The cryptocurrency market has undergone dramatic shifts over the past decade, with new innovations and narratives reshaping investor interest and market rankings. While today's landscape is dominated by Bitcoin, Ethereum, and a growing number of stablecoins, the top digital assets of five years ago tell a different story—one of promise, volatility, and evolving relevance.
In 2017, during the last major bull run, the crypto hierarchy looked significantly different. Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH) already held the top two spots—a consistency that remains unshaken today. However, the third, fourth, and fifth positions were occupied by Bitcoin Cash (BCH), Ripple (XRP), and Litecoin (LTC), three assets that once carried strong momentum but have since seen their influence wane.
Let’s take a closer look at where these former leaders stand in today’s market and what factors contributed to their shifting fortunes.
The 2017 Crypto Landscape
Back in 2017, the crypto world was buzzing with excitement. Bitcoin surged past $19,000 for the first time, Ethereum introduced the world to smart contracts and decentralized applications, and investor interest exploded across alternative cryptocurrencies—often called "altcoins."
At the height of that bull market:
- Bitcoin (BTC) reigned supreme as the original digital currency.
- Ethereum (ETH) emerged as the innovation leader, powering the future of decentralized finance.
- Bitcoin Cash (BCH) entered the scene as a controversial fork of Bitcoin, promising faster and cheaper transactions.
- Ripple (XRP) gained traction due to its partnerships with financial institutions aiming to modernize cross-border payments.
- Litecoin (LTC), often dubbed “digital silver” to Bitcoin’s “digital gold,” was praised for its faster block generation and early adoption.
These five assets formed the core of many investors’ portfolios. But where are they now?
Bitcoin Cash (BCH): A Fork That Lost Momentum
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Bitcoin Cash emerged in August 2017 as a hard fork of the Bitcoin blockchain. It was created by a group of developers who believed that increasing the block size from 1MB to 8MB (later increased further) would better fulfill Satoshi Nakamoto’s vision of a peer-to-peer electronic cash system.
Key features of BCH include:
- A fixed supply cap of 21 million tokens.
- Block rewards halving every four years—its next halving is expected in April 2024, reducing the reward from 6.25 to 3.125 BCH.
- Higher throughput, supporting up to 25,000 transactions per block compared to Bitcoin’s ~7 per second.
Initially, BCH gained strong support and briefly surpassed $3,785 in December 2017—its all-time high. However, it failed to sustain adoption or developer activity. As of now, BCH trades around $1,550, down nearly 60% from its peak, and ranks outside the top 20 by market capitalization.
Despite technical advantages, BCH struggled with internal community splits and lacked compelling use cases beyond speculation.
Litecoin (LTC): The Early Mover That Stalled
Created by Charlie Lee in 2011, Litecoin was one of the earliest Bitcoin clones—built on similar code but optimized for faster transaction processing. With a block time of just 2.5 minutes (compared to Bitcoin’s 10), LTC aimed to be the go-to option for everyday payments.
Notable facts about Litecoin:
- Total supply capped at 84 million coins.
- Pre-mined 150 coins at launch.
- Underwent its most recent halving in August 2023, cutting block rewards from 12.5 to 6.25 LTC.
LTC reached near $375 during the 2017 rally and briefly hit $410 in May 2021—its current all-time high. While this outperformed many peers, it paled in comparison to assets that saw 10x or even 100x gains during the same period.
Today, Litecoin trades around $87 and holds a modest position around #23 in market cap rankings. Though still active and occasionally used in payment trials, it has largely been overshadowed by newer layer-1 blockchains and stablecoins.
Ripple (XRP): Innovation Meets Regulatory Headwinds
XRP operates on the XRP Ledger, an open-source blockchain designed for fast, low-cost international payments. Founded in 2012 by Arthur Britto, Jed McCaleb, and David Schwartz, XRP launched with a total supply of 100 billion tokens—80 billion allocated to Ripple Labs.
Unlike BTC or ETH, XRP does not rely on mining; all tokens were pre-mined at inception.
At its peak in January 2018, XRP reached $3.40 amid widespread optimism about Ripple’s banking partnerships. However, its trajectory changed dramatically in December 2020 when the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filed a lawsuit against Ripple Labs, alleging unregistered securities offerings through XRP sales.
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The legal battle dragged on for years, creating uncertainty and suppressing investor confidence. Although partial victories emerged—such as the July 2023 ruling that XRP sales to retail investors did not constitute securities—the damage was done.
As of now, XRP trades around $0.46 with a market cap hovering near $28 billion—still significant enough to keep it within the top 10 cryptocurrencies, but far below its former glory.
Where Are They Now? A Comparative Outlook
| Asset | 2017 Market Cap Peak | Current Rank (2025) | Price Change Since ATH |
|---|---|---|---|
| BCH | ~$42 billion | #33 | ↓ ~60% |
| LTC | ~$13 billion | #23 | ↓ ~77% |
| XRP | ~$89 billion | #6 | ↓ ~87% |
While Bitcoin and Ethereum have grown exponentially—driven by institutional adoption, DeFi ecosystems, NFTs, and layer-2 scaling solutions—BCH, LTC, and XRP have failed to generate new narratives or widespread utility.
Their decline underscores a broader trend in crypto: sustained relevance requires more than technical specs—it demands ecosystem growth, developer engagement, and real-world adoption.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Why did Bitcoin Cash fail to overtake Bitcoin?
A: Despite its larger block size and lower fees, Bitcoin Cash lacked consensus among developers and users. The fork caused community fragmentation, and BTC maintained stronger network effects, security, and brand recognition.
Q: Is Litecoin still relevant today?
A: Yes, but marginally. Litecoin remains technically sound and occasionally sees usage in micropayments or as a testing ground for Bitcoin upgrades (like Mimblewimble). However, it hasn’t evolved into a major DeFi or smart contract platform.
Q: Can XRP recover if the SEC case ends favorably?
A: A favorable resolution could boost sentiment and unlock exchange listings previously restricted by compliance concerns. However, long-term recovery depends on Ripple expanding actual product adoption beyond legal wins.
Q: Did any of these three hit new highs in the 2021 bull run?
A: Only Litecoin achieved a nominal new high (~$410), while both BCH and XRP fell significantly short of their previous peaks despite overall market euphoria.
Q: Are BCH, LTC, or XRP good investments now?
A: They may appeal to contrarian or value investors betting on resurgence. However, they face stiff competition from newer projects offering scalability, interoperability, and yield opportunities absent in these older protocols.
Q: What lessons can investors learn from these assets’ performance?
A: Market position isn’t permanent. Even top-tier altcoins can lose relevance without innovation, community support, or adaptive use cases. Diversification and staying informed are key.
Final Thoughts: Evolution Over Legacy
Five years ago, Bitcoin Cash, Litecoin, and Ripple represented the cutting edge of cryptocurrency innovation. Today, they serve as reminders that legacy alone doesn’t guarantee longevity.
While BTC and ETH continue to evolve—with upgrades like Ethereum’s shift to proof-of-stake—older altcoins must innovate or risk obsolescence.
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The crypto space moves fast. Thousands of new tokens enter the market each year, driven by fresh narratives—from AI-integrated blockchains to decentralized identity systems. For former leaders like BCH, LTC, and XRP to regain prominence, they’ll need more than nostalgia—they’ll need transformation.
As always in crypto: adapt or fade away.