When major cryptocurrencies lose momentum, attention often shifts fast. Traders look for assets that can move independently of large market caps. Ethereum slipping below a key level has triggered this familiar rotation. While large caps pause, smaller DeFi projects with active development often draw fresh interest. One new crypto priced at $0.04 is now gaining attention as supply tightens. Ethereum (ETH) Ethereum is currently trading near $3,200. Its market cap remains one of the largest in crypto, second only to Bitcoin. For years, ETH has been a core holding for many investors due to its role in smart contracts and decentralized apps. However, size brings limits. Ethereum continues to face strong resistance around the $3,500 level. Each attempt to move higher has met selling pressure. Because of its large valuation, even strong demand results in slower price movement. Many investors now see limited short term upside compared to earlier cycles. This has pushed some market participants to search for lower priced tokens. These assets often require less capital to move and can offer higher upside potential. That is where new DeFi crypto projects enter the conversation. How Mutuum Finance (MUTM) Works Mutuum Finance (MUTM), is a new crypto built on Ethereum. The protocol focuses on decentralized lending and borrowing. It supports both pooled and peer based markets. Mutuum Finance (MUTM) Mutuum Finance (MUTM) In the pooled lending model, also known as P2C, users deposit assets into shared pools. In return, they receive mtTokens. These tokens represent their share of the pool and grow in value as interest is earned. Here is a simple example. A user supplies 1,000 USDT into the pool. If the pool earns about 8% APY, the value of their mtToken position would be about 1,080 USDT after one year, assuming the rate stays the same. The user does not need to claim rewards every day. The yield is reflected in the mtTokens as the pool accrues interest. The protocol also supports peer to peer borrowing. In this model, lenders and borrowers connect directly. Borrow rates depend on asset type and demand. Each loan follows clear loan to value rules. If a borrower exceeds safe limits, liquidations are triggered to protect lenders. This structure helps manage risk while keeping rates market driven. Together, these systems aim to balance flexibility and safety. They also create repeat usage, which is key for long term DeFi growth. Presale Progress and Security MUTM is currently priced at $0.04 and is in Phase 7 of its presale. The presale began in early 2025 and has progressed steadily through several stages. Since Phase 1, the token price has increased by about 300%. The planned launch price is $0.06. The total supply of MUTM is capped at 4 billion tokens. Of this amount, 45.5% or about 1.82 billion tokens are allocated to the presale. A large portion of this allocation has already been sold. Phase 6 is now over 99% filled, which signals strong demand at this stage. Funding has crossed $19.5 million, and the holder count has grown beyond 18,600 participants. Activity is also reflected in the 24 hour leaderboard. Contributors compete for daily rewards of $500 in MUTM, which encourages repeat participation rather than one time buys. Security is another key focus. Mutuum Finance has undergone reviews from CertiK, which issued a token scan score of 90 out of 100. Halborn Security finalized conducting a deeper security audit of the protocol. In addition, a $50,000 bug bounty program is in place to reward responsible disclosures. Halborn Security finalized Halborn Security finalized V1 Launch and Stablecoin Plans The next major milestone for Mutuum Finance is the V1 launch. According to official statements shared on X, V1 is scheduled for Q1 2026. This release will activate the core lending features and allow real usage to begin. According to official statements According to official statements Beyond V1, the roadmap includes a native stablecoin. This stablecoin is planned to be backed by borrower activity within the protocol. By keeping value inside the ecosystem, it could support stronger liquidity and more predictable usage. Layer 2 integration is also planned. High gas fees have limited Ethereum based DeFi in the past. By expanding to Layer 2 networks, Mutuum Finance aims to reduce costs and increase transaction speed. This is critical for scaling daily activity and attracting a broader user base. With Ethereum consolidating and large caps moving slowly, many investors are reassessing where to allocate capital. New crypto projects with active development and tightening supply often benefit during these phases. For MUTM, several factors are aligning at once. Phase 7 is accelerating. The next crypto phase is expected to bring another price increase of about 20%. V1 is approaching. Security reviews are done. Participation metrics continue to rise. These conditions explain why MUTM is being discussed more often in conversations around the potential best crypto to buy now and what crypto to buy during market pauses. For more information about Mutuum Finance (MUTM) visit the links below: Website: https://www.mutuum.com https://www.mutuum.com https://www.mutuum.com Linktree: <https://linktr.ee/mutuumfinance](https://linktr.ee/mutuumfinance) <https://linktr.ee/mutuumfinance](https://linktr.ee/mutuumfinance) This story was published as a press release by Btcwire under HackerNoon’s Business Blogging Program. This story was published as a press release by Btcwire under HackerNoon’s Business Blogging Program. Program Program