12 Best Altcoins to Buy in December 2024

When Bitcoin first launched over a decade ago, few could have predicted the wave of cryptocurrencies that would follow. Today, figuring out what the best altcoins to buy are can feel like a massive chore.

Altcoins, which refer to any cryptocurrency other than Bitcoin, have gained popularity not just as digital payment options but also as potential investments. Whether it’s through powering DeFi projects or transforming industries like gaming, these coins could be your ticket to substantial gains.

To make your life easier, we’ve rounded up the best altcoins for 2024, including low cap altcoin gems with 1000x potential like Pepe Unchained and some solid large-cap picks like Ethereum, giving you a mix of opportunities across the market.

  • Hold $WEPE to get access to Wall Street Pepe's exclusive trading insights and signals
  • Become a trading alpha and join the Wepe Army
  • Earn even more by submitting your best trades and staking $WEPE
Project Launched
November 2024
Meta
Meme
Purchase Methods
  • BNB
    BNB
  • Debit
    Debit
  • ETH
    ETH
  • USDT
    USDT
  • +1 more
  • Stake all the top meme coins on one platform
  • Earn staking APY of over 5,000% for staking $STARS
  • $STARS holders get 3x the rewards
Project Launched
August 2024
Purchase Methods
  • ETH
    ETH
  • USDT
    USDT
  • BNB
    BNB
  • Debit
    Debit
  • +1 more
  • Enjoy super low transaction fees in the Best Wallet ecosystem by holding $BEST
  • Best Wallet users get early access (and the lowest price point) to the Best Wallet Token presale
  • Have a say in the Best Wallet roadmap by voting on Governance proposals
Project Launched
November 2024
Purchase Methods
  • BNB
    BNB
  • Debit
    Debit
  • ETH
    ETH
  • USDT
    USDT
  • +1 more
  • Cat themed meme coin here to dethrone the top dogs
  • Stake $SLAP tokens to earn high rewards
  • Fair launch straight to DEX meaning everyone has access
Project Launched
November 2024
Meta
Meme
Purchase Methods
  • USDT
    USDT
  • Debit
    Debit
  • ETH
    ETH
  • Innovative Vote-to-Earn protocol where users can vote on the projects direction and earn $FLOCK
  • Decentralized meme coin puts power back in the hands of the community
  • Earn a huge ROI by staking $FLOCK tokens
Project Launched
September 2024
Purchase Methods
  • ETH
    ETH
  • USDT
    USDT
  • BNB
    BNB
  • Debit
    Debit
  • +1 more
  • Pepe Unchained - the first meme crypto project running on its own Layer 2 blockchain
  • Viral presale has raised $11 million with staking rewards currently at 175% APY for early investors
  • $PEPU's Layer 2 blockchain means reduced operational costs, faster speeds, and lower fees
Project Launched
June 2024
Purchase Methods
  • ETH
    ETH
  • USDT
    USDT
  • Debit
    Debit
  • BNB
    BNB
  • +1 more
  • Hot Meme Coin Project With Play to Earn Utility and Staking
  • Price has Pumped 10x in Last Month, Rumored to be Listing on Binance
  • Over 12k Holders and Growing
Project Launched
December 2023
Purchase Methods
  • ETH
    ETH
  • USDT
    USDT
  • Debit
    Debit
  • First decentralized meme coin index with community governance
  • Invest in four different meme coin baskets depending on your risk tolerance
  • Meme coin with serious staking rewards and yield farming options
Project Launched
December 2024
Meta
Meme
Purchase Methods
  • ETH
    ETH
  • BNB
    BNB
  • Debit
    Debit
  • USDT
    USDT
  • +1 more
  • Collect POKE characters in this Pokemon-style game
  • Tap-2-Earn mechanics let you play and earn $POKE
  • Integrated with Telegram for easy access
Project Launched
November 2024
Purchase Methods
  • USDT
    USDT
  • TON
    TON
  • Layer-2 Solution for Dogecoin blockchain with huge staking rewards
  • Bridge instantly from Ethereum to Dogecoin with cheap transaction fees
  • Meme coin bringing DeFi to the Dogecoin universe
Project Launched
November 2024
Meta
Meme
Purchase Methods
  • ETH
    ETH
  • Tether
    Tether
  • BNB
    BNB
  • Debit
    Debit
  • +1 more
  • Invest in luxury rental cars from prestigious brands like Lamborghini, Ferrari, and Mercedes-Benz
  • Earn monthly rental income in USDT, paid on the first of every month
  • Dreamcars is the first Web3 platform where you can buy, sell, and trade shares in supercars starting at just $10
Project Launched
May 2024
Purchase Methods
  • ETH
    ETH
  • BNB
    BNB
  • World's first crypto payment protocol that integrates efficiently with card machines, making crypto payments widely accessible.
  • Through a user-friendly payment APK, SpacePay lets customers buy with crypto while allowing merchants to receive funds in their local fiat.
  • SpacePay's native governance token, SPY, gives holders access to airdrops, exclusive features, as well as voting rights and quarterly connect webinars.
Project Launched
May 2024
Purchase Methods
  • ETH
    ETH
  • USDT
    USDT
  • AVAX
    AVAX
  • BASE
    BASE
  • BNB
    BNB
  • Debit
    Debit
  • USDC
    USDC
  • Matic
    Matic
  • +5 more
  • State-of-the-art crypto project allowing users to predict F1 racing outcomes to earn rewards.
  • Early presale investors can stake-to-earn tokens with dynamic rewards currently over 6,800% p/a.
  • 40% of total supply (2.5Bn) is allocated to the presale, with over $140k raised already.
Project Launched
June 2024
Purchase Methods
  • BNB
    BNB
  • Debit
    Debit
  • ETH
    ETH
  • USDT
    USDT
  • +1 more
  • Stake $LHUNT and earn a portion of every LuckHunter casino transaction from the Co-Owner Pool
  • Enjoy reduced fees on transactions, withdrawals, and in-game purchases on the LuckHunter Casino
  • Holders can get early access to new games, exclusive features, and premium events
Project Launched
September 2024
Meta
Gambling
Purchase Methods
  • ETH
    ETH
  • Tether
    Tether
  • BNB
    BNB
  • Matic
    Matic
  • Debit
    Debit
  • +2 more

