The cryptocurrency market is full of surprises. In 2021, tokens like Shiba Inu emerged seemingly out of nowhere and delivered extraordinary returns, creating many new millionaires from modest investments. As the market appears to be emerging from a prolonged bear phase, now is a sensible time to research cryptocurrencies that could experience unexpected rallies and offer strong returns. Based on current trends and network developments, the following three cryptocurrencies have characteristics that could position them for notable gains in the next bull run.
Ethereum Classic (ETC)
Ethereum Classic (ETC) has existed alongside Ethereum for years, but it has lagged behind since the 2016 split. After the fork, development and investor attention largely concentrated on Ethereum, leaving ETC as a less prominent chain. Recent shifts in the Ethereum ecosystem, however, may create favorable conditions for renewed interest in Ethereum Classic.
One key catalyst is Ethereum’s transition to Proof-of-Stake. When Ethereum completed its merge, mining with traditional ASIC equipment ceased to be compatible with Ethereum’s consensus. Miners who previously supported Ethereum with ASIC hardware are likely to seek alternative networks that still accept their equipment, and Ethereum Classic is the most direct option.
If a meaningful portion of Ethereum miners redirect their hash power to ETC, the network’s security and overall activity could increase. Greater miner participation can improve block production and resilience, which in turn can boost developer confidence and adoption. These dynamics make Ethereum Classic a viable candidate to outperform during the next market upswing, especially if renewed attention attracts capital and developer resources.
NEO (NEO)
NEO (NEO) is another older project that underperformed during the last major bull market as newer platforms captured developer and investor interest. In recent years, however, the NEO team has focused on modernizing the platform to align with emerging Web3 use cases, which could position NEO to regain traction.
NEO’s renewed roadmap emphasizes developer-friendly tools and smart contract support aimed at Web3 applications. As decentralized applications, digital identities, and tokenized assets continue to grow, platforms that simplify smart contract creation and reduce development overhead may attract businesses and projects seeking practical deployment paths.
One of NEO’s strengths is its focus on ease of use for developers and enterprises: creating smart contracts on NEO can be more approachable than on some competing networks, lowering the barrier for teams that lack extensive blockchain engineering resources. If NEO continues to win attention from builders and enterprises, that adoption could translate into price appreciation and a stronger market presence during the next bull cycle.
In summary, while no outcome is guaranteed, Ethereum Classic and NEO possess plausible catalysts that could drive renewed interest and performance in an incoming bull market. ETC benefits from its compatibility with legacy mining hardware and the potential for increased network security and activity, while NEO’s modernization and developer-friendly design could attract Web3 projects and enterprise users. Investors should conduct their own research and consider the risks before allocating capital, as cryptocurrency markets remain volatile and unpredictable.