Crypto markets are no strangers to surprises, but this week’s rally had a twist: several of the industry’s most controversial tokens surged double digits, leaving critics stunned and traders scrambling. From projects once written off as scams to tokens plagued by poor reputations, a handful of “hated coins” are now back in the spotlight.
The Rally Nobody Saw Coming
While Bitcoin and Ethereum held steady, a group of smaller-cap altcoins defied expectations with sudden price spikes. The rally was fueled partly by speculative momentum, but also by renewed interest in niche communities that refuse to let these projects die.
Within 72 hours, some of these coins posted gains between 30% and 120% — a sharp reminder that sentiment in crypto can flip overnight.
Who Made the List?
Terra Classic (LUNC)
Left for dead after the collapse of Terra’s ecosystem in 2022, Terra Classic shocked markets with a 50% rally. A small but determined community of developers has continued to push upgrades, and traders piled in after news of a governance proposal to improve token burns.
Bitconnect Revival Token (BCCX)
Yes, even Bitconnect’s ghost refuses to vanish. A spinoff project claiming to revive the infamous Ponzi-era token surged over 70%, mostly on the back of meme-driven speculation. While mainstream analysts warn it has no fundamentals, retail traders flocked in for short-term gains.
Verge (XVG)
Once mocked for outdated tech and partnerships gone wrong, Verge made a comeback with a 40% price jump after an update improved transaction speeds. The rally caught many off guard, especially given its long reputation as a “dead coin.”
SafeMoon (SFM)
Despite legal troubles surrounding its founders, SafeMoon surged more than 60% as speculative traders chased volatility. The token’s community remains active, and sudden whale inflows fueled the move.
Dogelon Mars (ELON)
A meme coin inspired by Elon Musk that many dismissed as a joke jumped 35% after renewed chatter on social media. While its fundamentals remain thin, the hype cycle pushed it higher in the short term.
Why Traders Are Paying Attention
These rallies may not be sustainable, but they highlight a broader trend: speculative cycles in crypto often revive assets most investors wrote off. High-risk traders hunt for volatility, and hated coins provide exactly that.
A market analyst noted this week, “When retail traders get bored of majors like BTC and ETH, they start hunting for anything with explosive upside — even projects with reputational baggage.”
The Risks That Haven’t Changed
Despite the gains, most of these coins still face serious structural issues:
- Regulatory heat on projects tied to fraud or collapsed ecosystems.
- Thin liquidity that can trap late buyers in sharp reversals.
- Weak fundamentals compared to established networks.
History suggests many of these rallies are short-lived. For seasoned investors, they are less a long-term bet and more a speculative gamble.
The Bigger Picture
Love them or hate them, these tokens prove one thing: crypto markets never forget how to surprise. Even coins dismissed as relics or jokes can roar back when the right mix of hype, speculation, and community energy converges.
For cautious investors, the surge is a warning about volatility. For risk-takers, it’s proof that fortunes can still be made in unexpected corners of the market. And for critics, it’s a reminder that in crypto, even the most hated projects can have their moment.