Seasoned investors are loading up on altcoins – as many are trading at huge discounts from their prior all-time highs. There are thousands of altcoins to choose from, each offering its own upside potential, risks, and unique selling points.
In this guide, we reveal the 15 best altcoins to invest in right now. We cover a broad range of altcoin markets, including small, medium, and large-cap projects.
The Best Altcoins to Invest in Shortlisted
Listed below are the 15 best altcoins to invest in for 2024:
Dogeverse (DOGEVERSE) – Best meme altcoin offers multi-chain compatibility. $7M raised on presale.
Slothana (SLOTH) – Solana based meme coin. $15m raised in presale so far.
Mega Dice Token (DICE) – New CasinoFi altcoin powers a crypto casino. Get daily bonuses and buy NFTs.
Smog ($SMOG) – Latest meme coin on Solana, distributing the greatest airdrop of 490 million tokens.
Bitcoin Minetrix (BTCMTX) – Stake-to-earn Bitcoin mining credits, raised over $10 million in a presale.
eTukTuk (TUK) – Crypto project that fights climate change with electric tuk-tuk vehicles.
Stellar (XLM) – Fast transaction speed with low cost and a market cap of $3 billion.
Uniswap (UNI) – Decentralized exchange built on the Ethereum network.
Chainlink (LINK) – Crypto project that provides off-chain data to blockchains through ‘Oracles’.
Ethereum (ETH) – The second largest cryptocurrency by market cap.
KuCoin Token (KCS) – KuCoin exchange native token that gives benefits and discounts to holders.
Aave (AAVE) – Innovative platform connects borrowers and lenders in a safe and anonymous ecosystem.
Solana (SOL) – One of the fastest, cheapest, and most scalable blockchains in the market.
Polygon (MATIC) – A layer 2 solution for the Ethereum network, offering faster and cheaper transactions.
Our Analysis of the Top Altcoins to Buy Now
Seasoned cryptocurrency investors will typically buy a wide range of altcoins. This will reduce the risks of investing in an altcoin that fails to increase in value. It also increases the odds of choosing an altcoin that generates huge returns.
We have selected the 15 top altcoins for 2024 and each is reviewed in the following sections.
1. Dogeverse (DOGEVERSE) – Multi-Chain Meme Coin Has Raised Over $7M on Presale
We recommend Dogeverse ($DOGEVERSE) as the best altcoin to watch in 2024. This is a multi-chain meme coin, that has raised more than $7 million within weeks of its presale launch.
Dogeverse stands out as it is the first Doge-themed meme coin compatible with six blockchains. It uses Portal Bridge and Wormhole technology to integrate with the Ethereum, Binance, Base, Avalanche, Polygon, and Solana blockchain.
Thus, token holders can access the blockchains offering the highest transaction speed, lowest costs, and high throughput. From a total supply of 200 billion, 30 billion tokens are being distributed for the presale. At press time, $DOGEVERSE is priced at $0.00298 per token.
By the end of the presale, the goal is to raise $17 million. Another reason for the solid presale launch is Dogeverse’s staking mechanism. At the time of writing, you can stake $DOGEVERSE and generate more than 143% APYs (Annual Percentage Yields).
A further 10% of the supply will be offered via staking rewards. Once the presale finishes, Dogeverse will gear up for its initial exchange offering, where another 5% of the token supply will be offered.
2. Slothana (SLOTH) – Sloth Based Meme Coin Built on Solana. $15m Raised in Presale
Slothana is a brand new meme coin that has been built on the popular meme chain Solana. With the presale currently ongoing the project has raised more than $15 million is early investment so far. This massive amount shows that meme coins are still popular with Solana being the number one chain for meme coin deployment.
As a meme coin Slothana lacks any real utility however if the token can follow in the footsteps of other popular meme coins like Pepe and Bonk, an early investment now could pay dividends in the future.
By adopting a ‘fair launch’ presale the team behind the token has done away with the more traditional tiered pricing structure. This means that all Slothana investors pay the same amount and avoid any unnecessary token dumping on the first day of listing.
Getting hold of the coin is quick and straightforward. All you have to do is send $SOL tokens to the contract address – EnSawje2vQSQKtGbPYdXEuYKm2sHgeLKJTqCmrDErKEA. Once the presale ends you will be rewarded with your $SLOTH tokens. Make sure you use a Solana-compatible wallet such as Phantom when sending your $SOL.
