The year 2021 was nothing short of extraordinary for the cryptocurrency market. While Bitcoin and Ethereum dominated headlines with all-time highs and widespread adoption, they weren’t the only — or even the top — performers in terms of percentage gains. In fact, some digital assets and crypto-exposed stocks surged far beyond BTC’s 67% growth and ETH’s impressive 450% rise.
Using data from CoinGecko and Yahoo Finance, this deep dive highlights the standout performers of 2021 — from DeFi tokens and high-flying altcoins to meme coins and publicly traded companies riding the crypto wave. These assets delivered staggering returns, reshaping investor expectations and spotlighting emerging trends in blockchain innovation.
Whether you're exploring decentralized finance, staking solutions, or blockchain-powered ecosystems, understanding these top gainers offers valuable insight into market dynamics and future opportunities.
👉 Discover how blockchain innovations drove record-breaking gains in 2021
DeFi Token: Lido Staked ETH (stETH)
Among decentralized finance (DeFi) tokens, Lido Staked ETH (stETH) stood out as a dominant force in 2021. By enabling users to stake Ethereum while retaining liquidity, stETH became a cornerstone of yield-generating strategies across DeFi platforms.
Performance Metrics
- Market cap growth: 48,633%
- Starting value (Jan 1): $12.3 million
- Value by mid-December: $6 billion
This explosive growth reflects rising demand for liquid staking solutions as Ethereum transitioned toward proof-of-stake. Unlike traditional staking, which locks up ETH, stETH allows holders to earn staking rewards while still using their tokens in lending protocols, decentralized exchanges, or collateralized loans.
What Is stETH?
stETH is a 1:1 representation of staked Ether on the Lido platform. When users deposit ETH into Lido, they receive stETH tokens in return. These tokens accrue value over time through network rewards and can be redeemed later for an equivalent amount of ETH once withdrawals are enabled on Ethereum 2.0.
The protocol is governed by the Lido DAO, ensuring decentralized decision-making around validator selection, fee structures, and integration with other DeFi protocols.
Runners-Up in DeFi
- PancakeSwap (CAKE): +5,730%
- Frax (FRAX): +2,495%
These figures underscore how yield farming, automated market makers, and algorithmic stablecoins continued to attract capital and innovation within the DeFi space.
Coin: Solana (SOL)
Solana emerged as one of the most compelling smart contract platforms in 2021, earning recognition as Decrypt's Coin of the Year due to its technological edge and booming ecosystem.
Price Surge
- Growth: 9,588%
- Starting price (Jan 1): $1.84
- Price by December 15: $178.26
This meteoric rise was fueled not only by speculative interest but also by tangible developments — including NFT launches, decentralized exchange growth, and institutional backing.
Technology Behind the Growth
Solana uses a unique consensus mechanism called Proof of History (PoH) combined with Proof of Stake, allowing it to process thousands of transactions per second with low fees. This scalability made it an attractive alternative to Ethereum during periods of network congestion.
Developers flocked to build on Solana, launching projects like Serum (a high-speed DEX), Raydium (an automated market maker), and the popular NFT marketplace Magic Eden.
👉 Explore how next-gen blockchains achieved massive gains in 2021
Runners-Up Among Coins
- Terra (LUNA): +9,391%
- Dogecoin (DOGE): +3,179.54%
Both LUNA and DOGE benefited from strong community support and real-world use cases — Terra through its stablecoin UST, and Dogecoin via social media momentum and payment experiments.
Meme Coin: Shiba Inu (SHIB)
No discussion of 2021’s crypto gains would be complete without mentioning Shiba Inu (SHIB) — the ultimate underdog turned market phenomenon.
Unbelievable Returns
- Price increase: 42,349,900%
- Starting price: $0.00000000008
- Mid-December price: $0.00003388
While SHIB began as a satirical project inspired by Dogecoin, it evolved into a full-fledged ecosystem featuring a decentralized exchange (ShibaSwap), governance token (LEASH), and even plans for a metaverse.
