Best Crypto to Buy Now in December 2024 – Top Crypto to Invest In

Last updated:
Author
Author
Alan Draper
About Author

Alan is the Chief Editor of guides and reviews on Cryptonews.com. He’s responsible for ensuring all the content on our site is accurate, up-to-date, and 100% reliable.

Fact Checked by
Senior Editor
Sergio Zammit
About Author

Sergio is an expert on cryptocurrency gambling at Cryptonews.com. He has written extensively about sports betting with cryptocurrencies for outlets like Sportslens and The Sports Daily. Specializing...

Last updated:
Why Trust Cryptonews
For over a decade, Cryptonews has covered the cryptocurrency industry, aiming to provide informative insights to our readers. Our journalists and analysts have extensive experience in market analysis and blockchain technologies. We strive to maintain high editorial standards, focusing on factual accuracy and balanced reporting across all areas - from cryptocurrencies and blockchain projects to industry events, products, and technological developments. Our ongoing presence in the industry reflects our commitment to delivering relevant information in the evolving world of digital assets. Read more about Cryptonews
Ad DisclosureWe believe in full transparency with our readers. Some of our content includes affiliate links, and we may earn a commission through these partnerships.
Disclaimer: Crypto is a high-risk asset class. This article is provided for informational purposes and does not constitute investment advice. You could lose all of your capital.

Our rankings of the best cryptocurrencies to buy now are grounded in a scientific, data-driven approach. We analyze each project by applying a proprietary methodology, normalizing evaluations with Z-scores to remove biases and ensure a fair comparison across varied market cap sizes, liquidity, and development stages.

According to our research, the best cryptos to buy on December 1, 2024 are Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP, Solana, Cardano, Dogecoin, BNB, and Notcoin. Bitcoin stands out as the top choice, driven by recent ETF inflows and its role as a hedge against inflation.

Now is an opportune moment to invest in crypto, with major developments reshaping the market. President Trump’s return to office could pave the way for new regulatory support and policies favoring crypto adoption.

Best Crypto to Buy Now – Editor’s Choice (Most Promising Cryptos)

Top-Rated L2 Memecoin Project
  • The Pepe meme gets its own Ethereum Layer-2 chain
  • Stake $PEPU to earn double the staking rewards through Layer-2 technology
  • Pepe Unchained aims to replicate the success of Pepe but with its own ecosystem
Launch
June 2024
Purchase Methods
  • ETH
    ETH
  • bnb
    bnb
  • usdt
    usdt
  • Bank Card
    Bank Card
  • +1 more
Memecoin with Slapability
  • Exciting ERC-20 memecoin with slapability aiming to surpass Popcat, MOG and PEPE.
  • Fair launch token offering the same entry point for all memecoin degens.
  • Buy and stake $SLAP tokens for 40% p/a rewards.
Launch
November 2024
Meta
Memecoin
Purchase Methods
  • Bank Card
    Bank Card
  • ETH
    ETH
  • usdt
    usdt
Revolutionary MemeVault Protocol
  • Meme coin project bringing together every top meme coin in the world.
  • Features a revolutionary staking contract that allows all top meme coins to be staked on one singular platform.
  • Stake $STARS for big rewards and claim your tokens at the end of the presale phase.
Launch
August 2024
Meta
Meme
Purchase Methods
  • ETH
    ETH
  • usdt
    usdt
  • Bank Card
    Bank Card
  • bnb
    bnb
  • +1 more

Top Crypto to Buy Right Now


Crypto 24-Hour Price Change Year-to-Date Return Current Price Risk Level Investment Type
Bitcoin btc logo BTC +0.43% +150.15% $97,043.28 Low to Moderate Long-term
Ethereum eth logo ETH +1.65% +76.85% $3,732.62 Moderate Long-term
XRP xrp logo XRP +2.01% +209.23% $1.90 Moderate Medium-term
Solana sol logo SOL -0.12% +284.00% $239.18 High Long-term
Cardano ada logo ADA -1.17% +174.86% $1.07 Moderate to High Long-term
Dogecoin doge logo DOGE +1.51% +407.07% $0.42 High Speculative, short-term
BNB bnb logo BNB +1.00% +190.17% $661.57 Moderate Long-term
Notcoin not logo NOT +1.10% -5.91% $0.0092 High Speculative, short-term

💡 All information in the table above is updated daily to ensure the most accurate and current data is provided. The table was updated on December 1, 2024.