3. Mega Dice Token (DICE) – New CasinoFi Altcoin Offers Free Tokens to Early Investors
Mega Dice Token ($DICE) is a Solana-based altcoin powering the Mega Dice Casino. The token can be used to extract daily bonuses and exclusive access on more than 4,500 games that Mega Dice Casino offers.
One of the top utility tokens, $DICE can be staked across three staking pools – spanning from 10 days, three months, and six months. Along with potentially high annual yields, staked token holders receive daily bonuses on the gaming casino.
The ongoing token presale is the earliest stage through which $DICE is being allocated to the public. From a 420 million token supply, 35% of the tokens are allocated for the presale. At the time of writing, $DICE is priced at $0.069 per token, during the initial presale stage.
In only a couple of days, Mega Dice Token has raised more than $360K. Early presale investors get free tokens, as part of Mega Dice Token’s Early Bird bonus scheme. A further $2.25 million tokens will be distributed among token holders via airdrops.
Tokens can also be leveraged to purchase limited-edition NFTs, which give you exclusive gaming access and rewards. Learn more about this cryptocurrency by reading the Mega Dice Token whitepaper and joining the Telegram channel.
4. Sponge V2 – One of the best Altcoins to Buy Now, With up to 185% Annual Yields
In summer 2023, $SPONGE saw a significant upswing, leading to remarkable success. Launched in May, the meme token capitalized on the public’s affection for the cartoon, achieving a market cap of $100 million.
Although its value later decreased, the launch of $SPONGEV2 aims to revitalize the community.
Transitioning to $SPONGEV2 tokens uses a stake-to-bridge approach, but first, original $SPONGE token holders need to withdraw their stakes before the existing pool closes. These withdrawn tokens can then be staked in the new V2 smart contracts, where staking rewards come in the form of $SPONGEV2.
Important to remember is that once $SPONGE is staked in the V2 contract, this move is permanent, and your stake will be in $SPONGEV2.
Choosing to stake in V2 offers the prospect of high Annual Percentage Yields (APYs) for the next four years. Currently, there are over 400 million tokens staked in the V2 contract, potentially offering annual yields up to 185%.
Enhancing its attractiveness, Sponge’s forthcoming play-to-earn racing game, detailed in the whitepaper, is slated for release following the V2 tokens. This game introduces an additional method for token holders to accumulate $SPONGE tokens through participating in online gaming competitions.
Explore Sponge on X, Telegram, and Discord to stay informed about the V2 release and to learn about the benefits of token staking.
5. Smog – Top Altcoin Offers High Staking Yields and Airdrop Rewards
Smog is the latest token in the meme coin frenzy on Solana, following the success of Bonk, Dogwifhat and Myro. With 50% of the total token supply dedicated for marketing uses and 35% for token airdrops, Smog has a massive potential to outperform its meme coin peers.
To earn a portion of the 490 million tokens that will be airdropped, you need to hold $SMOG tokens in your wallet to earn airdrop points. Earn more points by completing quests in the accompanying Zealy campaign.
You need a Solana wallet to buy and hold $SMOG. Choose from Phantom, Solflare or Backpack, and add some SOL coins for transaction fees. Connect the wallet with Jupiter, which is the largest aggregator on Solana and use SOL, USDC or USDT to make the purchase.
You are now part of the project and eligible for the airdrop. Given that 85% of the total token supply is set aside to bring hype to this project, this could be the best altcoin to buy now.
6. eTukTuk – Building a Green Network of EV Tuk-Tuks in the Developing World
eTukTuk has ambitious but highly achievable goals – it wants to revolutionize the transportation industry in developing countries. More specifically, it wants to help tuk-tuk drivers in Asia and Africa go from internal combustion engines (ICE) to electric vehicles (EVs).
Moreover, eTukTuk vehicles are significantly better for the environment, and society as a whole. The eTukTuk whitepaper also claims that its tuk-tuks will be built using sustainable materials. It notes that this will create jobs in local communities, so it’s a win-win situation for all stakeholders.
eTukTuk will also be implementing blockchain technology into its ecosystem. This will offer increased transparency and the ability to track carbon emission offsets. TUK tokens will sit at the heart of its network and can be used as a payment method for drivers and passengers. Those looking to gain exposure to eTukTuk can invest in its recently launched presale at a 40% discount.
7. Bitcoin Minetrix – New Stake-to-Mine Altcoin With Real Utility Value Targets BTC Cloud Mining
Bitcoin Minetrix (BTCMTX) is a brand new altcoin with a focus on the Bitcoin cloud mining industry. After conducting our research, we listed it as number one for quite a few reasons.