The Best Altcoins to Invest in December 2024 – List

Top Altcoins to Buy in 2024 Why You Should Buy Them
Pepe Unchained ($PEPU) Best altcoin to buy on Layer-2 blockchain, offering low transaction costs
Catslap ($SLAP) The ultimate meme coin with a viral game and high staking rewards
Crypto All-Stars ($STARS) One of the best altcoins to invest in, allowing investors to stake all their meme coins in one place
Flockerz ($FLOCK) Decentralized altcoin with generous voting and staking rewards
Best Wallet Token ($BEST) Crypto wallet token offering advanced features and exclusive benefits for holders
FreeDum Fighters ($DUM) Satirical meme coin offering high staking rewards and airdrops
Sponge V2 ($SPONGEV2) One of the best altcoins with a unique stake-to-bridge model
Space Pay ($SPY) Next-gen payment altcoin backed by a London fintech startup
Race to a Billion ($RACE) Top altcoin to invest in, combining blockchain with sports betting
Ethereum ($ETH) The best altcoin to buy now and always
Tether ($USDT) One of the top altcoins for 2024, built on many leading blockchains
Solana ($SOL) High-speed altcoin operating on a unique consensus mechanism

Our Analysis of the Top Altcoins to Buy Now

Now that we’ve listed the top altcoins of 2024 to help you narrow down your choices, we’ll examine in detail what they are. We’ll also explain why we have included them on our list and offer all the details you need to decide if they’re worth your investment.

Here are the altcoins with the most potential in 2024:

1. Pepe Unchained – Overall Best Altcoin to Buy on Layer-2 Blockchain, Offering Low Transaction Costs

Why is Pepe Unchained the Best Altcoin to Buy?
  • Pepe Unchained provides fast transactions and low gas fees
  • Stake $PEPU and earn up to 69% in rewards for big returns on your investment
  • It has a three-step roadmap, with each step supporting sustainability, growth, and community rewards

pepe unchained - best altcoins to buy

Pepe Unchained ($PEPU) is a new meme coin that has quickly raised over $40 million in its presale. It takes the crown as the best altcoin for 2024, thanks to its foundation on Ethereum’s layer-two (L2) blockchain, delivering fast transactions, low gas fees, and substantial staking rewards.

L2 tokens enhance transaction efficiency and reduce costs, allowing $PEPU holders to earn an annual yield of over 69%. Since the staking mechanism launched, over 1.7 billion tokens have been staked.