Best Crypto to Buy Now – A Detailed Analysis


We’ll start our in-depth reviews of the best cryptocurrencies to buy now with large-cap crypto coins that could provide the most reliable returns in the long-term. We update our list according to market trends and performance as well as evolving utility and adoption.

Each factor in our ranking methodology is weighted, reflecting its importance in predicting success and reliability. This ensures that the crypto assets with the strongest performance across all metrics make the top of the list.

1. Bitcoin (BTC) — The Original Cryptocurrency, Known as “Digital Gold”

Bitcoin is the world’s oldest cryptocurrency and the largest by market cap by a wide margin. It’s the only cryptocurrency that’s officially recognized by many major governments, including the U.S. — it’s even used as legal tender in countries like El Salvador.

The first Bitcoin ETFs began trading on US stock exchanges on January 11, 2024, leading to massive capital inflows. Other major events such as cuts in U.S. Federal Reserve interest rates have also impacted Bitcoin’s price positively.

Key Highlights:

  • Bitcoin price as of December 1, 2024: $97,043.28
  • Market cap: $1.92T
  • All-time high: $99,574.60
  • Last 24 hours change in price: btc logo BTC +0.43%
  • Bitcoin’s price has decreased in the last week with a change of -0.24%
  • Year-over-year (YoY) return: +150.15%
Why Bitcoin made it onto our list

Bitcoin has been driving the crypto bull market, growing significantly over the past year and outperforming major altcoins like Ethereum. Its robust market capitalization, liquidity, and institutional adoption set it apart.

Its market capitalization exceeds $1.92T, accounting for over 53% of the total cryptocurrency market. This dominance ensures high liquidity and facilitates seamless entry and exit positions.

Major institutions are increasingly integrating Bitcoin into their portfolios. The approval of Bitcoin ETFs has attracted significant capital inflows, enhancing market stability.

Additionally, the recent U.S. presidential election has ushered in a pro-crypto administration, signaling favorable regulatory developments. Proposed policies include establishing a national Bitcoin reserve and appointing crypto-friendly officials, which could further legitimize and support Bitcoin’s growth.

Bitcoin’s price has surged, nearing the $100,000 mark. Analysts project potential increases, with some Bitcoin price predictions suggesting it could reach $180,000, driven by institutional interest and supportive policies.

Interested in investing in Bitcoin? Learn how to buy Bitcoin with our comprehensive guide that walks you through the process step-by-step.

Pros and cons of investing in Bitcoin

Pros

  • Significant growth potential in volatile markets
  • Highly liquid asset with global market access
  • Robust security through cryptographic protocols
  • 21 million cap ensures scarcity and value retention
  • Uncorrelated with traditional assets; reduces overall risk

Cons

  • Inconsistent regulations across jurisdictions
  • Slow transaction processing times and high fees at times

Buy BTC with Best Wallet

2. Ethereum (ETH) — The First Blockchain for Smart Contracts and DApp Development

Ethereum is the world’s second-largest crypto by market capitalization and the most widely used blockchain network for dApp development. The project was the first to introduce smart contracts when it launched in 2015.

Ethereum transitioned from the PoW to PoS consensus mechanism in 2022. The first spot Ether ETFs were approved earlier this year and started trading on July 23. Despite initial net outflows, Ethereum ETFs have registered solid inflows since the U.S. Federal Reserve started cutting interest rates in late September 2024.

Key Highlights:

  • Ethereum price as of December 1, 2024: $3,732.62
  • Market cap: $449.56B
  • All-time high: $4,867.17
  • Last 24 hours change in price: eth logo ETH +1.65%
  • Ethereum price has increased in the last week with a change of +12.14%
  • Year-over-year (YoY) return: +76.85%
Why Ethereum made it onto our list

Ethereum remains the most popular blockchain network for developers. It’s where most of the action in the crypto world is happening, including new crypto to buy, play-to-earn crypto games, and advances in DeFi.

There’s a flywheel effect at play here. As Ethereum gets bigger, more developers build on it and encourage even more users to join. In return, demand for ETH keeps growing while its value continuously rises, making it as one of the top altcoins.

In October and November 2024, Ethereum strengthened its position as a top crypto to buy now. The Pectra upgrade, focused on scalability, reduced congestion and transaction costs, enhancing Layer 2 adoption. Devcon 2024 showcased key advancements, including zkEVM development, promising faster and cheaper dApps.

