 25 tokens as Monero’s market cap eclipses Litecoin and Toncoin.

Monero (XMR), a cryptocurrency known for its strong privacy features, has more than doubled in price this year, allowing it to surpass Litecoin (LTC) and Toncoin (TON) in market capitalization and enter the top 25 cryptocurrencies by value.

Recent data from CoinGecko shows Monero’s market cap exceeding $7.5 billion, just ahead of Toncoin’s $7.48 billion and Litecoin’s $7.35 billion, marking a significant “flippening” in the crypto rankings.

Monero’s privacy technology conceals transaction details, offering users anonymity but also drawing scrutiny for potential misuse by illicit actors. Earlier this year, a media outlet linked to ISIS Pakistan Province reportedly solicited donations in Monero.

Despite these concerns, Monero’s price has rallied over 100% year-to-date, reaching above $400 for the first time since early 2021. The surge has been fueled by optimism surrounding an upcoming privacy upgrade and rumors of relisting on major exchanges like Coinbase.

Meanwhile, Litecoin, often called the “silver” to Bitcoin’s “gold,” has fallen 6% this year, trading below $100. Toncoin, which powers the Telegram blockchain ecosystem, has declined 25% over the same period.