What’s Behind the Dino Coin Hype? These 3 Might Be Next to Pop!

Introduction

If you’ve been paying attention to the markets lately, you’ve probably noticed something strange. Coins that most of the crypto crowd had written off are suddenly pumping. And not just small moves, some of these old tokens are putting up double-digit gains overnight.

We’re talking about so-called dino coins, a term used to describe older Layer-1 tokens and early projects from past cycles. These are the coins that have been around since 2017 or earlier, survived multiple bear markets, and now seem to be coming back to life.

So why are dino coins trending again? Which ones have already pumped? And more importantly, which ones haven’t yet?

Dino Coins Are on the Move

Over the past two weeks, a wave of dino coins has posted massive price gains, often with little to no fundamental news. Here are just a few that have stood out:

• Tezos (XTZ): Tezos jumped over 55% over the past 30 days, breaking past the one-dollar mark for the first time since early 2023. No major update caused the rally, but short squeezes and social momentum played a role.
• Stellar (XLM): Rallied more than 90% in 10 days, fueled mostly by speculation around institutional payments and ISO 20022 narratives.
• Cardano (ADA): Once touted as the 'Ethereum killer', it is up nearly 30% in July, fueled by renewed developer activity and increasing social buzz.
• XRP: The token briefly spiked to $3.6, although gains were quickly erased after a round of whale profit-taking.
• Litecoin (LTC): Oldest on the list, the token gained over 35%, boosted by ETF chatter and renewed interest in Bitcoin alternatives.

More than 10 veteran tokens have seen 20 to 100% moves in the last 30 days. Other examples include NEM (XEM), Zilliqa (ZIL) and ICON (ICX). Most of these projects had been sitting quietly for months with low volumes and little attention.

What’s Causing the Dino Hype?

There are a few key reasons these older tokens are suddenly moving:

1. Altcoin rotation is back?

Bitcoin has been ranging between $110,000 and $120,000 for weeks. When BTC goes sideways, traders start hunting for volatility elsewhere. That’s when capital starts rotating into altcoins, especially those that are still far off their all-time highs.

2. Thin liquidity equals easy pumps

Many dino coins have thin order books, which makes it easier for whales and momentum traders to move prices with relatively small capital. Once the price starts moving, it creates a feedback loop.

3. Good old nostalgia

People love trading coins they remember. Many retail traders still hold old bags from 2018 and 2021. When one or two vintage coins pump, attention shifts to others that "haven’t moved yet" and speculation takes over.

Three Dino Coins That Haven’t Pumped Yet (But Could Be Next)

Not every dino coin has had its moment. Some are still sitting in accumulation zones despite strong fundamentals or upcoming catalysts. Here are three that I believe are well positioned to follow the trend.

1. Qtum (QTUM)

• Price: $2.16
• All-time high: $106.88
• Why it could move:
  Qtum combines the best of Bitcoin’s UTXO model with Ethereum-style smart contracts. Despite launching in 2017, the project is still active, with recent developer pushes around EVM compatibility and staking features. Qtum’s DeFi presence remains under the radar, and trading volume is beginning to rise. It only moved up around 17% in the past month, which is well below other legacy coins. If the current rally broadens out, QTUM’s low market cap and old-school branding could make it a quick mover.

2. Polkadot (DOT)

• Price: $3.78
• Previous all-time high: $55.09
• Why it could move:
  Polkadot has one of the most technically advanced Layer-0 frameworks in crypto. It powers parachains like Moonbeam and Astar, but its core token, DOT, has largely lagged during this recent rally. That may be changing. Development activity on Polkadot has consistently ranked among the highest in the space, according to Santiment. On top of that, a new proposal to revise DOT’s token economy and improve parachain auctions is gaining momentum. DOT has gained just 12% in the last 30 days, far below its peers. A breakout above $7 could open the door to a fast 30 to 50% move.

3. NEO (NEO)

• Price: $6.30
• All-time high: $196.85
• Why it could move:
  Once dubbed "the Ethereum of China", NEO was one of the most hyped platforms in the 2017 bull run. It has since faded into the background, but recent developer activity and signs of revival from the Chinese blockchain sector could reignite interest. NEO 3.0, a major protocol upgrade, introduced improved performance, native oracles, and cross-chain features. The coin has gained only around 14% in the last 30 days, far less than other dino coins. If Chinese tech narratives heat up again or speculation circles back to Asia-based L1s, NEO could see serious upside.

Honorable Mentions

A few other honorable mentions that could be poised for a potential pump include Waves (WAVES), Nano (NANO), Decred (DCR), ZCash (ZEC), and Steem (STEEM).

Final Thoughts

Call it a fluke if you want, but everything’s fair in crypto, at least until you make the gainz. This could also be part of a broader altcoin rotation, where forgotten tokens are suddenly getting a second chance. Some of the moves have been purely speculative, while others are backed by fresh pivot announcements or quietly improving fundamentals.

If you’re looking to catch the next leg of the rotation, it makes sense to look at which legacy coins haven’t yet pumped. Polkadot, NEO, and Qtum are three of the few well-known dino coins that are still trading near the bottom of their ranges, and any new buzz around them could trigger sharp price moves.

As always, keep in mind that hype-driven rallies can reverse quickly. But in a market where old narratives are coming back to life, positioning early in quality projects can make all the difference.
 

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. All investments and trades carry risk, so readers are encouraged to do their own due diligence before making any decisions.