Bitcoin is almost synonymous with crypto because when most people hear crypto, the first thing that comes to mind is Bitcoin. You can't blame them for that. Bitcoin has been the dominant player in the crypto space since its inception, boasting of whopping 60% dominance over other coins in the industry. However, there is more to crypto than Bitcoin. Not everyone wants to go with the big player. Some investors prefer to go for alternative coins, also called altcoins, because maybe they offer more opportunities, less competition, high growth potential, more stability, or real-world applications. For most investors, it's all about returns on investment. For others, it's about functionality.
It is worth noting that all information provided here is based on data as of February 10, 2025.
1. Ethereum (ETH)
Ethereum is the next best crypto after Bitcoin even though its market cap ($323 billion) is much less than Bitcoin ($1.9 trillion). It is the go-to coin for those who simply do not want to be associated with the king coin but also want a leading coin. Ethereum recently upgraded to Ethereum 2.0 and has multiple Layer-2 solutions like Arbitrum and Optimism that help it solve any scalability and cost issues it is currently facing. It is also home to powerful decentralized finance (DeFi) and non-fungible token (NFT) ecosystems. It is currently trading around $2,600, but some experts predict that it could rise to $8,700 at some point this year (source: https://www.techopedia.com/cryptocurrency/best-crypto-to-buy).
2. Solana (SOL)
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Two words that describe this coin best are fast and cheap. It has a market cap of $99 billion and is currently trading around $200, making it affordable for many retail investors or those who consider crypto trading a hobby. Solana recently created its first Layer-2 solution, Solaxy (SOLX), to help the network scale up. Solaxy raised over $19 million in its presale stage as investors scooped up the coins ahead of its Initial Coin Offering (ICO). This means they are confident in the project and all the solutions it promises. Solana is expected to cross $300 in 2025.
3. Tether (USDT)
Tether is the most popular stablecoin. A stablecoin is a coin that is tied (or tethered) to a financial asset. In this case, Tether is tied to the US dollar. Its value is relatively stable throughout the year. If you are an investor looking for stability, then Tether is a good place to start. While people don't invest in Tether for capital gains, they use it for transactions since the value is the same as the US dollar. It has a market cap of $141.6 billion and the same amount of USDT in circulation. It is also perfect for cross-border transactions which is why freelancers and remote workers from over the world use it to get paid, especially those in countries with volatile local currencies. Just last month, the company that built Tether reported it made $13 billion in profit in 2024. It means people really trust it to carry out transactions.
The crypto market has thousands of coins on various networks and with different functions. Whatever you want, you can find. These top 3 may not be for everyone but they are a good place to start. For detailed analysis and more options, check out Techopedia’s list.
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Keep the discussion civilized. Absolutely NO personal attacks or insults directed toward writers, nor others who make comments.
Keep it clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
Don't threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Anyone violating these rules will be issued a warning. After the warning, comment privileges can be revoked.