From an investment perspective, the coin trades at a discount, at just $0.011 in the first of its 10-stage presale.
By the final stage, the price will be $0.0119, and may rise again on presale. It also offers very high yields, which currently sit at 1,106%. Both of these are powerful investment incentives. But it’s the utility value of this altcoin that sets it apart from the pile.
Bitcoin Minetrix targets the Bitcoin mining and Bitcoin cloud mining industry, both of which have their flaws. Bitcoin mining is dominated by large, centralized mining agencies with huge resources, running environmentally destructive hardware servers.
Bitcoin cloud mining is known for scams and dishonest service providers, with changing terms and conditions, along with high upfront costs.
In contrast, Bitcoin Minetrix offers cloud mining for $10, using Ethereum smart contracts, with a simple and easy-to-use interface. Through non-transferable ERC20 mining tokens, the owner retains full control of the operation and can manage their earnings from an intuitive interface.
This is the world’s first stake-to-mine model, and a mobile application is also under development, for 24/7 passive income on the fly.
Users can decide to burn or to stake, two primary means of ROI aside from the price appreciation potential. Some analysts have tipped this as a 10x or even 100x altcoin in 2023.
This is mainly due to its utility value as it provides a genuine way to clean up the Bitcoin mining and Bitcoin cloud mining industry, using Ethereum smart contracts.
For more information, investors should read up on the Bitcoin Minetrix Whitepaper. The project socials are also useful sources of information – Twitter and Telegram.
8. Stellar – Cross-Border Payments Network With Super-Fast and Cheap Transactions
Stellar is one of the best altcoins to invest in for long-term growth. This altcoin project has developed a proprietary payments network that supports cross-border transactions. It is particularly useful for sending remittance payments to friends and families. After all, Stellar charges just 0.00001 XLM per transaction.
Moreover, Stellar is being used by MoneyGram for more efficient and speedy payments; in most cases, transactions take about five seconds to process. In addition to the fundamentals, Stellar is one of the best altcoins for securing a bear market discount. Stellar is trading 87% below its all-time high.
9. Uniswap – One of the Pioneers of Decentralized Trading [Huge Bear Market Discount of 90%]
Uniswap is one of the best altcoins to buy for exposure to decentralized trading. Put simply, its platform allows users to buy and sell tokens without a centralized party. It uses automated market maker (AMM) technology for this purpose. AMM uses liquidity pools to facilitate trades, so token swaps can occur without another market participant.
Uniswap liquidity pools are funded by investors who want to earn passive income on their idle tokens. Yields are generated by trading fees, collected by the respective pool. Another feature of Uniswap is that it supports cross-chain token swaps. For instance, users can swap BNB for USDT or Dai for ARB.
Uniswap has a proprietary ecosystem token, UNI. Uniswap launched its token in late 2020 at just over $3.4. It’s currently trading over 320% higher. However, at current prices, UNI tokens are trading 90% below their all-time high of $44.97. This is another example of a top-rated altcoin that offers a juicy bear market discount.
10. Chainlink – Leading Oracle Technology for Smart Contract Data From the Real-World
Chainlink is an innovative blockchain project and one of the best altcoins to invest in today. It specializes in “Oracles’. In simple terms, Oracles provide smart contracts with real-world data. Crucially, without Oracles, smart contract networks like Ethereum and Solana would not be able to extract data outside of their respective blockchains.
Consider this use case; Suppose a smart contract is programmed to pay a sports bet out as soon as the game finishes. Via Chainlink Oracles, the smart contact can verify the score of the game in real-time. The Oracles will use multiple data sources to ensure the result reaches a consensus. After feeding the smart contract, the smart contract settles the bet.
This is just one example of how Chainlink bridges the gap between the real and virtual worlds. Other industries that could be revolutionized by Chainlink include healthcare, supply chain, insurance, finance, and trading. LINK, the project’s native token, has a market capitalization of over $3 billion. At current prices, LINK can be bought at a discount of almost 90%.
11. Ethereum – Powering Thousands of Decentralized Applications Worldwide
Ethereum is the largest altcoin for market capitalization and is currently valued at over nearly $200 billion. This means that Ethereum attracts plenty of liquidity and trading volume, giving your altcoin portfolio some much-needed stability. Ethereum has solid fundamentals and it is the leading blockchain for decentralized applications (dApps).
