In the fast-moving world of cryptocurrency, emotional attachment can be costly. After a thorough review of my own portfolio and the broader market trends, I’ve made some tough decisions—cutting underperforming assets and reallocating capital toward stronger, more dynamic projects. If you're holding certain low-growth tokens, now might be the time to reconsider your strategy.
Like many, I recently received a wake-up call—not just financially, but personally. A doctor diagnosed me with prediabetes, forcing me to confront unhealthy habits formed over years: sugary drinks, processed snacks, late-night binges. The news was sobering, but it came early enough to make meaningful changes before irreversible damage set in.
That moment of clarity mirrored what I experienced when auditing my crypto holdings. Some assets simply aren’t pulling their weight. One token alone accounted for a significant portion of my portfolio—and its poor performance stung. But just as I chose health over comfort, I chose portfolio strength over sentimentality.
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Why Performance Matters in a Bull Market
The crypto market has surged over the past year. Bitcoin rose 147%, Ethereum gained 68%, Solana skyrocketed 603%, and BNB climbed 183%. On average, the entire asset class grew by about 120%. In this environment, mediocrity isn’t neutral—it’s a loss.
To identify which cryptos no longer belong in a forward-looking portfolio, I applied two clear criteria:
- Only include coins that existed before 2023 – New projects launched during the bull run are speculative by nature, and their volatility is expected. My focus is on established assets that have had time to prove (or fail to prove) their value.
- Must have gained at least 31% in the last year – This threshold represents 25% of the overall crypto market’s growth. If a project couldn’t capture even a fraction of the momentum, what catalyst will drive it forward now?
Using these rules, I analyzed the top 100 cryptocurrencies by market cap and filtered for those falling short.
The Underperformers: A Closer Look
Here are the tokens from the top 100 that failed to meet the 31% growth benchmark over the past year:
- XRP: +11.5%
- DOT: +14.2%
- LTC: +9.8%
- XMR: +3.5%
- ETC: +27.2%
- XLM: –10.9%
- POL (formerly MATIC): –30.2%
- OKB: –6%
- FIL: +16.2%
- HBAR: +14%
- ATOM: –33%
- MKR (now SKY): –8.9%
- ALGO: +30%
- BSV: +28.2%
- LDO: –30.5%
- QNT: –24.5%
- FLOW: +23.7%
Seventeen assets missed the mark—seven of them posted negative returns despite a booming market. That’s not just underperformance; it’s a red flag.
The Hardest Cut: Saying Goodbye to LDO
The most painful realization? I still held LDO, the token for Lido, a leading liquid staking protocol. Despite its strong fundamentals—high TVL, solid revenue, and wide adoption—it lost over 30% of its value in the past year.
I had to accept reality: strong fundamentals don’t always translate to price appreciation in the short term. Market sentiment, narrative cycles, and capital flows often outweigh intrinsic value during bull runs.
So I sold my LDO position—locking in a loss of more than 50% from its peak—and reallocated the funds.
Where I’m Moving My Capital
After exiting underperformers, I shifted focus to high-momentum ecosystems with strong developer activity and growing narratives.
I moved my capital into APT (Aptos)—not because I believe Aptos is superior to SUI (I actually hold both), but because I saw an opportunity for catch-up growth. With SUI already in my portfolio, diversifying into Aptos offered exposure to the same high-performance Layer 1 ecosystem without overconcentration.
Beyond smart contract platforms, I’m watching three key narratives for 2025:
- Memecoins – Driven by community and virality
- AI + Blockchain – Where machine learning meets decentralized infrastructure
- Gaming and DePIN – Real-world applications gaining traction
I’d rather back a blue-chip asset in a hyped category than hold a "safe" token going nowhere.
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The Attention Economy of Crypto
Let’s face it: crypto is increasingly an attention game. Even projects with impressive fundamentals—like MKR (SKY), which boasts one of the highest per-user revenues in DeFi—can languish if they’re not part of the current narrative.
Lido generates real yield. MakerDAO powers real lending markets. Yet both saw negative price action amid broader market gains.
This disconnect highlights a hard truth: in crypto, perception often drives price more than performance. If a project isn’t being talked about, it’s not being bought.
Key Takeaways for Investors
The good news? We may still be early in the broader altcoin cycle—just as prediabetes doesn’t mean inevitable illness. With timely action, recovery and improvement are possible.
If your portfolio includes several of the underperformers listed above, consider this your early warning.
Here are actionable steps:
- Rebalance toward market leaders: Allocating one-third each to BTC, ETH, SOL, or BNB could outperform a basket of stagnant altcoins.
- Follow the narrative: Capital flows to stories—AI, memecoins, RWA, DePIN. Position yourself where attention is growing.
- Cut emotional ties: Holding onto losing positions “because they’re solid projects” won’t help your P&L.
Some on my list may rebound—XRP, FIL, or POL have valid use cases and loyal communities. But unless there’s a clear catalyst, they risk becoming tools for short-term traders or fading from relevance altogether.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is this list a sell signal for all these cryptocurrencies?
A: Not necessarily. This is a performance-based filter, not financial advice. Some projects have strong fundamentals despite weak price action. Use this as a starting point for deeper research.
Q: Why exclude coins launched after 2023?
A: Newer projects operate under different expectations. They often ride hype cycles and can deliver outsized returns—or fail quickly. This analysis focuses on established players that should have demonstrated resilience.
Q: Can a fundamentally strong project still lose value?
A: Absolutely. Crypto markets are sentiment-driven. Even profitable protocols like Lido or MakerDAO can decline if capital shifts to hotter sectors like AI or memecoins.
Q: Should I panic and sell everything on this list?
A: No—reassess, don’t panic. Evaluate each holding based on your risk tolerance, time horizon, and belief in the project’s long-term vision.
Q: What’s the alternative to holding underperforming cryptos?
A: Consider reallocating to high-growth ecosystems (e.g., Solana, Aptos), leading Layer 1s, or emerging narratives like AI-blockchain integration or real-world asset tokenization.
Q: How often should I review my crypto portfolio?
A: At least quarterly during volatile periods. Markets evolve fast—what was a leader six months ago might be stagnant today.
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Final Thoughts
The crypto market rewards agility and punishes complacency. Just as changing my diet can prevent long-term health issues, pruning underperforming assets can protect and grow wealth.
My current holdings include SUI, APT, BTC, SOL, and BNB—projects aligned with speed, scalability, and narrative momentum.
Remember: this is not investment advice. My qualifications to give financial guidance are no greater than my ability to translate ancient Sumerian texts into modern parables. Always do your own research.
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