There are opportunities to make money quickly through cryptocurrencies. While most of these profits from trading and investing in cryptocurrencies might be the singular lens of view for many, cryptocurrencies have the potential for long-term value and utility beyond speculative investment.
We ranked these cryptocurrencies based on their market capitalization, trading volume, prices, adoption rate, and contribution to the global blockchain ecosystem. From real-time data and detailed information on market trends of hundreds of digital assets, we were able to handpick a select few of the best cryptocurrencies to buy now.
These digital assets include established cryptos like Bitcoin and Ethereum, and promising newcomers like Solana and Polkadot. They are not just the best cryptocurrencies for making profits from short-term price changes, but the best investment opportunities in the cryptocurrency space.
Best Crypto to Buy Now
Bitcoin (BTC)
Bitcoin, created in 2009 by the pseudonymous Satoshi Nakamoto, is the cornerstone of the cryptocurrency market. Like most cryptocurrencies, Bitcoin operates on a blockchain—a decentralized ledger that records transactions across a vast network of computers.
As the first and most widely recognized cryptocurrency, Bitcoin is seen as a haven in the volatile crypto market. Analysts and aggregators recommend Bitcoin as the best crypto to buy now or in the foreseeable future due to its strong network security, widespread adoption, and status as digital gold. As well as the ongoing institutional interest and increasing acceptance as a payment method.
The value of Bitcoin has surged dramatically as it gained widespread recognition. In May 2016, the cost of a single Bitcoin was roughly $500. By June 2024, its price had soared to approximately $71,033, marking an impressive increase of 14,107%.
Ethereum (ETH)
Created by Vitalik Buterin in 2015, it has become one of the most prominent cryptocurrencies after Bitcoin. ETH is used as “gas” to power transactions and execute smart contracts on the Ethereum network. Its versatility and programmability have led to a dynamic ecosystem of projects, ranging from decentralized finance (DeFi) to non-fungible tokens (NFTs).
The surge in Ethereum’s price from approximately $11 in April 2016 to roughly $3,833 by the end of June 2024 speaks volumes about its potential for substantial returns on investment. This growth reflects a staggering increase of 34,742%, highlighting the immense value that Ethereum has generated for early adopters and investors over the years.
Tether (USDT)
Tether is one of the most widely used stablecoins in the cryptocurrency ecosystem, partly due to its liquidity and integration into many cryptocurrency exchanges and trading platforms.
Currently, Tether has a market capitalization of $112.4 billion with a year-over-year return of 0%. This designation indicates that it is backed by fiat currencies such as the U.S. dollar and the Euro, aiming to maintain a value equivalent to one of these denominations.
This stability feature makes Tether a more reliable asset compared to other cryptocurrencies, which is particularly appealing to investors seeking to mitigate the substantial volatility associated with alternative coins.
Binance Coin (BNB)
This is the native cryptocurrency of the Binance exchange, one of the largest cryptocurrency exchanges in the world. Initially launched as an ERC-20 token on the Ethereum blockchain, BNB has since migrated to Binance’s blockchain, Binance Chain.
BNB is one of the most valuable cryptocurrencies in terms of market capitalization and serves several purposes within the Binance ecosystem. It can be used to pay for trading fees on the Binance exchange, offering users discounts when using BNB to cover trading fees.
Since its inception in 2017 at $0.10, BNB’s price surged to approximately $709 by late June 2024; an astounding gain of 709,093%. With a market capitalization of $104.5 billion and a year-over-year return of 162%, Binance Coin is one of the best crypto to buy now.
Also, BNB is used in various Binance-related services and products, such as Binance Launchpad, which is a platform for launching new token sales, and Binance Smart Chain, a blockchain platform that supports smart contracts and decentralized applications (dApps).
Solana (SOL)
Launched in March 2020 by the Solana Foundation, Solana is one of the best crypto in the market addressing the scalability issues faced by many blockchain networks, and allowing for high-speed transactions at low costs.
Since its launch, Solana has gained massive adoption within the crypto community, with a growing number of projects and developers building on its platform. Its performance, scalability, and developer-friendly features have contributed to its rising prominence.
SOL began trading at $0.77, but as of late June 2024, its price has surged to approximately $172.78, reflecting an impressive gain of 22,340%. With a market capitalization of $79.5 billion and a remarkable year-over-year return of 773%, it is one of the best crypto to buy now.
One of Solana’s key features is its innovative proof-of-history (PoH) and proof-of-stake (PoS) consensus mechanism, which timestamps transactions before they are added to the blockchain. This helps to enhance the network’s throughput, enabling it to process thousands of transactions per second, far exceeding the capacity of many other blockchain platforms.
U.S. Dollar Coin (USDC)
USDC, introduced in September 2018 by CENTRE, a consortium co-founded by Circle and Coinbase, operates as a stablecoin pegged to the value of the U.S. dollar. With a current market cap of $32.6 billion and a year-over-year return of 0%, USDC offers stability and liquidity in the cryptocurrency market. Built on the Ethereum blockchain, USDC facilitates seamless global transactions, providing a reliable bridge between traditional finance and the digital asset space.
XRP (XRP)
Launched in 2012 by Ripple Labs, XRP is one of the oldest cryptocurrencies in the market. With a market cap of $29.1 billion and a slight year-over-year return decline of -1%, XRP operates within the Ripple network as a bridge currency.
Its primary function is to facilitate efficient cross-border payments and remittances. Unlike Bitcoin and Ethereum, XRP transactions are processed quickly and at a fraction of the cost, making it an attractive option for financial institutions seeking efficient payment solutions.
Dogecoin (DOGE)
Introduced in December 2013 by software engineers Billy Markus and Jackson Palmer, Dogecoin started as a light-hearted parody of the cryptocurrency craze but quickly gained popularity due to its viral meme culture.
With a market cap of $23.5 billion and significant growth of 138% year-over-year, Dogecoin has found utility in tipping content creators and charitable fundraising. Despite its unlimited supply and low transaction fees, Dogecoin embodies the whimsical side of the crypto world.
Cardano (ADA)
Founded in 2017 by Ethereum co-founder Charles Hoskinson, Cardano took a research-driven approach to development. With a market cap of $16.4 billion and steady growth of 36% year-over-year, Cardano provides a secure and scalable platform for decentralized applications and smart contracts.
Also utilizing a proof-of-stake consensus mechanism, Cardano reduces energy consumption while maintaining high levels of security and decentralization. ADA, the native cryptocurrency of the Cardano platform, powers transactions and governance within the ecosystem.
Toncoin (TON)
Originally conceived as the native token for the Telegram Open Network (TON), Toncoin (formerly known as Gram) transformed the TON Foundation. With a market cap of $17.6 billion and impressive growth of 343% year-over-year, Toncoin remains one of the best cryptos in the cryptocurrency market.