Dinocoins are making a comeback: K33

Dinocoins like XRP and ADA are getting more attention, and it’s not just because of President Trump

article-image

Akif CUBUK/Shutterstock modified by Blockworks

share


This is a segment from the Empire newsletter. To read full editions, subscribe.


An interesting dynamic is taking place in the market right now: Dinocoins are having a bit of a moment. 

In a research note from K33, analysts looked at why institutions favor “older, more established coins over the new shiny things with no track record.”

“This, in turn, is causing more interest among retail investors and traders for the familiar ‘boomer’ or ‘dino’ coins.”

Some of this also comes from the fact that President Trump’s administration has changed the tide, and he’s effectively “given altcoins the institutional stamp of approval.”

“The typical (young) altcoin trader favors the latest trending DeFi token or the latest memecoin looking to cook a 100x run. In contrast, cautious long-term participants seek out what they perceive as safer bets,” the analysts wrote. 

“The term “boomer” may be facetious, but it reflects how older, or at least more institutionally minded, investors are now firmly marking their territory in the crypto space. Such investors are more comfortable with assets that have weathered market cycles while being supported by entities that present in a professional manner.”

In fact, DOGE is included alongside coins like LTC, XRP and ADA, the analysts said. Though, let’s be fair: ADA and XRP have massive, heavily-focused (or obsessed depending on who you talk to) retail followings. That following is quite different from the institutions that are looking for altcoin exposure. 

ADA, for example, has been dubbed a so-called Ethereum killer, but that narrative hasn’t quite played out. Though there are plenty of comments one could make about the state of Ethereum right now, so perhaps I’m speaking too soon.

Ironically, this also fits into what Dedic and Pomp said about founders: Folks are looking for coins that can survive the narratives. 

Whether or not the use cases for some of these dinocoins have come to fruition, they’re still around and kicking and they’ve managed to gain a spotlight — not just a post from the president. 


Get the news in your inbox. Explore Blockworks newsletters:

Tags

Decoding crypto and the markets. Daily, with Byron Gilliam.

Upcoming Events

Javits Center North | 445 11th Ave

Tues - Thurs, March 24 - 26, 2026

Blockworks’ Digital Asset Summit (DAS) will feature conversations between the builders, allocators, and legislators who will shape the trajectory of the digital asset ecosystem in the US and abroad.

recent research

Research Report Templates (27).png

Research

Solana's spot trading landscape will remain bifurcated: prop AMMs will own the short-tail of highly liquid pairs, while passive AMMs continue drifting toward the long-tail. Both can win via vertical integration, but in opposite directions: passive AMMs are moving closer to users through token issuance platforms (e.g., Pump-PumpSwap, MetaDAO-Futarchy AMM), while prop AMMs are moving down the stack into transaction landing services and infrastructure (e.g., HumidiFi-Nozomi). The venues most at risk are legacy AMMs with limited end-user control and no durable, launch-driven source of order flow.

article-image

Some systems improve by failing — and crypto has no choice

article-image

Yield Basis introduces an IL-free AMM design that already dominates BTC DEX liquidity

article-image

Maybe tokenholders don’t need the rights that corporate shareholders have come to expect

article-image

As Hyperliquid and Lighter battle for perps DEX dominance, Boros could capture the structural upside

article-image

Investors are often right about the future, but wrong about the returns

article-image

A look back at 2025, reflections on our industry, and what it means for Blockworks in 2026