Is Filecoin’s price surge the start of a broader crypto market recovery?

According to experts, Filecoin’s 50% surge could mark the early stages of a broader recovery across the cryptocurrency market, driven by renewed interest in utility-based blockchain assets. The decentralised storage token’s sharp rebound above the $2 level has placed it at the forefront of the DePIN (Decentralised Physical Infrastructure Network) rally - a niche sector that has gained roughly 11% overall in recent days.

Analysts point to rising network activity, strong developer funding, and growing institutional focus on real-world blockchain utilities as reasons why Filecoin’s latest move may represent more than just a speculative bounce. Still, whether the rally extends further will depend on broader market sentiment and sustained adoption within the decentralised storage ecosystem.

Key takeaways

• Filecoin leads crypto recovery: Up over 50% in 24 hours, Filecoin is outperforming most major tokens and driving gains in the DePIN sector.
  
• DePIN sector strength: Decentralised infrastructure projects have collectively gained 11%, signalling investor interest in tokens with tangible use cases.
  
• Ecosystem investment expanding: Protocol Labs has launched RetroPGF Round 3, allocating 585,000 FIL to support developer projects from November 2024 to September 2025.
  
• Market capitalisation: Filecoin’s valuation now stands at $1.52 billion, ranking it among the top 50 public blockchains.
  
• A short-term focus on maintaining momentum above $2 could pave the way for a move to $3, a key technical resistance level.
  
• Long-term outlook: Experts see Filecoin as a leading project in the growing Web3 infrastructure and decentralised storage economy.
  

Filecoin rally leads the market’s structural recovery

Filecoin’s performance is part of a broader market trend where investors are shifting capital towards utility-based projects - tokens that provide real-world functionality. Within this trend, DePIN networks stand out. These projects bridge physical resources such as computing power, energy, and data storage with blockchain incentive mechanisms, creating measurable productivity within decentralised systems.

The DePIN sector’s 11% rise reflects a shift in sentiment from speculative trading towards functional blockchain services. Filecoin’s 50% rally to above $2.00 has cemented its status as the flagship token for decentralised storage and one of the strongest indicators that the market is rediscovering value in blockchain infrastructure.

Filecoin vs traditional cloud storage

Launched in October 2020 by Protocol Labs, Filecoin provides a peer-to-peer marketplace for data storage. It enables users to rent out unused hard drive space, earning FIL tokens in exchange. Unlike traditional storage services such as Google Drive, iCloud, or Dropbox, Filecoin’s system operates without a central authority - meaning that pricing, availability, and access are determined entirely by the network.

The system relies on two unique consensus mechanisms:

• Proof-of-Replication (PoRep): Verifies that storage providers hold exact copies of the data they claim to store.
  
• Proof-of-Spacetime (PoSt): Confirms that the data remains stored for the entire agreed period.
  

Together, these mechanisms make Filecoin’s network verifiable, secure, and tamper-resistant, addressing long-standing challenges in data storage trust and transparency.

Decentralised storage: From research to real-world impact

Filecoin’s origins date back to 2014, when Protocol Labs developed the InterPlanetary File System (IPFS) - a decentralised file-sharing protocol designed to replace centralised web servers. Filecoin was later introduced as the economic layer of IPFS, incentivising users to store and maintain data using blockchain rewards.

In August 2017, Filecoin completed one of the largest token offerings in crypto history, raising $257 million in its Initial Coin Offering (ICO). Major investors, including Sequoia Capital, Union Square Ventures, and Digital Currency Group, backed the project.

By the time its mainnet launched in October 2020, Filecoin had become one of the most anticipated blockchain networks globally. Its price soared to an all-time high of $236.97 in 2021 before correcting sharply alongside the broader market downturn. Despite that decline, the network has continued to expand and maintain strong developer interest, positioning it as one of the most credible decentralised storage solutions in the Web3 space.

