2021 delivered one of crypto’s wildest runs. Bitcoin recovered from the COVID-19 crash and capital rotated into altcoins at scale.
The Altcoin Season Index even climbed from 11 to 98 between January and April.
Source: Blockchaincenter
That rotation produced massive rallies, but many of those coins later faded. A few, though, have rebuilt fundamentals and could attempt a comeback in 2026.
Below are three 2021 names that still carry recovery potential.
2021 altcoins with 2026 comeback potential
While Internet Computer remained active following its 2021 launch, it sat well below the hype of its early days. Following the mainnet launch in May 2021, Internet Computer [ICP] surged to its all-time high of $750.
ICP fell below $100 and kept sliding through 2022 and 2023. It traded near $3.79 in 2025, down 99.5% from its peak.
The altcoin crashed primarily due to an alleged rug pull. As such, insiders were accused of dumping a significant amount of tokens, causing massive selling pressure.
Source: Arkham
According to Arkham Intelligence, insiders sent millions of ICP tokens, worth billions, into exchanges, accounting for 75% of deposits.
Why could it make a comeback?
Although ICP dipped, the team has worked to restore its reputation. As a result, the altcoin reached a high of $20 in 2024 and rebounded after a slip to $7 in early 2025.
Its network processed more than 170 million transactions, showing that real users still remained.
The AI narrative also shifted in ICP’s favor. Projects tied to AI infrastructure gained momentum through 2024 and 2025. ICP’s work with DFinity Foundation, Datapond, and FET on Caffein AI positioned it to tap into that demand.
If AI-aligned blockchains gain traction in 2026, ICP could benefit from renewed attention.
Why IMX still has recovery potential
Immutable is another 2021 altcoin that has struggled to live up to its early hype. In 2021, the altcoin surged to an all-time high of $9.5.
However, the uptick was short-lived, dropping through the 2022 bear market. In fact, Immutable [IMX] declined 96% from its all-time high, trading at $0.308 at press time.
Significantly, the altcoin crashed following the subsequent collapse of NFTs and the gaming sector. In 2021, NFT hype and gaming were trending, and as the world recovered from COVID-19, many coins suffered.
Despite the price collapse, IMX has maintained relevance as one of the top 100 coins by market cap according to CoinMarketCap.
Therefore, the altcoin has room to recover, especially following its partnerships with Gamespot, Illuvium, and Ubisoft.
In fact, as of August 2025, the platform is open to web game developers, with Ubisoft as a major partner. With these partnerships, a recovery in the gaming sector could see IMX rebound and return in 2026.
Why Gala still has a path forward
Just like IMX, Gala [GALA] is another 2021 altcoin that suffered from the collapse of the gaming sector. As such, the altcoin reached an all-time high of $0.8.
The altcoin traded at $0.0077 at press time, down 99% from its ATH with a market cap of $363 million. However, its gaming ecosystem has made notable collaborations and partnerships that could help its native coin.
Even more importantly, its continued development of Telegram mini apps has expanded the network’s user base. As a result, Gala has focused on Treasure Tapper on Telegram, giving its games exposure to millions of Telegram users.
With over 3 million users, it gives Gala a lifeline and foothold in the future. Thus, if the gaming ecosystem recovers, with its crypto intersection, Gala could make a comeback.