Thousands of dApps operate on Ethereum from a variety of niches and markets. For example, we mentioned earlier that UniSwap is built on Ethereum; every time a trader buys or sells a token, this triggers an Ethereum smart contract. In turn, the trader will need to pay transaction fees in ETH. This is just one example of how ETH remains in high demand with dApps.
According to DeFiLlama, Ethereum has a TVL (Total Value Locked – the combined value of products built on it) of more than $22 billion. That makes up more than 57% of the total market and is more than four times higher than its nearest competitor, Tron ($5.35 billion)
Crucially, building dApps on the Ethereum network is seamless. Its network provides thousands of ERC20 tokens with a secure and decentralized place to operate. This includes metaverses, decentralized exchanges, play-to-earn games, Oracles, gambling sites, and much more. Ethereum can be purchased today at a bear market discount of 65%.
12. KuCoin Token – Hugely Undervalued Altcoin Backing One of the World’s Largest Crypto Exchanges
KuCoin Token backs the crypto exchange of the same name. It’s one of the largest exchanges in the market, with over 29 million registered users from more than 200 countries. In addition to spot trading, KuCoin supports derivatives, savings accounts, staking, and a launchpad for new cryptocurrencies.
Naturally, KuCoin Token offers exposure to the growth of the KuCoin exchange. Moreover, we like that KuCoin Token has many identifiable use cases. For example, holders receive discounted trading commissions when using the KuCoin exchange. Token holders also receive a share of exchange commissions via dividend payments.
Kucoin Token also offers priority access to new cryptocurrency launches. It can also be staked for additional income. That said, KuCoin Token could be heavily undervalued – with a current market capitalization of just over $420 million. Furthermore, this altcoin is trading almost 85% below its prior all-time high.
13. Aave – Promoting Financial Freedom for the Masses – Invest and Borrow Crypto Tokens
Those looking for exposure to decentralized finance might consider Aave one of the best altcoins to buy. This innovative project bridges the gap between investors and borrowers; removing third-party intermediaries along the way. Here’s how it works; Suppose an investor has some Ethereum tokens in a private wallet.
Rather than leaving the Ethereum tokens sitting idle, they can deposit them into an Aave liquidity pool. In doing so, the Ethereum tokens will be lent to borrowers – who will pay interest on the loan. After a small fee, interest payments will be sent to the original investor. All of this is achieved in a decentralized way, which increases yields for investors and reduces interest for borrowers.
Aave is clearly a proof-of-concept, considering that nearly $7 billion is currently locked in liquidity pools. Aave supports multiple blockchain networks, including Ethereum, Optimism, Fantom, Base, and Arbitrum. That said, the project’s native altcoin, AAVE, is currently trading over 90% below its all-time highs. This offers an attractive entry point for new investors.
14. Solana – One of the Most Efficient and Cost-Effective Blockchain Networks Globally
Solana is a large-cap altcoin that has developed a proprietary blockchain. It’s considerably more efficient than Ethereum and can also support smart contracts and dApps. That said, only a small fraction of projects have been built on Solana when compared to Ethereum. For instance, the Solana ecosystem contains just 205 projects.
In contrast, thousands of projects operate on the Ethereum network. Nevertheless, if Ethereum isn’t able to improve its efficiency, Solana could increase its market share. For example, Solana transaction fees average just $0.00025. This is the case regardless of how many SOL tokens are being transferred.
This makes it ideal for high-volume dApps, such as play-to-earn games or crypto-centric casinos. Moreover, Solana takes just 400 milliseconds to confirm transactions. Another benefit of Solana is that it has a 0% net carbon impact on the environment.
15. Polygon – Layer 2 Solution for the Ethereum Network With End-to-End Gains of Over 12,000%
Polygon also makes our list of the best altcoins to invest in 2024. In a nutshell, Polygon is a ‘layer 2 solution’ for the Ethereum network. In simple terms, it allows Ethereum-based projects to operate more efficiently. Not only in terms of lower fees but faster transactions. Moreover, Polygon is a lot more scalable, which reduces network congestion.
According to CoinMarketCap, Polygon can handle over 65,000 transactions per second. Ethereum struggles to handle more than 30. This is why 214 ERC20 tokens have bridged to Polygon. Its speed and cost-effectiveness are paramount for high-volume dApps, such as Aave, Decentraland, Chainlink, and Gala.
However, like most altcoins, Polygon has been hit hard by the bear market and its native token, MATIC, is trading 80% below its all-time high.