Spot Ether ETFs continued to attract institutional capital, boosting market confidence. Compared to competitors, Ethereum’s consistent innovation and broad utility in DeFi, NFTs, and gaming solidify its status as a must-buy crypto in December 2024.

Currently valued at $3,732.62, the most optimistic Ethereum price prediction points to a valuation of over $3,700 by 2025. Considering investing in Ethereum? Learn how to buy Ethereum with our detailed guide.

Pros and cons of investing in Ethereum

Pros

  • Most popular platform for DeFi and NFTs
  • Ethereum 2.0 upgrade enhances transaction speed and reduces fees
  • Ethereum ETFs boost accessibility and institutional adoption
  • Large, active community driving innovation
  • Ethereum’s PoS consensus offers staking rewards

Cons

  • High usage leads to slow transactions and high gas fees
  • Vulnerable to bugs and exploits in poorly written contracts

Buy ETH with Best Wallet

3. XRP (XRP) — Network for Fast, Low-Cost Cross-Border Transactions

XRP is the official crypto token of the Ripple payment network, which was built to make international payments faster and cheaper. The project is coming off a win against the SEC, which alleged that XRP was an unregistered security. XRP is now the 7th largest crypto by market cap.

Key Highlights:

  • XRP price as of December 1, 2024: $1.90
  • Market cap: $108.44B
  • All-time high: $3.92
  • Last 24 hours change in price: xrp logo XRP +2.01%
  • XRP price has increased in the last week with a change of +38.31%
  • Year-over-year (YoY) return: +209.23%
Why XRP made it onto our list

XRP has been held back for years by uncertainty over whether it would be classified as a security in the US. Now, thanks to its court victory over the SEC, that uncertainty is gone. So, “Is XRP Dead?” No, XRP is far from dead. In fact, it has rallied +266.18% in the last month, surpassing the $1 mark.

This recent surge stems from several key catalysts, with the main ones being:

  • Regulatory Developments: The partial resolution of Ripple’s legal battle with the SEC has reduced uncertainty, boosting investor confidence.
  • Institutional Adoption: Asset managers like Bitwise have filed for XRP exchange-traded products, signaling growing institutional interest. Additionally, the project has brought on major partners like Bank of America, PNC Bank, Santander Bank, and more.
  • Improved Market Sentiment: The broader crypto market’s bullish trend, influenced by recent political developments, has positively impacted XRP.

More interest in using XRP for international payments could send its price skyrocketing — even the most conservative XRP price prediction points to a value surge of more than 100% in 2025.

Looking to utilize XRP for currency exchanges? Learn how to buy XRP through our easy-to-follow buying guide.

Pros and cons of investing in XRP

Pros

  • Settlement times within seconds
  • Handles 1,500 transactions per second
  • Minimal transaction costs compared to other cryptocurrencies
  • Strong ties with financial institutions and payment providers ensure longevity
  • Uses unique consensus protocol, not energy-intensive like PoW
  • Potential for XRP ETFs approval

Cons

  • Reliant on adoption by traditional banks
  • Mixed reputation within the crypto community

Buy XRP with Best Wallet

4. Solana (SOL) — High-Speed, Low-Fee Ethereum Competitor

Solana is a fast and cost-effective blockchain created as a challenger to Ethereum. It’s been one of the most successful crypto tokens of the resurgent crypto bull market, having increased +284.00% in value in the last 12 months. Solana is now the 4th-largest crypto by market cap and still has significant growth potential.

Key Highlights:

  • Solana price as of December 1, 2024: $239.18
  • Market cap: $113.63B
  • All-time high: $264.00
  • Last 24 hours change in price: sol logo SOL -0.12%
  • Solana price has decreased in the last week with a change of -3.19%
  • Year-over-year (YoY) return: +284.00%
Why Solana made it onto our list

Solana increasing +284.00% in value in the last year. The rally in SOL coincided with gains in meme coins like dogwifhat, Bonk, and Popcat.

In the past month, SOL’s price surged by +40.13%, elevating its market capitalization to $113.63B. This growth positions Solana to potentially surpass Tether, aiming for the third-largest cryptocurrency spot by market cap.

Solana’s appeal lies in its high transaction speeds and low fees, making it a strong competitor to Ethereum. Its unique Proof-of-History (PoH) consensus mechanism enables processing thousands of transactions per second, enhancing scalability.