Blockchain Ethereum
Ticker $PEPU
Total Supply 8 billion
Presale Supply 1.6 billion
Current Price $0.01295

With “Pepe the Frog” as its mascot, Pepe Unchained appeals to meme enthusiasts globally while providing real utility. Of all the altcoins with the most potential, Pepe Unchained ($PEPU) is the one to watch. Don’t be surprised when this coin shows up in the upcoming Coinbase listings.

To learn more about the project, we highly recommend that you go through the Pepe Unchained whitepaper and join the Telegram channel, which currently has over 15,000 subscribers.

2. Catslap – The Ultimate Meme Coin That Lets You Slap to Win, Set to Outperform Other Cat-Themed Tokens

Why is Catslap the Best Altcoin to Buy?
  • The Slapometer brings an addictive competitive game to the meme space
  • Over 2100% increase since launch, showing tremendous early interest
  • Offers a 40% staking APY

Catslap logoCatslap ($SLAP) is an exciting new meme coin that combines meme culture with addictive gameplay. It allows users to compete in a hilarious slapping game, where they can ‘Slap’ their way to the top of the leaderboard and contribute to their country’s ranking on the “Slapometer.” This unique gamified experience aims to create an engaging community and set $SLAP apart from other meme coins.

The Catslap ecosystem has a total token supply of 9 billion, with 50% set aside for liquidity and 10% for community rewards.

Blockchain Ethereum
Ticker $SLAP
Total Supply 9 billion
Presale Supply NA (fair launch)
Current Price $0.00243614

For more information on Catslap, including how to buy, play, and stake, visit the official website and join their Telegram group.

3. Crypto All-Stars – One of the Best Altcoins to Invest In, Allowing Investors to Stake All Their Meme Coins in One Place

Why is Crypto All-Stars the Best Altcoin to Buy?
  • The MemeVault will support the staking of top meme coins
  • Over $5 million raised in the ongoing presale, indicating strong initial investor interest
  • A potential 3x bonus when holding $STARS tokens

Crypto All-Stars- beat altcoins to buy

Crypto All-Stars ($STARS) is one of those high potential altcoins that will allow meme coin investors to stake all their holdings under one roof. With the launch of the “MemeVault,” the platform will enable the staking of top meme coins, and users can earn $STARS tokens as a reward. The staking rewards come with a massive APY, currently at 356%.

Of the total token supply, 20% will go towards the presale, while 25% will be reserved for presale staking and the MemeVault ecosystem. The remaining tokens are allocated to marketing, CEX/DEX, and the MemeVault ecosystem.

Blockchain Ethereum
Ticker $STARS
Total Supply 42.07 billion
Presale Supply 8.4 billion
Current Price $0.0015997

Currently, you can buy $STARS priced at $0.0015997, and it has raised nearly over $5 million.

For more information, read the Crypto All-Stars whitepaper and join the Telegram channel.

4. Flockerz – Decentralized Altcoin With Generous Staking and Voting Rewards

Why is Flockerz the Best Altcoin to Buy?
  • Offers generous staking rewards of over 763% dynamic during the early presale stages
  • Aims to become fully decentralized and give governance to $FLOCK token holders
  • Those who vote in the Flockerz DAO will earn $FLOCK tokens as a reward

Flockerz Logo

Flockerz ($FLOCK) is a new altcoin aiming for full decentralization with a unique vote-to-earn system that rewards users for participating in decisions.

This means that everyone who holds $FLOCK tokens will be able to participate in the decentralized autonomous organization (DAO) governance, which allows them to vote on key decisions like token burns, marketing strategies, new features, and more.

Blockchain Ethereum
Ticker $FLOCK
Total Supply 12 billion
Presale Supply 2.4 billion
Current Price $0.0061015

Those who vote will earn $FLOCK tokens as a reward. The team has allocated 25% of the total token supply for these types of rewards. Another 25% has been allocated for staking rewards. Currently, those who stake their tokens during the presale stage can earn a generous dynamic APY of over 763%.

Thanks to all these features, $FLOCK is easily one of the best meme coins to buy right now. At the time of writing this article, $FLOCK tokens go for $0.0061015.

For more information, check out the Flockerz whitepaper and join the Telegram channel.