What are Altcoins? The Basics
Altcoins are an umbrella term for any cryptocurrency that isn’t Bitcoin. Short for ‘alternative coins’, there are thousands of altcoins in existence. There are small-cap altcoins worth a few thousand dollars, and others with a multi-billion dollar market capitalization.
For example, XLM operates on the Stellar network, while MATIC is based on Polygon. Each altcoin will have a specific purpose. ETH, for instance, is used to pay transaction fees on the Ethereum network. This means that thousands of ERC20 projects require ETH to function. Then there’s LINK, which is required to deploy Chainlink Oracles.
Crucially, although more risky, altcoins generally offer a higher upside potential than Bitcoin. This is because Bitcoin has already experienced the vast bulk of its growth trajectory. After all, Bitcoin is valued at over $500 billion. And at its peak, Bitcoin had a market capitalization of over $1 trillion. In contrast, some of the best altcoins to buy are valued at a few million dollars.
This offers investors a significant amount of upside. Sonik is a good example here. If the Sonik Coin presale hits its hard cap target as expected, it will list on exchanges with a market capitalization of just over $4 million. So, even if Sonik generated gains of 100x, it would still be valued at a fraction of Bitcoin.
What are the Benefits of Investing in Altcoins?
Let’s explore some of the main benefits of investing in altcoins in 2024.
Higher Growth Potential
We mentioned above that altcoins have a much higher growth potential than Bitcoin. Let’s elaborate on this concept so that you have a firm grasp of the fundamentals.
The earliest price point offered by CoinMarketCap on Bitcoin is $0.06183, achieved in July 2011.
Today, Bitcoin is trading just over $26,000.
So in 12 years of trading, Bitcoin has increased by over 4.2 million percent.
And consequently, Bitcoin is already a mega-cap cryptocurrency – valued at over $500 billion.
This means that for Bitcoin to grow by say 20x, it would need to hit a valuation of $10 trillion.
While this isn’t necessarily impossible, it could take many years for the required liquidity to enter the market.
Now let’s compare this to a micro-cap altcoin like Wall Street Memes. This presale project is selling 50% of its token supply and aims to raise just over $30.5 million. It has already raised more than $25 million, so is likely to reach its hard cap target. In turn, Wall Street Memes will be listed on exchanges with a market capitalization of approximately $61 million.
At just $61 million, Wall Street Memes has a significant amount of upside potential on the table. For instance, if it increases by 10x, it will only be worth $610 million. If it increases by 100x, that’s $6.1 billion – still just a tiny fraction when compared to Bitcoin.
This isn’t just the case with Wall Street Memes, but many of the presale projects discussed today. For instance, Dogeverse, Mega Dice Token, and Smog V2, will also be listed on exchanges with a micro-cap valuation.
Some Altcoins Have Produced Unprecedented Returns
Some of the most popular altcoins to invest in have produced unprecedented returns in recent years. While the markets are volatile, those investing from the ground up have generally done well. In other words, altcoins can yield attractive gains for those holding onto their tokens in the long run.
Let’s look at some notable examples.
When Polygon was launched in September 2019, it was priced at $0.004418.
Let’s suppose an investor bought $1,000 worth of Polygon at the time.
Polygon’s all-time high of $2.92 was hit in December 2021.
Compared to its original listing price, that’s growth of just under 66,000%.
So, on an initial investment of $1,000, this would have been worth $660,000 at its peak.
At its peak in November 2021, Solana was priced at $260.06.
This means that early investors secured gains of over 27,000%
So, a $1,000 investment would have been worth almost $270,000 at its peak
All that being said, not all altcoins will generate returns like Polygon or Solana. Some altcoins will lose value and never recover. This is just the risk that cryptocurrencies in general present.
Altcoin Can Grow Exponentially in the Short-Term
In the section above, we gave some examples of how long-term altcoin investments can yield notable results. However, altcoins can also produce significant gains in a much shorter period of time. This is especially the case with meme coins and newly launched presales.
It would take many centuries for the stock markets to replicate similar gains
However, the key point is that after hitting all-time highs of $0.000004354, Pepe quickly declined in value. Today, it’s 80% below its peak valuation.
As such, the best altcoins to buy for short-term gains will often rise and fall at rapid speeds. So, if you’re planning to adopt a short-term trading strategy, it’s wise to actively monitor the markets and set sensible stop-losses.
How do You Know When to Sell an Altcoin Investment?
Knowing when to sell an altcoin investment can be challenging. Not only during rising markets but when prices are declining too.
