3 coins back from the dead in 2024 that may continue to rise in ‘25

The cryptocurrency market experienced a remarkable resurgence in 2024, rising from its January capitalization of $1.8 trillion to an astounding $3.9 trillion as of mid-December. The surge was spearheaded, in large part, by Bitcoin’s meteoric year-to-date (YTD) rise of 160%. 

However, this dramatic recovery also triggered a wave of bullish momentum across the board — especially for some altcoins — breathing new life into projects that had otherwise stagnated or underperformed, at least in the eyes of some observers.

Below are some standout crypto performers that registered extraordinary comebacks in 2024 that analysts say may continue to outperform.

Dogecoin comes up “Trumps” again

Quintessential meme token Doge staged one of the most impressive comebacks of 2024, witnessing a price rise of over 350% from its January lows of $0.081 to hit $0.466. The rally was fueled by a combination of political, technical and cultural factors, bringing Dogecoin back to the center of investor enthusiasm. 

The outcome of the 2024 United States presidential election seemed to play a pivotal role in the memecoin’s fortune reversal, with Donald Trump’s forthcoming pro-crypto administration signaling a major shift in regulatory sentiment. 

Trump’s embrace of blockchain innovation and Elon Musk’s appointment to co-chair a newly formed government body humorously named the “Department of Government Efficiency” (DOGE) drew enormous media interest and sparked waves of investor optimism.

Musk’s continued support for Dogecoin (DOGE) also remained a powerful sentiment driver, while speculation about the integration of DOGE payments on Musk’s social platform X also excited traders and analysts about potential further gains. 

Technical analysis has validated the bullish momentum, with key indicators like a “golden cross,” where two long-term moving averages intersect, pointing toward significant upside potential.

Pseudonymous analyst Mikybull likened the current pattern to Dogecoin’s previous bull cycle, during which the token achieved a near-7,000% rally. Similarly, prominent crypto trader Javon Marks echoed a similar tune, predicting DOGE could reach $3 or higher if momentum persists.

Ripple surfs the regulatory wave to register a 330% profit

Ripple’s XRP (XRP) token delivered one of the most unexpected yet impressive rallies of 2024, skyrocketing by more than 350% since the November presidential election. This upswing saw XRP surpass Solana and Tether, cementing its place as the third-largest cryptocurrency by market cap. 

The surge in XRP’s value seems to have been driven by a confluence of factors, including regulatory optimism, strategic product launches and strong technical momentum, making it one of the most talked-about assets in the market.

Backed by momentum from last year when US District Judge Analisa Torres ruled that XRP was not a security when sold on public exchanges — though it could be classified as one in institutional sales — the digital asset seems to have turned over a new leaf.

This partial victory was seen as a turning point for Ripple and the broader crypto industry, weakening the US Securities and Exchange Commission’s case against other decentralized tokens it had declared securities. Under outgoing Chair Gary Gensler’s leadership, the SEC had aggressively pursued cases against crypto issuers and exchanges, accusing them of offering unregistered securities. 

However, Trump’s pro-innovation stance, combined with the prospects of a pro-crypto SEC under nominated chair Paul Atkins, has fueled hopes that Ripple’s long-running legal battle may finally come to an end in 2025.

This renewed confidence in Ripple also coincided with the company’s launch of its much-anticipated RLUSD stablecoin, a USD-backed asset designed with compliance and transparency at its core. RLUSD debuted on platforms like MoonPay, Uphold and Bitso on Dec. 18, marking Ripple’s strategic push into the growing stablecoin market. 

The launch positioned Ripple to capitalize on the rising demand for stable digital assets and strengthen its foothold as a key player in cross-border payments.

Lastly, technical analysis has also provided bullish signals for XRP with popular trader DonAlt — who accurately charted out XRP’s November rally —  suggesting that a breakout above $2.60 could ignite another wave of bullish momentum, potentially doubling XRP’s price. 

Analyst EGRAG took an even more ambitious view, forecasting that XRP’s price could surge to between $8.77 and $17.54 if Ripple achieves its long-term goals. 

Hedera re-enters the top-25, re-establishing itself as a DeFi powerhouse

Hedera Hashgraph has often been viewed as a crypto dark horse. Still, its recent resurgence and growing role within the DeFi market has made it much more prominent. While it rallied by more than 800% between November and December alone, Hedera (HBAR) has maintained an impressive growth trajectory throughout 2024. 

One of the most exciting developments for Hedera was the possibility of a spot HBAR ETF going live, with Valour Funds filing for a physical staking product with the European Euronext exchange. 

Meanwhile, Canary Capital’s filing for a US-based spot HBAR ETF added to the anticipation as investors closely watched regulatory developments in the post-election environment. 

With a potential shift in US crypto policy under the new administration seeming likely, HBAR’s institutional adoption may increase substantially in the near-to-mid term.

Lastly, Hedera’s growing decentralized finance (DeFi) presence has also been a key driver for its success, with the total value locked (TVL) within the ecosystem soaring from $53 million in January to nearly $200 million as of December, a remarkable increase fueled by platforms like Stader, SaucerSwap and Bonzo Finance. 

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