The network’s ecosystem is expanding, with increased activity in dApps and NFTs. Notably, the Solana meme coin sector saw a 5% demand surge, with trading volumes exceeding $19.7 billion, even amid Bitcoin’s price dip.

Meanwhile, institutional interest continues to grow. For instance, Securitize announced native support for Solana and Franklin Templeton is set to launch a money market fund on Solana, further expanding its use in institutional finance.

While we don’t think Solana will challenge Ethereum for dominance, it’s still one of the best cryptos to invest in today, with potential gains of over 42% by 2025, according to our Solana price prediction. Find out how to buy Solana with our step-by-step guide.

Pros and cons of investing in Solana

Pros

  • Processes up to 100,000 transactions per second
  • Transaction costs are fractions of a cent
  • Uses PoH for faster validation
  • Growing support for DeFi, NFTs, and Web3 applications
  • Designed to scale without layer-2 solutions, ensuring demand for SOL
  • Potential for SOL ETFs approval
  • Growing institutional adoption

Cons

  • History of multiple downtime incidents
  • Less mature than Ethereum’s ecosystem
  • Rapid growth may lead to undiscovered vulnerabilities

Buy SOL with Best Wallet

5. Cardano (ADA) – Research-Driven, Sustainable Blockchain Platform

Cardano is a third-generation blockchain platform known for its scientific approach to development and an emphasis on interoperability and sustainability. It utilizes a PoS consensus mechanism, which is far more energy-efficient than the traditional PoW model used by older cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin.

Key Highlights:

  • Cardano price as of December 1, 2024: $1.07
  • Market cap: $37.57B
  • All-time high: $3.10
  • Last 24 hours change in price: ada logo ADA -1.17%
  • Cardano price has increased in the last week with a change of +7.56%
  • Year-over-year (YoY) return: +174.86%
Why Cardano made it onto our list

Cardano has methodically built its infrastructure and community, emphasizing secure, scalable, and interoperable blockchain solutions. The Alonzo upgrade enabled smart contracts, driving dApp growth.

Despite criticism for its slow approach, Cardano’s method ensures robust and sustainable development. With upgrades like Hydra, Voltaire, and Chang improving the network.

The Chang upgrade went live on September 1, 2024, marking a pivotal shift as Cardano transitioned to full decentralization. This milestone enhanced network security and reinforced Cardano’s position as a leading decentralized blockchain.

Cardano surged +202.61% in the last month, driven by high-profile announcements at the 2024 Cardano Summit in Dubai, a 166.67% increase in daily network transactions, the broader cryptocurrency market’s bullish sentiment, and improved on-chain metrics that reflect increased investor interest.

With stong bullish technical indicators in the short and medium term, Cardano is a top crypto to buy right now. ADA formed a double-bottom pattern and a cup and handle pattern, both bullish signals, suggesting potential for further gains.

Curious about sustainable solutions with Cardano? Our guide explains how to buy Cardano to help you invest responsibly.

Pros and cons of investing in Cardano

Pros

  • Academic rigor ensures robust and secure blockchain development
  • Designed for high throughput with Hydra layer-2 solutions
  • Compatible with other blockchains and legacy systems
  • Decentralized governance model with on-chain voting
  • Supports complex dApps and DeFi projects

Cons

  • Fewer dApps compared to Ethereum
  • High stake controlled by few entities

Buy ADA with Best Wallet

6. Dogecoin (DOGE) – The Original Community-Driven Meme Coin

Dogecoin is the original meme coin, having launched in 2013. It was mostly unheard of until 2020-21, when it gained the attention of major celebrities including Tesla founder Elon Musk. Since Dogecoin’s explosive gain during the 2021 bull market, it’s inspired thousands of copycat meme coins — including highly successful ones like Shiba Inu and Pepe.

Key Highlights:

  • Dogecoin price as of December 1, 2024: $0.42
  • Market cap: $62.79B
  • All-time high: $0.73
  • Last 24 hours change in price: doge logo DOGE +1.51%
  • DOGE price has increased in the last week with a change of +2.58%
  • Year-over-year (YoY) return: +407.07%
Why Dogecoin made it onto our list

Dogecoin is more than just a meme coin. It’s widely accepted for payments in the digital world — and increasingly in the real world. That’s why it’s one of the cryptos with the highest returns this year, having appreciated +407.07%.

Dogecoin rallied +160.85% in the last 30 days due to various catalysts. Elon Musk’s appointment to the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) sparked excitement. Additionally, Trump’s pro-crypto policies, including plans for a Bitcoin reserve, boosted market confidence, lifting DOGE along with other cryptocurrencies.