5. Best Wallet Token – A Next-Gen Crypto Wallet Token Offering Advanced Features and Exclusive Benefits for Holders

Why is Best Wallet Token the Best Altcoin to Buy?
  • Staking aggregator supports higher APY staking for token holders
  • Exclusive early access to trusted new presales before the public launch
  • Over $1.3 million raised in the ongoing presale, indicating strong initial investor interest

Best Wallet TokenBest Wallet Token ($BEST) is an innovative token designed to power the Best Wallet ecosystem, a next-generation multi-chain, non-custodial crypto wallet.

$BEST holders can benefit from higher staking rewards, lower transaction fees, and exclusive access to new projects and presales. Currently, investors can buy the token during its presale phase for just $0.022825. The platform raised over $1.4 million in just a few weeks of launch, showing strong investor interest.

Blockchain Ethereum
Ticker $BEST
Total Supply 10 billion
Presale Supply
Current Price $0.022825

$BEST token holders can access the staking aggregator that offers higher APY opportunities than standard market rates. The Best Wallet ecosystem includes features such as a decentralized exchange (DEX) aggregator, an upcoming crypto debit card (Best Card), and the integration of 60+ blockchain networks.

For more details, check out the Best Wallet Token whitepaper or join the official Telegram channel.

6. FreeDum Fighters – Satirical Meme Coin Offering High Staking Rewards and Airdrops

Why is FreeDum Fighters the Best Altcoin to Buy?
  • Stake $DUM in two pools and earn rewards based on performance
  • You can get airdrops by engaging in weekly debates
  • It’s already raised $600K in its presale

FreeDum Fighters FreeDum Fighters logo($DUM) is a meme project that conducts the ultimate showdown between the U.S presidential election’s two political figureheads – Kamacop 9000 and MAGATRON.

On this satirical gamified project, $DUM token holders can stake their holdings, pick sides, and engage in weekly debates. Notably, FreeDum Fighters has two separate staking mechanisms – one for MAGATRON supporters and the other for Kamacop 9000.

Through the weekly debates, FreeDum Fighters will pick winners and reward them with $DUM token airdrops. 10% of the 270 billion token supply will be allocated through the debate rewards, while 20% will be allocated through staking benefits.

Blockchain Ethereum
Ticker $DUM
Total Supply 270 billion
Presale Supply 108 billion
Current Price $0.00009

Currently, 40% of the token supply is being distributed through the ongoing presale. So far, FreeDum Fighters has raised more than $600K. The U.S. election may be over, but its impact on the crypto community is just beginning, so it might be a good idea to add this coin to your watchlist.

If you want to learn more, make sure you give the FreeDum Fighters whitepaper a read and join their Telegram channel.

7. Sponge V2 – One of the Best Altcoins With a Unique Stake-To-Bridge Model

Why is Sponge V2 the Best Altcoin to Buy?
  • The project offers Play-to-Earn (P2E) utility and staking
  • Has raised over $370K so far
  • The platform has a unique Stake-to-Bridge model

sponge-v2 - best altcoins to buy

In 2023, $SPONGE surged in popularity due to its connection to SpongeBob SquarePants, quickly reaching a $100 million market cap. Although its value later declined, the release of Sponge V2 ($SPONGEV2) aims to revitalize the community.

According to its whitepaper, the platform lets you easily transition from Sponge V1 to V2 with its unique Stake to Bridge model. Stake your V1 tokens and get an equal amount of V2 tokens.

Blockchain Polygon
Ticker $SPONGEV2
Total Supply 150 billion
Presale Supply No presale
Current Price $0.000018

Transitioning to $SPONGEV2 involves withdrawing the original $SPONGE stakes and staking them in new V2 contracts, which is irreversible but offers high APYs of 21%.

Plus, with Sponge’s upcoming Play-to-Earn racing game, you can earn $SPONGEV2 by competing online, making it one of 2024’s most high potential altcoins.

8. SpacePay – Next-Gen Payment Altcoin Backed by a London Fintech Startup

Why is SpacePay the Best Altcoin to Buy?
  • Holders can get a share of the platform’s revenue
  • SpacePay plans to launch on more than 4.5 million devices in nine countries
  • The platform simplifies crypto transactions for everyday retail use via an easy-to-use APK

spacepay - best altcoins to buy

SpacePay ($SPY) made our best altcoins for 2024 list because of its rapid growth and innovative decentralized NFC payment protocol, which simplifies crypto transactions for everyday retail use through an easy-to-use APK.

You can pay with a range of digital assets, while merchants receive funds directly in their local currency.