The best course of action is to set clear exit strategies before buying an altcoin
For example, are you planning to hold the altcoin long-term, or are you looking to execute a short-term position? This can help you assess a suitable target price.
Additionally, if your altcoin investment continues to increase in value, it’s worth cashing some of your profits out. This will ensure that you make a return even if prices begin to decline.
On the flip side, it’s also wise to set up stop-loss orders when buying an altcoin. For example, you might consider cutting your losses if the altcoin declines by 20%.
Just as important is to keep tabs on the project itself, in terms of roadmap targets and news developments. It’s also a good idea to assess wider sentiment on the altcoins markets.
Most Altcoins are Worth a Small Fraction of All-Time Highs
Many of the best altcoins to watch hit all-time highs during the prior bull market – which peaked in late 2021. After peaking, the broader markets went on a prolonged decline. This means that most altcoins are worth a small fraction of their all-time highs.
If you’re new to the altcoin market, this is actually a good thing. After all, you’ll be able to buy a portfolio of altcoins at a huge discount.
Based on current prices and all-time highs, check out the discounts being offered by the following altcoins:
Stellar: 87%
Uniswap: 90%
Chainlink: 90%
Ethereum: 65%
KuCoin Token: 85%
Aave: 90%
Solana: 90%
Polygon: 80%
These price reductions are unprecedented, especially considering the quality of each project. But, that’s just the nature of the altcoin industry – it’s extremely volatile.
Nonetheless, many investors buy discounted altcoins hoping that they will return to their prior all-time highs. Take Uniswap, Chainlink, and Solana as examples. Considering they are trading at discounts of 90%, a return to prior highs would yield growth of 900%, or 10x.
There is no knowing which altcoins will recover their former all-time highs, if any. So the best approach is to invest in a wide range of altcoins. Even if just one altcoin makes a full recovery, this could still generate sizable gains.
Altcoins Enable You to Diversify
With so many altcoins in the market, diversification has never been easier. This could give you the best chance possible of choosing an altcoin that goes on to generate gains of 100x or more. Diversification also enables you to reduce the risks of significant loss.
For example, let’s say that you have $1,000 to invest in altcoins.
You choose 10 of the best altcoins to buy, allocating $100 to each.
One of your altcoin investments turns out to be a scam, leaving you with worthless tokens. This means you have lost $100.
In contrast, one of your altcoin investments grows by 30x – returning $3,000.
This means that even if the remaining altcoins in your portfolio went to zero, you would still make considerable gains.
To create a diversified portfolio, consider many different types of altcoins.
For example, you could allocate 50% of our altcoin portfolio to large-cap altcoins, such as Ethereum and Solana. You can then allocate 30% of the portfolio to mid-caps, such as KuCoin Token and Aave. The remaining 20% could be allocated to small and micro-cap altcoins, like Wall Street Memes, Sonik, and Launchpad XYZ.
Where to Buy Altcoins?
The best place to buy altcoins will depend on where the tokens are listed.
For example, established altcoins like Polygon and Ethereum can be purchased on just about any crypto exchange.
New and small-cap altcoins might only trade on decentralized exchanges, such as Uniswap (ERC20) and PancakeSwap (BEP20).
If you’re investing in an altcoin presale, then you will be purchasing the tokens directly from the project’s website. This is usually in exchange for an established altcoin, such as Ethereum.
Staking Rewards and Other Income Earning Opportunities
Unlike Bitcoin, the best altcoins to buy enable you to earn income – this is in addition to price appreciation – through a feature called staking.
For example, Wall Street Memes is currently offering staking rewards at an APY of 84%. Although the APY will fluctuate, here’s an example of how it works:
Suppose you invest $1,000 into the Wall Street Memes presale at the current price of $0.0337 per token.
This will get you 29,673 tokens.
Let’s say you deposit the WSM tokens into the Wall Street Memes staking pool.
On the assumption the APY remains at 84%, you will earn 24,925 additional WSM tokens after one year of staking.
This is in addition to your original deposit of 29,673 tokens.
Staking is somewhat similar to buying dividend stocks. It’s a great way to increase your earnings while holding onto your altcoins long-term.
In addition, some altcoins can be deposited into crypto savings accounts. This follows a similar principle to staking, but your tokens will likely be lent out to borrowers. In contrast, staking rewards are usually provided directly by the altcoin project – as an incentive to hold long-term.
How Many Altcoins Are in Existence?