Broader market momentum also played a role. A crypto rally fueled by speculation and bullish technical patterns like the cup and handle pushed DOGE higher. Musk’s ongoing support, including potential Dogecoin integration into X Payments, added credibility.

Moreover, Dogecoin has proven that it can fend off challengers like Shiba Inu and Pepe, giving us confidence that this is still one of the best meme coins to buy.

In fact, according to our analysts’ Dogecoin price prediction, it has the highest growth potential in this list, possibly reaching $0.42 by the end of 2024 and $9.66 by 2030, from its current price of $0.42.

Thinking about investing in DOGE? Check out our guide on how to buy Dogecoin to get started.

Pros and cons of investing in Dogecoin

Pros

  • Widely traded with significant daily volume
  • Active and supportive online community
  • Increasingly accepted by merchants and services
  • Public endorsements from Elon Musk boost visibility

Cons

  • Unlimited coin supply leads to constant inflation
  • Prone to sudden price swings based on social media trends

Buy DOGE with Best Wallet

7. Binance Coin (BNB) — Binance Ecosystem Utility Token

BNB is the official cryptocurrency of Binance, the world’s largest crypto exchange. It offers discounts on trading fees and benefits like early access to crypto launches on Binance. It’s the 5th-largest crypto by market capitalization and has continued to perform strongly since the resignation of former CEO, Changpeng Zhao.

Key Highlights:

  • BNB price as of December 1, 2024: $661.57
  • Market cap: $97.63B
  • All-time high: $718.88
  • Last 24 hours change in price: bnb logo BNB +1.00%
  • BNB price has increased in the last week with a change of +1.90%
  • Year-over-year (YoY) return: +190.17%
Why BNB made it onto our list

BNB’s performance in 2023 wasn’t impressive. For much of the year, it was down because of a US prosecution of Binance and its founder, Changpeng Zhao, for violating anti-money laundering and sanctions requirements. Binance has now settled that lawsuit and its business has hardly suffered.

As such, BNB has seen a remarkable price movement. It increased by +190.17% in the last year, with most of those gains taking place since March 2024.

In September 2024, BNB rolled out the Bohr Hard Fork, which introduced four new Binance Evolution Proposals (BEPs) aimed at improving the network’s efficiency and security. This upgrade has helped further boost user confidence and adoption on BNB Chain.

Released in September, Changpeng Zhao is refocusing on Binance’s regulatory compliance to navigate market competition. Binance’s proactive stance on regulation showcases its aim to counter traditional banks entering the crypto space.

All in all, Binance is a great business at the center of the crypto world. It’s likely to see continued long-term growth as evidenced in most BNB price predictions.

Interested in using Binance as a cryptocurrency exchange? Learn how to buy BNB by following the instructions in our detailed guide.

Pros and cons of investing in BNB

Pros

  • Backed by the largest cryptocurrency exchange, Binance
  • Extensive use within Binance ecosystem
  • Lower trading fees on Binance when using BNB
  • Quarterly token burns reduce supply, potentially increasing value
  • Wide adoption in decentralized finance and applications

Cons

  • Binance controls a significant portion of BNB supply
  • Heavily reliant on Binance’s performance and reputation
  • Vulnerable to exchange hacks and exploits

Buy BNB with Best Wallet

8. Notcoin (NOT) — Emerging Platform for Decentralized Content Creation

Notcoin is an innovative platform designed to support decentralized content creation and distribution, empowering users to earn directly from their work.

Known for its low transaction fees and rapid confirmation times, Notcoin has gained traction among independent creators and influencers seeking an alternative to traditional media monetization platforms.

Key Highlights:

  • Notcoin price as of December 1, 2024: $0.0092
  • Market cap: $942.92M
  • All-time high: Coin data not available
  • Last 24 hours change in price: +1.10%
  • Notcoin price has decreased in the last week with a change of -0.24%
  • Year-over-year (YoY) return: +150.15%
Why Notcoin made it onto our list

Notcoin leverages blockchain to decentralize media, giving creators full ownership and monetization control. Its PoS consensus mechanism keeps transaction costs low and reduces environmental impact compared to PoW chains. Notcoin also uses staking rewards to incentivize ecosystem growth, allowing you to earn passively.