Filecoin’s ecosystem expansion reinforces fundamentals

While price volatility has dominated headlines, Filecoin’s ecosystem growth has been quietly strengthening. Protocol Labs recently launched RetroPGF Round 3, allocating 585,000 FIL to projects that contributed to the ecosystem between late 2024 and 2025.

This round follows two earlier programmes that rewarded nearly 200 development teams, supporting innovations in decentralised computing, data retrieval, and dApp integration. The funding initiative underscores Filecoin’s commitment to sustainable growth - a key differentiator in a market often driven by short-term speculation.

Such ecosystem support not only encourages innovation but also signals confidence to institutional investors who are increasingly assessing Web3 infrastructure projects as long-term opportunities.

Market outlook: Can Filecoin sustain momentum?

Breaking past the $2 psychological level marks a pivotal moment for Filecoin. The next major resistance sits near $3, a level last tested in mid-2023. Technical analysts suggest that continued momentum could propel prices toward this mark if trading volumes remain high and the DePIN rally sustains.

However, Filecoin still trades far below its 2021 highs, underscoring both its potential for recovery and its vulnerability to market sentiment. Short-term corrections are possible as traders take profits, but experts say the latest surge is supported by more robust fundamentals than previous speculative rallies.

With a market cap of $1.52 billion and growing integration across decentralised applications, Filecoin is viewed as a key player in Web3’s evolving infrastructure layer. Its combination of utility, decentralisation, and developer support could allow it to benefit from the next major rotation into functional crypto assets.

Filecoin technical analysis

At the time of writing, Filecoin (FIL/USD) is trading around $2.12, extending its rally after rebounding from the $1.36 support level. The Bollinger Bands have expanded, reflecting heightened volatility, with price now testing the upper band - often a sign of short-term exhaustion. The RSI, at 64.3, is rising sharply toward the overbought zone, suggesting momentum remains strong but could soon face a cooling period.

Meanwhile, the MACD has turned positive with a fresh bullish crossover, reinforcing the current uptrend. However, traders should monitor momentum closely as the histogram begins to flatten. The next key resistance levels sit at $2.28 and $2.57, where profit-taking or renewed buying may occur. On the downside, $1.36 remains the critical support level - a break below it could trigger another wave of selling.

To explore and analyse these setups in real-time, traders can track Filecoin price action directly on Deriv MT5, which provides advanced charting tools, indicators, and multi-asset trading access for crypto, forex, and commodities markets.

Filecoin’s short-term outlook is bullish but nearing overbought territory, hinting at a potential cooldown if resistance levels hold.

Filecoin investment implications

For traders, Filecoin’s recent breakout offers short-term momentum opportunities above the $2 level, with upside potential towards $3 if DePIN sector strength continues. Caution remains warranted given crypto market volatility, but the technical setup favours buyers as long as Filecoin holds its newly reclaimed support zone. 

For long-term investors, Filecoin stands out as one of the few blockchain networks with clear real-world use cases. Its robust developer base, institutional backing, and role in the decentralised data economy make it an appealing bet on the future of Web3 infrastructure.

Competition from centralised cloud giants and other blockchain storage protocols could cap growth if adoption plateaus. Filecoin’s success will depend on scaling efficiently, maintaining ecosystem incentives, and integrating more deeply into decentralised application frameworks.

Before entering Filecoin positions, traders can use the Deriv trading calculator to estimate potential profit and loss based on position size, leverage, and price movement - an essential tool for managing risk in volatile crypto markets.

Trading Filecoin on Deriv

1. Momentum trading: Traders can use RSI and MACD crossovers on Deriv MT5 to capture short bursts of volatility during rallies above key breakout levels.
   
2. Range trading: When Filecoin consolidates between $1.80–$2.50, short-term traders may use Bollinger Band reversals to enter positions at range extremes.
   
3. Breakout strategy: A sustained move above $2.57 could signal a new bullish leg toward $3.00 - traders can confirm signals using MT5’s volume indicators and EMA crossovers.