Not every blockchain that fell out of favor stayed there. They came back and went on to become household names!
Solana [SOL] is the clearest example. After the FTX collapse in 2022 dragged its price down more than 90%, many assumed the chain would hollow out.
Instead, developers kept shipping. Activity slowly rebuilt and by 2024, Solana was hosting EVERYTHING.
Today, Solana’s infrastructure is serious enough to be part of global policy conversations.
Even BNB Chain, widely expected to fade as the network navigated murky waters, never actually did. It continues to process massive transaction volumes, especially in gaming and low-cost applications.
Today, the network is thriving under new leadership and a base in Abu Dhabi.
Can zombies kill?
The biggest issue with these chains is liquidity. Thin trading makes it harder to enter or exit positions without moving the price against yourself. This makes every trade a gamble.
That illiquidity feeds volatility as well. On underused networks, even modest trades can cause price swings, creating the illusion of action where none really exists.
Ethereum Classic is a textbook case – It often moves more often than Ethereum [ETH] because there’s less depth to absorb trades.
Also, fewer developers means slower upgrades, weaker security, and difficulty keeping up with new standards. Over time, these chains struggle to connect with newer tools. And of course, there’s the perception risk of it all.
Once a blockchain earns a reputation for missing its moment, it’s hard to come back.
Final Thoughts
- Zombie chains still exist in 2025, but survival now depends on liquidity and use cases.
- For investors, a “still running” blockchain without users or builders is risk.