In the last month, NOT rallied +39.45% due to key developments. A technical breakout from a falling wedge pattern signaled a bullish trend, with analysts projecting a potential 70% price increase. This attracted buyers and pushed NOT close to $0.01.

Additionally, network activity surged, with active addresses rising 35% in a week, signaling increased user engagement. Positive sentiment on social media further fueled interest, driving trading volumes higher. If content decentralization trends continue, Notcoin could see significant demand from creators.

Pros and cons of investing in Notcoin

Pros

  • Decentralized approach to content monetization
  • Low transaction fees and fast confirmations
  • Strong staking rewards for holders
  • Partnerships with decentralized media platforms
  • Environmentally friendly PoS consensus

Cons

  • Highly volatile due to emerging market status
  • Limited adoption outside media and content niche
  • Regulatory uncertainty in decentralized media

Buy NOT with Best Wallet

What Is Cryptocurrency?


Cryptocurrency is a type of digital or virtual money that uses cryptography for security, making it difficult to counterfeit. Unlike traditional currencies, crypto assets operate without a central authority, such as a government or bank. Transactions are recorded on a digital ledger called blockchain, which is maintained by a network of computers known as crypto nodes.

Bitcoin, launched in 2009, is the first and most well-known cryptocurrency. Other examples include Ethereum and XRP.

Cryptocurrencies can be used for online purchases, investments, and transferring money across borders without the need for traditional banking services. The value of cryptocurrencies can vary widely due to factors like investor interest, regulation, and technological advancements.

Methodology: How We Rated the Best Cryptos to Buy Now


To curate this list of the best cryptos to buy now, our crypto analysts collectively dedicated over 300 hours to research. They evaluated factors like historical performance, long-term potential for growth, current price, utility, and security. Here’s how we researched and weighted each criterion.

Market Performance (25%)

  • Recent Price Trend: We assessed the crypto’s price movement over the past week to 12 months, considering both short-term and long-term trends.
  • Market Capitalization: We looked at the overall market value of the cryptocurrency, as it reflects its position and significance in the market.

Utility and Use Cases (20%)

  • Practical Applications: We examined how the cryptocurrency is used in real-world scenarios, considering whether it has unique features or applications that set it apart.
  • Technological Innovation: We evaluated the underlying technology and any recent innovations that contribute to the cryptocurrency’s utility.

Community and Adoption (15%)

  • Community Engagement: We analyzed the level of activity on social media, forums, and community platforms as a colorful and engaged community often indicates strong support.
  • Adoption Rate: Since higher adoption rates suggest a broader ecosystem, we looked at how widely the cryptocurrency is accepted by merchants, businesses, and other users.

Development Team (15%)

  • Team Reputation: We investigated the track record and reputation of the development team. We don’t want to put down any crypto projects from newcomers, but experience and success in previous projects enhance credibility.
  • Transparency: We assessed how transparent the team is in sharing project updates, development progress, and any challenges faced. The more the community knows about what’s going on, the more confident they can feel about their crypto purchase.

Security (15%)

  • Network Security: We evaluated the security features of the underlying blockchain technology, considering factors like consensus mechanism and resistance to attacks.
  • Past Security Incidents: We researched any historical security incidents or vulnerabilities, and analyze how well the team handled and mitigated them.

Regulatory Compliance (5%)

  • Compliance with Regulations: We checked if the cryptocurrency complies with legal and regulatory frameworks in the regions where it operates — a crucial factor for long-term sustainability.

Roadmap and Future Plans (5%)

  • Development Roadmap: A clear and well-defined roadmap can instill confidence in investors, so we also reviewed the crypto’s future plans, upcoming updates, and milestones outlined in its development roadmap.

Put together, the scores provided a comprehensive view of the cryptocurrency’s overall strength and potential, and allowed us to assign a percentage rating to each of the cryptos recommended on this page.

How to Find the Best Cryptos to Buy


In this section, we explain some of the factors that investors need to take into account when searching for good crypto to buy now for their portfolio. These include:

  • Long-term potential
  • Crypto presales
  • Utility
  • Market capitalization
  • Competition
  • Trading volume, signals, and bots
  • Trends

1. Assess Long-Term Potential

First, it’s wise to consider the potential of assets as long-term crypto holdings. For example, Bitcoin will likely remain a ‘store of value’ in the long run, while Ethereum operates as the de facto smart contract blockchain, making it incredibly useful.