Blockchain Ethereum
Ticker $SPY
Total Supply 34 billion
Presale Supply 6.8 million
Current Price $0.002215

One reason it ranks among the top altcoins to buy is its monthly airdrops of $SPY tokens to the most active users. If you hold a $SPY token, you can participate in voting programs and access quarterly webinars with the leadership team. On top of that, the team behind SpacePay plans to introduce its crypto NFC payment solution to over 4.5 million devices across 9 countries by the end of 2024.

The presale has already raised almost $600K. If your interest has been piqued, check out their whitepaper and subscribe to their Telegram channel.

9. Race to a Billion – Top Altcoin to Invest In, Combining Blockchain With Sports Betting

Why is Race to a Billion the Best Altcoin to Buy?
  • You can earn $RACE tokens by correctly predicting virtual race outcomes
  • Uses smart contracts for everything, making it secure and transparent
  • Early buyers can stake $RACE tokens for an annual APY of 3,011%

race to a billion next crypto to explode

Formerly known as Billion Dollar Jackpot, Race to a Billion ($RACE) is one of the best altcoins to invest in right now. It’s changing the game when it comes to predicting outcomes of simulated meme coin races.

Everything runs on smart contracts, which manage everything from creating the races to processing the results. The goal is simple: give you the chance to predict virtual race outcomes, with all the action happening on a fully decentralized platform.

Blockchain Ethereum
Ticker $RACE
Total Supply 2.5 billion
Presale Supply 1 billion
Current Price $0.00815

Early buyers can stake $RACE tokens for an annual APY of 3,011%. Of the 2.5 billion $RACE tokens, 40% are available in the presale at a discounted price of $0.00815.

Check out their whitepaper and join their Telegram channel to learn more.

10. Ethereum – The Best Altcoin to Buy Now and Always

Why is Ethereum the Best Altcoin to Buy?
  • Ethereum is the oldest altcoin, which adds to its trustworthiness
  • It has a strong historical performance
  • Ethereum offers a smart contract functionality

ethereum- best altcoins to buy

Ethereum ($ETH) is one of the most well-known altcoins, with a market cap of over $405 billion. It also has a large trading volume of over $51 billion. Ethereum runs on its own blockchain and, following the Ethereum Merge, now uses a Proof-of-Stake (PoS) consensus, which allows you to stake your tokens. Many analysts see Ethereum 2.0 as a major upgrade that boosts security, scalability, and sustainability.

What investors find most appealing about Ethereum is its smart contract functionality, which enables developers to create and run agreements written directly into code. This supports the development of NFTs, decentralized apps, and other DeFi projects.

Blockchain Ethereum
Ticker $ETH
Circulating Supply 120.31 million
Current Price $2,807

If you invest in Ethereum, you’ll benefit from a massive and active community and ongoing technological enhancements. The price reached its all-time high in 2021 at around $4,800. Its price is currently at $3,368, making it one of the best altcoins to buy now.

11. Tether – One of the Top Altcoins to Buy in 2024, Built on Many Leading Blockchains

Why is Tether the Best Altcoin to Buy?
  • Tether is the first and most popular stablecoin
  • It is built on many leading blockchains
  • Most crypto exchanges offer trading pairs with USDT

tether - best altcoins to buy

Tether ($USDT) was launched in 2014 and is the first and most popular stablecoin. It smooths out price fluctuations to attract the attention of usually cautious investors.

Today, Tether tokens are the most widely adopted stablecoins throughout popular exchanges, wallets, and OTC desks. They are built on several leading blockchains, including Celo, Algorand, Cosmos, EOS, Liquid Network, Tezos, Ethereum, Solana, Tron, and Ton.

Blockchain Multi-chain
Ticker $USDT
Total Supply 122.84 billion
Circulating Supply 121.95 billion
Current Price $1

You can use $USDT for transactions in traditional currencies, leveraging blockchain technology to reduce the volatility and complexity often associated with digital currencies. Most crypto exchanges offer trading pairs with USDT and other cryptos, like ETH and BTC, so traders can easily exit their crypto positions in times of market downturns.

12. Solana – Best Altcoin for 2024 With High-Speed Performance and a Unique Consensus Mechanism

Why is Solana the Best Altcoin to Buy?
  • Solana offers high transaction speed and low fees
  • It operates on a unique Proof-of-History consensus mechanism
  • Its partnership with Google Cloud may drive future price increases

solana- best altcoins to buy

Solana launched in 2017 as a decentralized blockchain platform, and it has since become popular because of its low fees and high transaction speed.

