After a shaky start to 2025, newly listed tokens on crypto exchanges are defying broader market gloom, delivering stronger returns than traditional IPOs and outperforming benchmarks like gold, stocks—and even Bitcoin (BTC).
Following early-year optimism tied to expected rate cuts and regulatory clarity, the cryptocurrency market turned bearish amid rising macroeconomic pressures and the collapse of several high-profile meme coins.
The latest insights shared with Finbold on April 3 from CMC Research reveal that crypto listings on major exchanges are outperforming traditional stock markets both in terms of return on investment (ROI) and the proportion of listings that generate positive gains. The data covers seven leading exchanges: Binance, Bybit, Coinbase, OKX, Bitget, Gate, and KuCoin.
The myth of guaranteed returns and the reality of strong performance
While some investors expect newly listed tokens to offer quick wins, the reality is nuanced. Like IPOs in the stock market, the performance of crypto listings is shaped by external forces: the macro environment, regulatory shifts, event-driven risks, timing, and portfolio sizing.
Even with strict listing criteria in place, criticism of exchanges has mounted as several token launches have underperformed expectations. Yet, when compared to traditional IPOs, crypto exchanges have delivered higher success rates.
In the 180 days leading up to March 2, 2025, 68.82% of tokens listed on major platforms posted a positive return on investment—outpacing the NYSE and NASDAQ, where only 54.55% and 51.46% of IPOs, respectively, ended in the green.
During the same period, the average ROI of newly listed tokens across seven leading centralized exchanges stood at 80.81%—outperforming Bitcoin’s 59.54% by 35% and delivering over five times the return of gold, which came in at just 14.99%.
Yet, with exogenous risks always looming, investors should remain cautious and do their own research before jumping into new listings.
Featured image via Shutterstock
