PancakeSwap’s native token CAKE experienced a notable surge of 15% on March 17, 2025, following an impressive increase in the platform’s trading volume. The decentralized exchange saw its 24-hour trading volume skyrocket to $1.64 billion, which allowed it to surpass competitors like Uniswap and Raydium in daily trading activity. Uniswap recorded $1.02 billion in trading volume, while Raydium managed $334.98 million during the same period. This marked a significant achievement for PancakeSwap, positioning it as the most active decentralized exchange (DEX) by trading volume on that day.
The surge in PancakeSwap’s trading volume can be attributed to several factors, including the rising popularity of memecoins, particularly following a social media promotion by Changpeng Zhao (CZ), the founder of Binance. Zhao’s mention of the MUBARAK memecoin, which is based on the BNB Chain, helped ignite interest in the token. Analysts noticed that a crypto address linked to Zhao made a purchase of MUBARAK using 1 Binance Coin (BNB), further fueling speculation and trading activity around the token. While it is difficult to fully quantify the extent of Zhao’s influence, MUBARAK experienced a remarkable price surge of over 270% in just one week.
The listing of MUBARAK on PancakeSwap helped the token climb to the third most traded asset on the platform, trailing only Tether (USDT) and Wrapped BNB (WBNB) in terms of trading volume. The rapid rise of MUBARAK highlights the significant role that influential figures like Zhao can play in shaping market trends and driving trading activity on decentralized exchanges.
In addition to the MUBARAK surge, PancakeSwap has seen overall success in recent months. Earlier in February 2025, the platform’s total trading volume increased by more than 60% to $28.23 billion, marking one of the highest figures in its history and positioning the exchange as a dominant player in the DeFi space. Furthermore, the platform achieved a milestone by surpassing $1 trillion in cumulative historical trading volume, demonstrating its ability to attract sustained trading activity.
As a result of the increase in trading volume, PancakeSwap has also seen higher revenue, with its total fees for 2025 rising to $64 million, contributing to the $274 million accumulated over the past 365 days. This growth in fees has established PancakeSwap as one of the most profitable decentralized exchanges in the space. The exchange has continued to prove itself as a powerful platform within the broader decentralized finance (DeFi) ecosystem, drawing users and liquidity from across the market.
Additionally, PancakeSwap’s growth can be attributed to its native token CAKE, which has benefited from increased usage of the exchange, as well as the rising demand for memecoins and other DeFi assets. The surge in trading volume has not only boosted CAKE’s value but has also helped increase the overall utility and adoption of the PancakeSwap platform, which is built on BNB Chain and is known for offering low-cost and fast transactions. This increased activity signals a promising future for PancakeSwap, particularly as more traders flock to DeFi platforms due to the ongoing popularity of decentralized financial services.
As PancakeSwap continues to lead in terms of trading volume and profitability, its success further underscores the broader trend of DeFi growth and innovation. The exchange’s strategic positioning within the BNB Chain ecosystem, combined with its ability to capitalize on emerging trends like memecoins, has positioned it as a key player in the evolving DeFi space. Moving forward, PancakeSwap will likely remain a top choice for crypto traders looking for a high-volume platform with competitive fees, robust liquidity, and access to a wide range of assets.
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