Solana is referred to as the “Ethereum Killer” as it processes more transactions than Ethereum: over 50,000 transactions per second. It uses an innovative Proof-of-History mechanism, and $SOL is used for network fees and transactions.

Blockchain Solana
Ticker $SOL
Total Supply 587.94 million
Circulating Supply 471.56 million
Current Price $259.06

Solana’s roadmap includes crypto app stores, phones, and a Google Cloud partnership, making it even more appealing to investors and potentially driving the price up in the future. The platform has become even more popular because of the rise of many Solana-based meme coins.

It’s expanding rapidly and supports many applications, like gaming, DeFi, and NFTs. At the time of writing, the price of Solana is $259.06, making it one of the top altcoins for the next bull run.

What Are Altcoins?

Altcoins refer to any cryptocurrency that isn’t Bitcoin. There are thousands of altcoins, ranging from small-cap coins worth a few thousand dollars to those with multi-billion dollar market capitalizations.

Most altcoins have no proprietary blockchain and often operate on networks like Ethereum as ERC20 tokens. However, some top altcoins have their own networks, such as XLM on Stellar and MATIC on Polygon. Each altcoin serves a specific purpose, like ETH for paying Ethereum transaction fees and LINK for deploying Chainlink Oracles.

Do altcoins outperform Bitcoin, though? Altcoins often offer higher upside potential since Bitcoin has already experienced significant growth, with a market cap over $500 billion. If you’re looking to diversify in the cryptocurrency market, altcoins provide a more affordable option than Bitcoin.

Types of Altcoins to Buy

Many altcoins serve various functions and purposes. Here are some of the most common types of crypto altcoins:

  • Stablecoins – Minimum volatility is achieved by pegging their value to a reserve asset like the US dollar.
  • Utility Tokens – Provide access to a product or service within a blockchain ecosystem.
  • Security Tokens – Represent ownership in a real-world asset or company subject to federal securities regulations.
  • Governance Tokens – Grant holders voting rights in a blockchain project’s decision-making processes.
  • Meme Coins – Originating as internet jokes or memes, these coins often rely on community engagement and social media buzz.
  • Privacy Coins – Focus on providing enhanced privacy features for transactions.
  • Payment Tokens – Intended to be used as a digital currency for buying goods and services.
  • Exchange Tokens – Issued by cryptocurrency exchanges, often used to pay for trading fees or other exchange-related services.
  • DeFi Tokens – Power decentralized finance platforms, offering services like lending, borrowing, and trading without intermediaries.

How Many Altcoins Are There?

The exact number of altcoins in the market is still unclear. Since cryptocurrencies don’t trade on centralized exchanges like stocks, there’s no single database to track them accurately.

  • That being said, according to Coinmarketcap, there are over 25,600 cryptocurrencies in existence.
  • For instance, CoinMarketCap previously offered pricing data on over 23,000 altcoins. This suggests that many altcoins have since been delisted.
  • This will happen if the altcoin project is deemed ‘dormant’, for example, which is what happens if it isn’t attracting any trading volume or is simply a scam.

On DexTools, a site that tracks cryptocurrencies listed on decentralized exchanges, there are over 2.1 million altcoins listed, but the majority are inactive with no trading volume or liquidity.

What Are the Benefits of Investing in Altcoins?

Let’s explore some of the main benefits and reasons why you should invest in the top altcoins of 2024.

Higher Growth Potential and Increased Returns

Higher Growth Potential and Increased Returns

We mentioned above that some most promising 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.
  • In September 2024, Bitcoin was trading at just over $50K.
  • So, in 13 years of trading, Bitcoin increased by over 103 million percent.
  • Today, Bitcoin is firmly established as a mega-cap cryptocurrency, with its market valuation surpassing $500 billion.
  • This means that for Bitcoin to grow by, say, 20x, it would need to reach a valuation of $10 trillion.

Some of the best 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.

Take a look at this example where early investors became rich from crypto:

  • When Solana was launched in 2020, it was worth just $0.9511.
  • At its peak in November 2021, Solana was priced at $260.06.
  • This means that early investors who held onto their Solana without selling saw returns of over 27,000%.
Altcoin Can Grow Exponentially in the Short-Term

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.

