The year 2020 was a landmark period for the cryptocurrency market, marked by dramatic price surges, institutional adoption, and the explosive rise of decentralized finance (DeFi). While Bitcoin’s bull run captured global attention, many legacy cryptocurrencies—those launched between 2014 and 2018—delivered extraordinary returns. These projects, already established with working products and active communities, leveraged the DeFi wave to achieve multi-fold gains.
This article explores the top 14 legacy crypto assets that saw the highest percentage growth in 2020, based on market data from leading platforms. We’ll examine their core innovations, ecosystem developments, and the catalysts behind their impressive performance—all while focusing on long-term value drivers in blockchain technology.
What Defines a Legacy Cryptocurrency?
A legacy cryptocurrency refers to digital assets launched during the early waves of blockchain innovation (typically 2014–2018), before the DeFi boom. These projects often survived market downturns, evolved their technology, and maintained active development teams. Unlike speculative meme coins or newly launched tokens, legacy cryptos have proven track records, real-world use cases, and integration within broader decentralized ecosystems.
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Key Factors Behind 2020’s Crypto Surge
Several macro trends fueled the surge in legacy crypto valuations:
- DeFi Summer: Liquidity mining and yield farming drove massive capital inflows into Ethereum-based protocols.
- Institutional Interest: Increased adoption by traditional finance players boosted market confidence.
- Technological Upgrades: Major protocol improvements (e.g., zkRollup, staking, cross-chain bridges) enhanced scalability and utility.
- Community Engagement: Decentralized governance and DAOs empowered users to influence project direction.
Now, let’s dive into the standout performers.
1. AAVE – Up 5368.7%
Launched in December 2017, Aave is a leading decentralized lending protocol enabling users to borrow and lend digital assets via liquidity pools. In 2020, AAVE surged over 53x due to its central role in the DeFi ecosystem.
Key developments:
- Introduction of liquidity mining in July 2020, incentivizing user participation.
- Launch of Aave V2 in December, introducing features like flash loans and credit delegation.
- Growing adoption across multiple platforms for stablecoin borrowing and yield optimization.
AAVE’s success reflects the rising demand for open, permissionless financial infrastructure.
2. THETA – Up 1752%
Also launched in December 2017, Theta Network aims to decentralize video streaming by rewarding users who share bandwidth and computing resources. It gained significant traction in 2020 through strategic partnerships and technological upgrades.
Notable milestones:
- Mainnet 2.0 launch with Google Cloud as a validator node.
- Announcement of Mainnet 3.0, introducing TFUEL staking and token burn mechanisms.
- Integration with major brands like Samsung and SLIVER.tv.
- Entry into the NFT space by year-end.
Theta demonstrated how blockchain can disrupt content delivery networks (CDNs) by reducing costs and improving efficiency.
3. ZIL – Up 1544%
Zilliqa’s native token ZIL, launched in January 2018, powers a high-throughput public blockchain using sharding technology to improve scalability. Its strong performance in 2020 stemmed from ecosystem expansion.
Highlights:
- Debut of ZSwap, a decentralized exchange, and Zyro, a no-code website builder on blockchain.
- Introduction of non-custodial staking and governance token gZIL.
- Active marketing campaigns on international social media platforms.
Despite concerns about centralization, Zilliqa maintained relevance by focusing on developer tools and real-world applications.
4. MLN – Up 874%
Originally known as Melon, Enzyme Finance (MLN) offers a decentralized asset management protocol on Ethereum. Investors can create custom portfolios and manage funds without intermediaries.
Why it rose:
- Surging interest in DeFi-based wealth management solutions.
- Integration with other protocols for automated investment strategies.
- Governance participation through token voting.
As more users sought alternatives to traditional finance, MLN emerged as a key player in decentralized portfolio management.
5. REN – Up 865.1%
Ren enables trustless cross-chain transfers via its RenVM protocol, allowing assets like BTC and ZEC to be used in Ethereum-based DeFi apps. The surge in wrapped Bitcoin demand propelled REN’s growth.