It remains to be seen exactly how many altcoins there are in the market. Cryptocurrencies do not trade in centralized markets like stocks – so there isn’t a verifiable database that we can use.
That being said, CoinMarketCap is currently offering pricing data on over 9,300 altcoins. The actual figure is almost certain to be significantly higher.
For instance, CoinMarketCap was previously offering pricing data on over 23,000 altcoins. This suggests that a huge chunk of altcoins have since been delisted.
This will happen if the altcoin project is deemed ‘dormant’. For example, if it isn’t attracting any trading volume or if the project is simply a scam.
We mentioned above that there are thousands of altcoins to invest in. And over 2.1 million if using figures provided by DexTools. Either way, this means that choosing the best altcoins to buy can be a difficult task – especially for newbies.
Below, we discuss some of the best practices that you can take when building a diversified portfolio of altcoins.
Look for Top-Quality Altcoins on CoinMarketCap Trading at Discounts
Some of the best altcoins to buy are established cryptocurrencies trading at bear market discounts. So, one of the best ways to find these altcoins is to visit CoinMarketCap.
This strategy is somewhat manual – but can be worth the effort. For example, consider looking at mid-to-large altcoins that have solid use cases. Examples include Ethereum, Uniswap, Solana, Polygon, and Chainlink.
After clicking on an altcoin, look at the left-hand side of the CoinMarketCap dashboard. Scroll down to find the section that says ‘All-Time High’. This provides invaluable information. Not only does CoinMarketCap display the altcoin’s all-time high – but also the date that it was achieved.
Moreover, CoinMarketCap also displays the percentage decline from the altcoin’s previous all-time high, based on real-time prices. So, in the example above, we can see that Polygon is trading just over 91% below its all-time high.
We can also see that Polygon’s all-time high was hit in November 2021. This is also useful, as this was the period that the prior bull market peaked. As such, the huge decline of 91% is likely because of broader market conditions, rather than any specific issues with Polygon.
Explore Trending Coins on DexTools
DexTools is also useful when searching for the best altcoins to buy. This strategy will see you focusing on smaller-cap altcoins that trade on decentralized exchanges, such as Uniswap and PancakeSwap. DexTools offers a lot more features and customization than CoinMarketCap, so there are several approaches that you can take here.
If you’re a short-term trader, a good starting point is to check out which altcoins have generated the biggest gains in the prior 24 hours. Click on the ‘More’ button next to ‘Daily Gainers’ to see the full list. The best-performing altcoins will then be listed by their 24-hour percentage gains.
Many of the biggest gainers on DexTools have very small trading volumes. These altcoins could be worth avoiding, as you will likely experience extreme volatility. To rectify this, click on the ‘Custom Filters’ button and set the minimum trading volume at $1 million.
You might also consider filtering the best-performing altcoins by market capitalization. Once again, it might be worth setting this to at least $1 million. Just remember that the smaller the market capitalization, the higher the volatility.
Some of the best altcoins to buy can also be found in the ‘Hot Pairs’ section. By default, this is set to only include ERC20 tokens. But you can change this to other blockchain networks, such as Binance Smart Chain, Polygon, Solana, or Arbitrum. While this shows the most visited altcoin pairs in the prior 24 hours, it doesn’t offer any custom filters.
YouTube Analysts With Proven Track Records
We also found that YouTube can be a superb place to find the best altcoins to buy. There are plenty of reputable analysts on YouTube that have their own channels. Some YouTube analysts cover large-cap altcoins via technical analysis. This looks to find altcoins that could be about to explode based on technical indicators.
While others focus on the fundamentals, such as news developments. Altcoin Daily, for example, covers everything from Ethereum and Polygon to XRP and Cardano. This is a great way to keep tabs on trending altcoins and extract valuable information. AltCoin Daily has over 1.32 million subscribers.
Alternatively, if you’re more interested in micro-cap altcoins and presales, Jacob Bury’s YouTube channel is the place to go. Although Jacob Bury has just over 21,000 subscribers, he has a tremendous track record. Bury specializes in presales that he believes will grow by at least 10x once the respective altcoin is listed on an exchange.
Currently, Bury is recommending Wall Street Memes to his ever-growing audience. In fact, Bury tipped this presale from the very get-go; it’s since gone on to raise more than $25 million. Bury previously tipped the Tamadoge presale, which netted early investors gains of over 20x.
Risks to Consider Before Buying Altcoins
Investors should ensure they understand the risks of altcoins before investing in any capital.