For example:

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.

Most Altcoins are Worth a Small Fraction of All-Time Highs

Most Altcoins Are Worth a Small Fraction of All-Time Highs

Many of the best altcoins to watch hit all-time highs before the 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 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, these are the discounts being offered by the following altcoins:

  • Stellar: 89.57%
  • Uniswap: 80.02%
  • Chainlink: 76.84%
  • Ethereum: 40.45%
  • KuCoin Token: 59.55%
  • Aave: 72.73%
  • Solana: 27.81%
  • Polygon: 88.24%

These price reductions are unprecedented, especially considering the quality of each project. However, 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 Stellar as examples. Considering they are trading at discounts of around 90%, a return to prior highs would yield growth of 900%, or 10x.

Altcoins Enable You to Diversify

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. By investing in various altcoins, investors can diversify their risk and potentially lower their overall volatility.

It’s important to note that the cryptocurrency market is highly speculative and unpredictable. The value of an investment in altcoins can be highly volatile.

Amazing Use Cases

Amazing Use Cases

With new altcoins popping up every day, it’s important for you to understand their use cases and how they work before jumping in. A cryptocurrency with practical utility, like Ethereum’s ether, used to pay network participants for their blockchain contributions, is more likely to succeed. Finding innovative ways to use altcoins or blockchain technology to solve problems or meet needs makes them more valuable and widely adopted.

What Are the Risks of Investing in Altcoins?

Investors should make sure that they understand the risks of investing in altcoins before making any financial commitment.

Here are some of the main risks involved in buying altcoins:

Altcoins Have Lower Liquidity than Bitcoin and are Extremely Volatile

Altcoins Have Lower Liquidity Than Bitcoin and Are Extremely Volatile

The altcoin market has fewer investors, which leads to lower activity and liquidity. Altcoins have lower liquidity than Bitcoin due to fewer buyers and sellers and less trading volume and activity. This means that altcoins are more prone to experiencing significant price swings in response to relatively small changes in supply and demand. For instance, if a large investor decides to sell a significant part of an altcoin, it can result in a sudden drop in its price and vice versa.

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.

an example of a volatile altcoin

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.

Think about how much profit you’d be happy with and how much loss you’re okay accepting. While no one can predict the market, smart investors always have a plan.

Your Altcoin Investment Can Decline and Never Recover

Your Altcoin Investment Can Decline and Never Recover

Investing in altcoins carries the risk of losing some or all of your investment, so never invest more than you can afford to lose.

For instance, an investor who bought XRP at its all-time high of $3.84 in early 2018 would see their investment significantly devalued. Over five years later, amid a prolonged court battle with the US SEC, XRP was trading 86% lower. A $1,000 investment made back then would have been worth just $140 in 2023.

This is particularly concerning given that many altcoins reached new all-time highs between 2020-2021, while XRP remained far below its peak.

Altcoins are Prone to Scams and Wallet Hacks

Altcoins Are Prone to Scams and Wallet Hacks

Consider risks both inside and outside the altcoin trading markets. Investing in new altcoins without a solid track record requires due diligence, as some may be scams. Projects might make bold promises but have no intention of delivering, aiming to extract as much capital as possible before disappearing.

A “rugpull’ scam operates similarly, often through a presale. After raising funds, the project vanishes, leaving investors with worthless altcoins.

You also need to be aware of wallet hacks, which can occur if you misplace your private keys or click on malware links. Wallet hacks are increasingly common, so it’s crucial to know how to keep your wallet and altcoins safe.

What to Consider and How to Choose the Best Altcoins to Invest In

Selecting the best altcoins to buy can be challenging, especially for beginners. In the following section, we will discuss some best practices for building a diversified portfolio of altcoins.

  • Social Media and YouTube Analysts With Proven Track Records

YouTube is a great resource for finding the best altcoins to buy. Reputable analysts cover both large-cap altcoins through technical analysis and fundamentals like news developments.

Altcoin Daily, with over 1.49 million subscribers, covers trending altcoins such as Ethereum, Polygon, XRP, and Cardano.

For micro-cap altcoins and presales, Jacob Bury’s channel is highly recommended, with 43.4K subscribers and a strong track record. Social media can be a great way to determine how investors feel about a project and whether it has a strong community. While metrics such as followers can be artificially boosted, it is far more challenging to fabricate an engaged community that interacts by commenting and sharing content. These are critical factors to consider when identifying the top altcoins for 2024.