The long-term potential of both Bitcoin and Ethereum looks strong. Analysts at VanEck, a leading asset management firm, project that Bitcoin could reach $180,000 by mid-2026, citing increased investor interest and a lack of bubble-like conditions. A strong Bitcoin typically signals health for the broader crypto industry, as investment flows into alternative and riskier tokens.

For this reason, many other established crypto coins should have a bright future ahead of them. For instance, XRP has formed partnerships with over 200 banks as part of its quest to become the world bridge currency.

There are dozens of examples of major brands investing in Web3 and blockchain technology. It is expected to become a much larger part of mainstream life by the end of the decade. In fact, ARK Invest CEO Cathie Wood has predicted that the total cryptocurrency market — currently worth just over $3.3 trillion — will be worth as much as $25 trillion by the end of the decade.

2. Keep an Eye Out for New Cryptocurrencies

Cryptocurrency presales allow early investors to acquire coins at a discount before they’re listed on crypto exchanges and available for public trading.

Most investors missed out on the opportunity to buy BTC for less than $100 or Ethereum for less than $1. Fortunately, new high-potential crypto presales pop up weekly, giving investors opportunities to target similar gains.

Investors must be diligent in their research to ensure they only purchase tokens that have a legitimate chance of being a worthy investment. Research should include investigating the following:

  • Read the whitepaper: A whitepaper is a document that outlines the whole project and should give readers a clear understanding of exactly what they are investing in. Poorly written or vague whitepapers should be considered a red flag.
  • Read the roadmap: A roadmap is the plan of how a project will develop over the coming months and years. It is easy to promise a $1 billion market cap, but the best projects also outline plans of action and the steps they will take to get to that point.
  • Check the smart contract: Unfortunately, the crypto world is rife with scammers; some projects are intended to steal funds from the get-go. Top projects will provide a full audit from a reputable third-party blockchain security firm.
  • Check the team: Again, due to the proliferation of scammers in the space, doxxed and public teams will relieve investors as they know exactly who is behind the project. An anonymous team is not necessarily a red flag if other parts of the project (whitepaper/roadmap/audit) are legitimate.
  • Check social media sentiment: Social media sentiment and hype are crucial to the success or failure of a project. Interesting projects will fail if they do not catch the attention of the wider marker. Similarly, be wary of projects that use bots or fake accounts to promote their tokens.

3. Prioritize Crypto Projects With Utility

Cryptocurrency projects offering high utility (utility tokens) are likely to be more sustainable in the long run, since investors can use the tokens within the ecosystem to generate real value.

When searching for one of the top 10 cryptos to invest in, it is wise to focus on projects that have a real-world use case. As we mentioned earlier, Ethereum is a high-quality utility project as it has hundreds of other protocols and thousands of altcoins built on top of its blockchain. This means that ETH maintains high demand as people engage with those projects.

At the time of writing ETH holds a 54.86% market share for DeFi chains, with a Total Value Locked (TVL) — the value of other projects built on its blockchain — sitting at $66.26 billion.

Ethereum has more than 1,220 protocols built on it. The Binance Smart Chain comes second with 819 protocols. The second largest chain by TVL, Solana, is 85.92% lower than Ethereum, with a TVL of $9.33 billion and only 183 protocols.

Pie chart with percentual TVL distribution among top blockchains

4. Look Into Market Capitalization

Investors should have a firm grasp of how the market capitalization of a crypto asset works as it will enable the investor to assess what the potential upside looks like.

For example, when the price of Bitcoin traded at $16,000 in late 2022 it had limited upside potential because of Bitcoin’s size in terms of market cap. When Bitcoin made new highs above $70,000 in 2024, this was a move of over 350% in less than two years.

Smaller market caps projects, such as trending new meme coins, have much larger room for growth as it doesn’t take so much investment to see their price increase. For example, two meme tokens have recently seen higher gains than Bitcoin, namely dogwifhat (WIF) and Dogecoin (DOGE).

Of course, low market cap crypto comes with increased risk that have to be priced in when investing. While small cap tokens can see much higher growth in a shorter spell than the more established crypto coins, they are also more likely to plummet in price.

5. Evaluate Competition From Other Coins

It is also a good idea to see how much competition the respective crypto asset has. After all, there are now more than 25,000 tokens listed on CoinMarketCap, and even more than that lie in waiting. For instance, there are many so-called ‘Ethereum Killers,’ each claiming to offer a faster, cheaper, and more scalable alternative.