The main risks to consider are discussed below:
Your Altcoin Investment Can Decline and Never Recover
Put simply, you could lose some or even all of your investment when buying altcoins. As such, you should never invest more than you can realistically afford to lose.
For example, consider an investor who bought XRP in early 2018. In doing so, they would have invested when XRP hit its all-time high of $3.84.
In fact, today, XRP is trading 86% lower, despite a recent court win that saw the price pump. This means that a $1,000 investment would now be worth just $140.
XRP’s situation is even more worrying when you consider that we have since gone through a prolonged bull market. While many altcoins recorded new all-time highs between 2020-2021, XRP remained at just a fraction of its former peak.
Be Prepared for Extreme Volatility
Altcoins are volatile asset classes. They can rise and fall in rapid pricing swings. As an altcoin investor, you should be prepared for this.
For example, you might wake up one morning to see that your altcoin portfolio is up 10%. The following day, you could be looking at losses of 30% – this is just the nature of trading altcoins.
This is why it’s important to set realistic goals, understand your own risk tolerance and have a clear exit strategy. For example, suppose you buy Solana because it’s trading at a 90% discount from its all-time high.
Consider what gains you would be willing to take, or what losses you would accept. While nobody can predict the markets, smart investors always have a plan.
Where Can I Find Altcoin Price Predictions?
The internet is packed with altcoin price predictions – usually published on cryptocurrency-related websites
However, you should tread carefully when reviewing somebody else’s predictions. After all, they’re subjective to the individual.
For instance, you might find an analyst that tips the next big altcoin to explode. While another analyst might suggest short-selling the exact same altcoin.
Consider doing your own analysis and predictions. This will enable you to invest in altcoins with your eyes wide open.
For example, the altcoin project might make bold promises about its objectives and use cases. But it might never have any intentions of actually following through with any of them. Instead, it might simply look to extract as much capital from investors as possible, before walking away from the project permanently.
Another risk, known as a ‘rugpull’, follows a similar concept. This scam is usually deployed via a presale campaign. The project will raise funds from investors and after the presale finishes, completely vanish. This will leave presale investors with worthless altcoins.
You should also consider the risks associated with wallet hacks. This can happen if you misplace your private keys, or you unwittingly click on a malware link. Wallet hacks are increasingly becoming commonplace in the cryptocurrency space. So it’s important to understand how to keep your wallet, and altcoins, safe.
Conclusion
Altcoins offer a great opportunity to target sizable gains, both in the short and long-term. Even in the midst of a bear market, some altcoins have grown by thousands of percentage points. Still wondering what altcoin to buy?
Currently, Dogeverse ($DOGEVERSE) is one of the top altcoins. This is a multi-chain meme coin, compatible with six blockchains. $DOGEVERSE can also be staked to generate high annual yields.
Dogeverse (DOGEVERSE) is a new multi-chain meme coin offering high staking yields.
Which altcoins have 100x potential?
$DOGEVERSE is one such cryptocurrency that could boast massive growth potential. With 143% staking yields and multi-chain compatibility, Dogeverse is one of the top altcoins right now.
What is the best altcoin to hold 2024?
Long-term investors might consider holding established altcoins that are trading at bear market discounts. Examples include Ethereum, Solana, Uniswap, and Polygon.
Which altcoin will make me rich?
If you’re looking to make significant gains and are happy to take on the risk, it’s worth exploring altcoin presales. Some of the best presales right now are Dogeverse, Mega Dice Token, and Sponge V2.
What are the top 3 Altcoins?
The top 3 altcoins for market capitalization are Ethereum, Tether, and BNB.
What is altcoin season?
Altcoin season is an extended period where the majority of altcoins see price increases. This is usually because capital flows out of Bitcoin and into altcoins.
About ReadWrite’s Editorial Process
The ReadWrite Editorial policy involves closely monitoring the tech industry for major developments, new product launches, AI breakthroughs, video game releases and other newsworthy events. Editors assign relevant stories to staff writers or freelance contributors with expertise in each particular topic area. Before publication, articles go through a rigorous round of editing for accuracy, clarity, and to ensure adherence to ReadWrite's style guidelines.
Michael is an experienced freelance writer hailing from Bellingham, Washington. Specializing in tech, finance, and business, he's appeared on many different sites, including the likes of Tom's Guide, TechRadar, Techopedia, and Business2Community.
We have covered various aspects of 3D printing here at Readwrite over the last few months, looking mainly at how to use different 3D printers for different projects to create...
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