Author: ChainCatcher
Editor: ChainCatcher
Following XRP’s staggering 500% monthly surge, market attention has refocused on legacy public chains, reigniting excitement around these older blockchain assets. Notably, many have already seen substantial price appreciation, with ADA, LTC, FTM, and ATOM surging over 200% in the past month (CoinGecko data).
Several catalysts could propel these chains further:
- A potential SEC leadership transition in 2025, expected to foster crypto-friendly policies.
- Pending spot ETF approvals for assets like SOL, XRP, and LTC.
Outgoing SEC Chair Gary Gensler’s strict regulatory stance has burdened projects like SOL, ADA, and MATIC. A policy shift under new leadership might revive these assets. Meanwhile, ETF filings—including Canary Capital’s applications for XRP, LTC, and HBAR—add momentum.
Beyond external factors, these chains are evolving:
- Bitcoin ecosystem integration (e.g., Cardano’s L2 pivot).
- RWA adoption (Hedera’s tokenization partnerships).
- AI innovation (NEAR’s developer tools).
Community sentiment suggests surviving legacy chains possess resilience, positioning them for a breakout as newer chains lose steam.
Top 10 Legacy Chains Making Waves
1. Ripple (XRP): SEC Tailwinds and Stablecoin Push
- 5x surge to $2.90 (December peak).
- Key drivers: SEC lawsuit resolution, XRP ETF filings, and stablecoin RLUSD.
- Ecosystem growth: XRPL EVM sidechain in development.
👉 Explore Ripple’s latest partnerships
FAQ:
Q: Will XRP’s ETF be approved?
A: Analysts speculate 2025 approval if SEC policy softens.
2. Litecoin (LTC): Meme Hype and ETF Buzz
- 100% monthly gain to $120.
- Canary Capital’s LTC ETF filing and meme campaigns (e.g., Lestercoin).
Key Stat: Grayscale’s LTC Trust trades at 2x NAV.
3. Hedera (HBAR): RWA Leader
- BlackRock tokenization rumors fueled 2024 rally.
- $50M+ tokenized via Hedera (Abrdn, Shinhan Bank).
4. Cardano (ADA): Bitcoin L2 Pivot
- Transitioning to Bitcoin L2 via BitcoinOS.
- 2025 roadmap: Focus on BTC DeFi.
5. BNB Chain: Memes and AI Bets
- Meme explosions (CHEEMS, WHY).
- AI investments: Sahara AI, MyShell.
👉 BNB Chain’s top DeFi projects
6. Avalanche (AVAX): Institutional Adoption
- U.S. government talks spurred 80% gains.
- $2.5M raise for RWA subnets.
7. NEAR: AI + Chain Abstraction
- AI Agent (NEAR Intents) simplifies transactions.
- 21Shares ETP launched.
8. Fantom (FTM): Sonic Upgrade
- Parallel EVM via Sonic Network.
- 100+ apps pre-launch.
9. Polygon (POL): Scaling Challenges
- CEO cites "founder bias" hindering growth.
- ZK Rollup focus continues.
10. Cosmos (ATOM): Governance Turmoil
- Accelerator drama over $1M ATOM reserves.
- 200% monthly gain despite issues.
Final Thought: Legacy chains blend regulatory optimism, tech upgrades, and narrative shifts—making them dark horses for 2025.
Disclaimer: This content is informational; always conduct independent research.