Investors need to decide whether it is better to invest in Ethereum or a direct competitor such as Solana, which is capable of faster speeds and cheaper transactions, but has yet to gain the same footing with users.

Top 10 cryptocurrencies by market capitalization

The same is true of ‘Doge Killer’ coins that promise to one day surpass the market cap of Dogecoin, the biggest and most popular meme coin. Crypto investors often cycle through tokens and trends, with copycat and unoriginal tokens popping up if one token shows it resonates with investors.

For example, DePIN is a hot crypto sector in 2024, with Render Network as a leading project. RenderX attempted to replicate Render’s success but failed due to its lack of innovation and clear value proposition. Unlike Render, which excelled in decentralized GPU rendering, RenderX offered nothing new, leading to its quick decline.

6. Use Trading Signals and Trading Bots

Some investors prefer to integrate the best crypto signals into their trading strategy. This allows them to eliminate emotions from the investing process when deciding the best crypto to invest in.

We have also reviewed the best AI crypto trading bots for traders who want to execute trades 24/7. Considering that the crypto market never sleeps using a crypto trading bot can help eliminate emotions and automate the process.

7. Stay on Top of Crypto Trends

Trends should not be discounted when deciding which crypto to buy today. Investing in trending cryptos or theme can prove to be both hugely beneficial if the timing is good — or disastrous if the trend is no longer popular.

During the 2021 bull run, play-to-earn gaming and the metaverse were expected to become major industries in the 2020s, and revolutionize the way people played games and interacted in a virtual world. Games like Axie Infinity, Sandbox, and Decentraland benefited the most with their tokens trading at all-time highs.

In early 2024, meme coins and AI cryptocurrencies have had the highest returns. For example, the meme coins Bonk and dogwifhat traded mostly flat in 2023, while in February 2024, both had huge growth.

AI tokens like Render traded at a market cap of $500 million before the AI frenzy propelled chip-maker stocks like Nvidia to all-time highs. Riding on the AI stock hype wave, RNDR currently has a market cap of $3.20B. Around the time the AI boom started, it took less than two months for the price of RNDR to move from $2 to over $11 — a 450% rise.

Investing in a trending token can bring huge rewards but investors should be diligent and cash out before the trend dies.

Crypto Market December 1, 2024: Key Trends and Forecast


Bitcoin is nearing the $100,000 mark, fueled by optimism from Trump’s crypto-friendly administration. Institutional interest continues to grow, highlighted by the $1.9 billion first-day trading of $IBIT options and Cantor Fitzgerald’s Tether investment. Bitcoin is on a momentum-driven trajectory, with technical indicators suggesting further upside.

Ethereum remains under pressure, with ETH/BTC ratios declining. However, Ethereum continues to gain utility, as shown by B2C2 issuing a corporate bond on the network. Its role in decentralized finance remains crucial, though it faces stiff competition from other chains.

Other top altcoins like XRP, AVAX, and SUI are drawing increased attention, with XRP hitting a three-year high after regulatory news. Meme coin interest has slowed, but Solana and Polygon maintain strong positions in institutional and retail portfolios, reflecting a diverse market focus.

Upcoming events, including FOMC minutes and U.S. inflation data, could significantly impact crypto sentiment. Watch for Trump’s appointments and legislative actions, which may further shape a pro-crypto regulatory environment. Stay alert for market volatility.

Conclusion: What’s the Best Cryptocurrency to Invest in Today?


Bitcoin and Ethereum remain the best cryptocurrencies to buy for long-term growth. Bitcoin offers unmatched security and global recognition, while Ethereum leads in smart contract innovation. Both have strong adoption and institutional interest, making them solid investments. Consider adding them to your portfolio.

Buy BTC with Best Wallet

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)


What is the best crypto to buy?

Which cryptocurrency has the best future?

Which crypto has the most potential in 2024?

References

Crypto News in numbers
editors
Authors List + 66 More
2M+
Active Monthly Users Around the World
250+
Guides and Reviews Articles
8
Years on the Market
70
International Team Authors

About Cryptonews

Our goal is to offer a comprehensive and objective perspective on the cryptocurrency market, enabling our readers to make informed decisions in this ever-changing landscape.

Our editorial team of more than 70 crypto professionals works to maintain the highest standards of journalism and ethics. We follow strict editorial guidelines to ensure the integrity and credibility of our content.

Whether you’re looking for breaking news, expert opinions, or market insights, Cryptonews has been your go-to destination for everything cryptocurrency since 2017.