These Were the 7 Largest Crypto Gainers in 2022

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2022 was a turbulent year for the cryptocurrency market — often regarded as the second-worst in crypto history following the dramatic collapse of major exchanges and a prolonged bear market. Despite the widespread downturn, not all digital assets followed the same trajectory. While many coins shed over 50% from their all-time highs, a select few defied the odds and posted impressive gains.

According to CoinGecko, one of the leading cryptocurrency data trackers, several projects managed to thrive amid market adversity. These top performers demonstrated resilience, innovation, and strong community support. Below is a detailed look at the seven largest crypto gainers of 2022, ranked by their price performance.

1. Nest Protocol ($NEST) – +243%

Topping the list with an extraordinary 243% increase, Nest Protocol’s $NEST token emerged as the best-performing cryptocurrency of 2022.

The protocol powers a decentralized oracle system that provides real-time, trustless price feeds for DeFi applications. Unlike traditional oracles that rely on centralized data sources, NEST uses a unique "price prediction market" model where participants stake tokens to validate prices — ensuring accuracy and resistance to manipulation.

Key features of Nest Protocol include:

This focus on decentralization, security, and utility helped $NEST stand out during a year when trust in centralized platforms eroded significantly.

👉 Discover how decentralized protocols are reshaping finance in 2025.

2. Trust Wallet ($TWT) – +129.5%

Trust Wallet’s native token, $TWT, surged 129.5% in 2022, driven largely by increased demand for self-custody solutions after the FTX collapse.

In November 2022, Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao (CZ) publicly endorsed Trust Wallet as a secure alternative for users looking to take control of their assets. This endorsement sparked a wave of adoption, reinforcing Trust Wallet’s position as one of the most trusted Web3 wallets.

Trust Wallet supports a wide range of digital assets across multiple blockchains, including:

As users migrated away from centralized exchanges seeking greater control over their private keys, Trust Wallet’s user base expanded rapidly — directly boosting demand for $TWT.

Its integration with the Binance ecosystem and support for dApp browsing further enhanced its utility in the decentralized finance space.

3. GMX ($GMX) – +113.9%

GMX secured third place with a 113.9% gain, establishing itself as a leader in decentralized perpetual trading.

Built primarily on Arbitrum and BNB Smart Chain, GMX allows users to trade perpetual futures contracts with up to 30x leverage, all without relying on intermediaries. The platform uses a liquidity pool model where traders interact directly with GLP (GMX Liquidity Pool), reducing counterparty risk.

What sets GMX apart:

As retail interest in leveraged trading grew — even in a bear market — GMX’s robust infrastructure and low-cost trading environment attracted significant volume and user engagement.

4. Shardus ($ULT) – +83.6%

Shardus achieved an 83.6% increase by addressing core limitations of first-generation blockchains: scalability, decentralization, and efficiency.

The project introduces a novel consensus mechanism combined with compute and state sharding, enabling high throughput while maintaining decentralization. This makes Shardus suitable for powering large-scale decentralized applications and enterprise-grade networks.

By distributing computational load and data storage across nodes efficiently, Shardus eliminates bottlenecks common in networks like Ethereum pre-upgrades.

Use cases include:

Its technical innovation resonated with developers and investors alike, contributing to strong price momentum despite broader market headwinds.

5. PlatonCoin ($PLTC) – +60.8%

PlatonCoin saw its value rise by 60.8%, fueled by its integration within the Platon Life ecosystem — a digital lifestyle platform promoting financial inclusion.

$PLTC functions as both a payment token and a utility coin within this ecosystem. Users can:

Notably, PlatonCoin offers theft protection insurance of up to EUR 1 million, depending on membership tier — a rare feature in the crypto space that adds tangible value and peace of mind.

While less known globally, its regional adoption — particularly in Europe — contributed to steady growth throughout 2022.

6. SSV Network ($SSV) – +43.5%

The SSV Network delivered a solid 43.5% return, emerging as a critical infrastructure player in Ethereum's transition to proof-of-stake.

SSV enables decentralized staking by allowing users to distribute validator responsibilities across multiple non-trusting nodes. It splits a single validator key into shards using threshold cryptography, ensuring no single node has full control — enhancing security and uptime.

This "distributed validator" concept transforms traditional staking into a more resilient, trustless process — similar to a multisig setup for validators.

With growing concerns about centralization risks in staking pools (especially those operated by large exchanges), SSV provided a compelling solution for users prioritizing decentralization and long-term network health.

7. Gains Network ($GNS) – +27.1%

Rounding out the list is Gains Network, which posted a 27.1% gain by revolutionizing decentralized trading.

Gains Network offers leveraged trading on forex, indices, commodities, and cryptocurrencies — all through a peer-to-pool model that eliminates funding rates. Traders benefit from high leverage (up to 50x) without worrying about position decay over time.

Key advantages:

Its user-friendly interface and low entry barriers made it popular among retail traders navigating volatile markets.

👉 Explore how next-gen trading platforms are changing crypto investing in 2025.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: Why did some cryptos rise in 2022 despite the bear market?
A: Projects with strong fundamentals, real-world utility, and responsive communities were able to gain traction even during downturns. Innovations in DeFi, staking infrastructure, and self-custody solutions drove investor confidence when trust in centralized entities faltered.

Q: Is past performance indicative of future results?
A: Not necessarily. While these gainers showed resilience in 2022, market conditions change rapidly. Always conduct thorough research before investing.

Q: What role did the FTX collapse play in crypto gains?
A: The FTX crisis accelerated the shift toward decentralized and self-custody solutions. Tokens like $TWT and $SSV benefited directly from increased demand for trustless platforms.

Q: How reliable are percentage gains reported by CoinGecko?
A: CoinGecko is widely respected for transparent data aggregation. However, price movements should be analyzed alongside volume, market cap, and project developments for context.

Q: Can small-cap cryptos still deliver high returns?
A: Yes, smaller projects with innovative tech — like Shardus or Nest Protocol — can outperform larger caps if they solve pressing industry problems.

While most of the crypto market struggled in 2022, these seven projects proved that innovation and user-centric design can drive success even in challenging conditions. From decentralized oracles to staking infrastructure and self-custody tools, each gainer addressed critical needs in the evolving blockchain landscape.

👉 Stay ahead of the curve — see what’s next in decentralized finance today.