Impact:
- Over 13,000 BTC locked as renBTC by year-end.
- Critical infrastructure for bridging Bitcoin’s value into DeFi ecosystems.
- Growing support for additional cross-chain assets.
Ren played a foundational role in expanding DeFi’s reach beyond native Ethereum tokens.
6. DNT – Up 788.5%
District0x is a network of decentralized marketplaces and communities built on Ethereum, Aragon, and IPFS. Its token, DNT, saw a sharp rise after being listed on Coinbase Pro in November 2020.
Catalyst:
- Major exchange listing brought increased visibility and liquidity.
- Users leverage DNT for governance, access to dApps, and earning rewards.
The project exemplifies community-driven digital economies operating without centralized control.
7. LRC – Up 711%
Loopring (LRC) is a decentralized exchange protocol leveraging zkRollup technology for scalable order-book trading. Its third-generation upgrade significantly improved transaction speed and cost-efficiency.
Achievements:
- Launch of Loopring 3.0, offering near-instant trades with low fees.
- First Chinese community-led project listed on Coinbase Pro.
- Growing trade volume across multiple Layer-2 implementations.
LRC’s technical innovation positioned it as a leader in scalable DEX solutions.
FAQs About Legacy Cryptocurrencies
Q: What qualifies a cryptocurrency as “legacy”?
A: A legacy crypto typically launched between 2014 and 2018, survived multiple market cycles, and has a functioning mainnet and active development team.
Q: Why did these older projects outperform newer ones in 2020?
A: Many had matured technologically just as DeFi demand exploded. Their existing infrastructure allowed them to scale quickly when market conditions favored decentralized finance.
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Q: Is past performance indicative of future gains?
A: Not necessarily. While strong fundamentals matter, future returns depend on ongoing innovation, adoption, regulatory developments, and macroeconomic factors.
Q: How important is exchange listing for price movement?
A: Extremely. Listings on major exchanges like Coinbase increase liquidity, visibility, and investor trust—often triggering sharp price increases.
Q: Are staking and governance features driving value?
A: Yes. Tokens that offer staking rewards or voting rights tend to see higher retention and engagement, contributing to sustained demand.
Other Notable Performers
ANT – Up 655.5%
Aragon enables creation of decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs). By September 2020, over 1,500 DAOs were built on its platform, making it a cornerstone of decentralized governance.
XEM – Up 583.2%
NEM’s XEM gained momentum after announcing Symbol, a new enterprise-grade blockchain with an airdrop for XEM holders—rewarding long-term supporters.
GNO – Up 574.9%
Gnosis leveraged its prediction market platform during the U.S. presidential election, attracting users betting on political outcomes—showcasing real-world utility for decentralized forecasting.
WAVES – Up 564%
Waves advanced its DeFi ecosystem with Neutrino (a stablecoin protocol) and Gravity, a cross-chain oracle system—aligning closely with industry trends.
LINK – Up 525.5%
Chainlink became the dominant oracle provider, connecting smart contracts with real-world data. Its integration across numerous blockchains solidified its network effect.
SNX – Up 483.7%
Synthetix led the synthetic asset trend, enabling trading of tokenized stocks, commodities, and currencies—expanding DeFi beyond crypto-native assets.
ETH – Up 460%
Ethereum’s native token benefited from soaring DeFi activity and the anticipation of Ethereum 2.0, which introduced staking for enhanced security and scalability.
Final Thoughts
The top-performing legacy cryptos of 2020 shared common traits: robust technology, active communities, timely upgrades, and alignment with emerging trends like DeFi, DAOs, and cross-chain interoperability. Their success underscores a vital principle in blockchain investing: sustainable growth stems from real utility, not hype alone.
As the ecosystem evolves, these foundational projects continue to influence new generations of decentralized applications.
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Whether you're evaluating long-term investments or studying market cycles, understanding the journey of these legacy cryptos provides valuable insights into the future of digital finance.