Why SHIB Soared
Several factors contributed to SHIB’s breakout:
- Listings on major exchanges like Kraken
- Community-driven marketing campaigns
- The “burn portal” initiative that reduced token supply
- High-profile endorsements and social media virality
Despite its lack of intrinsic utility compared to other blockchains, SHIB demonstrated the power of narrative and community in driving asset valuation.
Meme Coin Competition
- Dogecoin (DOGE): +3,180%
- Dogelon Mars (ELON): +2,368%
These numbers show that while meme coins may lack technical depth, they remain potent cultural and financial forces in the crypto world.
Publicly Traded Crypto Company: MicroStrategy (MSTR)
For investors seeking exposure to Bitcoin without holding it directly, MicroStrategy (MSTR) became a proxy investment vehicle in 2021.
Stock Performance
- Gain: 41%
- Starting price: $425.22
- December 15 price: $598.59
Though originally a business intelligence software company, MicroStrategy pivoted hard into Bitcoin under CEO Michael Saylor’s leadership. As of December 2021, the company held 122,478 BTC, making its balance sheet deeply tied to Bitcoin’s performance.
Strategic Shift
MicroStrategy raised capital through debt offerings and equity sales specifically to purchase more Bitcoin — a strategy that attracted both praise and scrutiny. Its corporate website now features a dedicated section explaining its Bitcoin treasury policy, influencing other enterprises to consider similar moves.
Publicly Traded Crypto-Exposed Company: Nvidia (NVDA)
Nvidia isn’t a crypto company per se, but its hardware plays a critical role in blockchain infrastructure — particularly in mining.
Impressive Stock Growth
- Increase: 141%
- Starting price: $131.04
- December 15 price: $304.59
As GPU demand surged during the mining boom, Nvidia benefited despite challenges meeting expectations for its dedicated Cryptocurrency Mining Processor (CMP) line.
Broader Impact
Even as Ethereum moved toward proof-of-stake — reducing long-term GPU mining needs — Nvidia’s chips remained essential for AI training, gaming, and smaller proof-of-work chains. This diversification helped sustain investor confidence.
Other Notable Performers
- Advanced Micro Devices (AMD): +60%
- Tesla (TSLA): +24%
Publicly Traded Crypto Miner: Marathon Digital Holdings (MARA)
Marathon Digital exemplifies how traditional companies transformed into pure-play crypto miners in 2021.
Stock Explosion
- Rise: 252%
- Starting price: $11.01
- December 15 price: $38.73
Headquartered in Las Vegas with a massive mining facility in Montana operating at 3.32 EH/s, Marathon significantly expanded its mining rig fleet this year.
From Software to Bitcoin
Originally founded in 2010 as a software parent company, Marathon shifted focus entirely to Bitcoin mining in 2021 — capitalizing on favorable regulatory environments and low-cost energy sources.
👉 See how Bitcoin miners turned energy into exponential growth
Other Mining Stocks
- Hut8 (HUT): +183%
- Bitfury (BITF): +180%
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Was Bitcoin the best-performing crypto in 2021?
A: No. While Bitcoin rose about 67%, several altcoins like Solana (+9,588%) and Shiba Inu (+42 million %) outperformed it significantly.
Q: What made Solana grow so fast?
A: Solana’s high-speed blockchain, low fees, and growing ecosystem of DeFi and NFT projects attracted developers and investors alike.
Q: Is Shiba Inu just a joke coin?
A: Though it started as a meme, SHIB developed real utility through ShibaSwap and community-driven initiatives, though it remains highly speculative.
Q: Can stocks like Nvidia be considered crypto investments?
A: Yes. Companies like NVDA benefit from crypto mining demand and broader blockchain adoption, offering indirect exposure.
Q: Why did MicroStrategy invest so heavily in Bitcoin?
A: CEO Michael Saylor argued that Bitcoin is a superior store of value compared to cash, prompting the company to adopt it as a treasury reserve asset.
Q: Are past gains predictive of future performance?
A: Not necessarily. High returns often reflect early-stage volatility; thorough research is essential before investing.