  • Look for Altcoins on DexTools and on CoinMarketCap Trading at Discounts

Some of the best altcoins to buy are established cryptocurrencies currently trading at bear market discounts. To find these, visit CoinMarketCap and look at mid-to-large altcoins with solid use cases, such as Ethereum, Tether, Solana, Polygon, and Chainlink.

On CoinMarketCap, check the ‘All-Time High’ section on the left-hand side of an altcoin’s dashboard. This shows the altcoin’s peak price, the date it was achieved, and the percentage decline from this high based on current prices.

DexTools is also useful for finding the best altcoins to buy, especially smaller-cap altcoins on decentralized exchanges like Uniswap and PancakeSwap. It offers more features and customization than CoinMarketCap.

  • Look for Altcoins With Genuine Utility

It’s better to look for altcoins that focus on providing a useful service or product instead of offering high returns based on hype alone. These altcoins will always have a demand, regardless of hype or market conditions, making them safer long-term crypto investments.

  • Analyze the Altcoin’s Whitepaper

One of the most effective techniques for evaluating projects is thoroughly reviewing their whitepapers. If a cryptocurrency makes many promises without explaining how they will be achieved, it’s best to steer clear. The best altcoins to buy have a well-written whitepaper explaining the project background and future plans.

Where to Buy Altcoins and When to Trade Them

To succeed in the altcoin market, you need to know where to buy and when to trade. Picking the right platform is key for both security and getting access to a wide variety of altcoins. Plus, understanding market trends and trading strategies can help maximize your investment returns.

Where to Buy Altcoins?

Here’s how you can decide where to buy altcoins:

  • The best place to buy altcoins will depend on where the tokens are listed.
  • For example, established altcoins like Tether 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).
  • When you invest in an altcoin presale, you’re buying tokens directly from the project’s website, often in exchange for a new cryptocurrency like $WOBS Token.

When to Sell an Altcoin Investment?

Knowing when to sell an altcoin can be tough, especially not just during market rallies but also when prices start to drop.

  • The best course of action is to set clear exit strategies before buying an altcoin
  • Ask yourself these questions: Are you planning to hold the altcoin long-term, or are you aiming for a quick profit? This can help you set a realistic target price.
  • If your altcoin investment continues to increase in value, it’s worth cashing some of your profits out. This will make sure 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%.
  • It’s equally important to stay updated on the project’s progress, including roadmap milestones and any news developments. Keep an eye on the overall sentiment in the altcoin market to make sure you don’t miss out on any valuable insights.
Methodology
How We Review Cryptocurrencies

It’s important that our readers can make an informed decision by receiving impartial, accurate, and transparent information about high-risk assets like cryptocurrencies. Therefore, we cover every angle imaginable using 12 different criteria, some of which include:

  • Legitimacy and Compliance – We guide users through the cryptocurrency market, focusing on safe, legitimate investments in vetted projects and reliable operators that comply with all legal and regulatory requirements.
  • Project Team – We analyze and rate cryptocurrency projects to help users find secure investments, focusing on team experience and legitimacy.
  • Price Potential – We assess cryptocurrency price potential based on market capitalization and growth opportunities.
  • Liquidity and Trading Volume – We prioritize cryptocurrency projects with at least one real-world use case, where the token serves a function beyond financial speculation.
  • Community and Support – We evaluate the size and strength of cryptocurrency communities by analyzing their social media presence, engagement levels, and activity on platforms like Telegram and Discord.
  • Risks and Ethics – We evaluate cryptocurrency risks, from stable projects to volatile, high-potential ones, while also considering ethics, avoiding discriminatory or misleading projects.

Crypto assets are highly volatile, driven by speculation and hype, making it hard to spot the next big project. That’s why reviewing cryptocurrencies is crucial to ReadWrite.

1500+

Cryptocurrencies

12

Key Criteria

500+

Research Hours

10+

In-House Experts

So What’s the Best Altcoin for 2024?

Now that you’ve identified the best altcoins to buy, you can make a more informed decision about which one to choose. There are a lot of factors that play a role in whether a cryptocurrency will succeed. We suggest focusing on projects that offer stability, real utility, and have a strong user base.

According to our expert opinion, Pepe Unchained stands out among all of these options as the best altcoin to buy now.

FAQs

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References

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 Graw
Crypto Writer

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.

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