Back in the early days of cryptocurrency, when there were only a few digital currencies around, anything that wasn’t Bitcoin was called an altcoin. Nowadays, the world of digital money is much bigger. There are lots of different coins and tokens, and they’re used for all sorts of things, not just buying stuff like Bitcoin. But at its core, an altcoin is still just any cryptocurrency that isn’t Bitcoin.
Traders mainly use altcoins for crypto portfolio diversification, serving as an excellent starting point for those willing to enter the crypto market at a low cost. Considering Bitcoin’s price, which is set at the highest level in the crypto market, traders often look for alternatives, leading to the birth of several altcoins. In this article, we will look into the top five altcoins to buy in 2024.
4 Best Altcoins to Invest in 2024
1. Ethereum (ETH): Best Altcoin for Decentralized Applications and Smart Contracts
The world’s second most popular cryptocurrency after Bitcoin blockchain, Ethereum (ETH), has a market cap of over $385.5 billion and has traveled a long way to provide a reliable and strong decentralized platform for exchanges, finance, and applications.
Ethereum dominates the cryptocurrency investment market with more than 1400 developer applications and tools and operates both as a cryptocurrency and a blockchain platform. The degree of price increases that ETH experiences makes it one of the best crypto coins to buy in 2024.
Pros:
- The largest cryptocurrency in the world within the DeFi and dApp space.
- Uses proof of stake consensus mechanism to improve the overall strength of security protocols and TPS.
- Has several use cases.
- More energy-efficient than Bitcoin.
Cons:
- High transaction fees.
- Occasional scalability and network congestion issues.
Built on : Ethereum
Available on : Coinbase, Bitstamp, Kraken, Gemini, Binance, Bitfinex, and many more
2. Cardano (ADA): Research-Driven Altcoin With Strong Focus on Security
Cardano is an early adopter of proof of stake mechanism and speeds up transactions by eliminating blockchain platforms’ energy-intensive, competitive dimension. With a market cap of $22.7 billion, Cardano has been experiencing noteworthy gains, attracting investors to purchase ADA tokens for long-term investments.
Despite the challenges that Cardano has been facing since 2022, its resilience can be attributed to its strong visionary leadership and development team.
Pros:
- One of the most eco-friendly blockchain systems, 11.6 million times more energy-saving than BTC.
- Processes transactions much faster than Bitcoin and Ethereum.
- Open-source peer-reviewed blockchain networks ensure its evolution and survival beyond its parent organization and other cryptocurrencies.
Cons:
- Other competitors have a longer history of use.
- Limited adoption with fewer dApps and smart contracts available on the platform.
Built on : Cardano
Available on : Binance, Gemini, Coinbase, Kraken, and other top exchanges
3. Solana (SOL): Ultra-Fast Transactions With Low Fees
Solana is all about efficiency and speed, offering one of the fastest transaction times and boosting smart contracts, applications, and DeFi with its proof-of-history and proof-of-stake consensus mechanisms. It makes transactions more secure and smooth and scales up easily, keeping fees low.
Solana (SOL) shines for all types of investors with its growing popularity, impressive gains, and tech upgrades that take place occasionally.
Pros:
- Uses a combination of POH and POS consensus to provide higher scalability.
- Boasts lower transaction fees, making it more accessible for users and developers.
- Real-time responsiveness creates opportunities for high-frequency trading, time-sensitive transactions, and applications for game development.
- Significant growth of the ecosystem with a strong community of users, developers, and projects.
Cons:
- Advanced architecture and technology can be challenging for beginners.
- Experiences occasional network disruptions and outages.
Built on : Solana
Available on : Many popular crypto exchanges, including Binance, Kraken, Coinbase, and more
4. Polkadot (DOT): Altcoin Leveraging Interoperability Between Multiple Blockchains
Polkadot is an ideal crypto to purchase in 2024 due to its powerful project where developers build specific blockchains with the help of its native token DOT. With a market cap of over $10.1 billion, Polkadot shines in the crypto investment market with its high scalability and security, letting users build their decentralized applications and blockchains.
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Since its launch and ICO in 2017, Polkadot has experienced a rise in its price by more than 2600%, making it a unique investment option for those looking for massive gains.
- Parachains can be integrated with other blockchains like BTC and ETH.
- Provides better flexibility and control.
- Highly secured, providing greater leverage.
- Reduces the risks of crypto mining.
- Ever-growing platform with rising prices that could be profitable for investors.
Cons:
- Numerous competitors.
- Limited parachains.
Built on : Polkadot
Available on : Binance, Coinbase, Kraken, ZebPay, and more
Should I Invest in Altcoins?
Investors can consider investing in altcoins, stablecoins, and other coins in the market to spread the amount and the type of risks they are exposed to. Many investors opt for altcoins for higher risk-reward digital assets while considering BTC as the blue-chip cryptocurrency. They must consider restricting their altcoin investments to a small portion of the portfolio to enjoy higher reward opportunities.
Note that any profits from the crypto industry, either from altcoins or BTC, can be temporary. Many altcoins may always not be fit for long-term portfolios. Hence, depending on the trader’s risk appetite, it is important to have a strong exit strategy with a targeted price fixed before entering the trade.
Is it Better to Buy Bitcoin or Altcoins?
Considering the current state of affairs, it is highly unlikely that the altcoin cryptocurrency market will consolidate into a single crypto. However, it is also possible that most of the altcoins will fail to survive. The industry will coalesce around numerous altcoins, and those with robust use cases and solid blockchain networks will dominate the market. Traders who want to diversify within the cryptocurrency market can go for the best altcoins mentioned above that are less expensive than Bitcoin.
So Why Do We Need Altcoins?
Diversification
Investing in altcoins allows investors to explore different technologies and market segments. Diversification helps capitalize on the best altcoin opportunities and spread risk across various assets.
Market Dynamics
Altcoin trading and investments can help investors understand market dynamics that lead to rapid price movements influenced by market trends, social media, and news.
Hedging Against Risks
Hedging is an important risk management strategy that investors employ to offset the losses in their investments by taking an opposite position in a specific asset. Altcoin investments allow hedging against risks that require paying only for the protection it provides, known as the premium.
Types of Altcoins
Memecoins
Digitally inspired cryptocurrencies are known as memes that can inspire internet memes or cultural ideas. They typically have an unlimited coin supply and low per-unit value. Anyone with a stable internet connection can distribute and fabricate a meme, and with the right knowledge, anyone can create and distribute meme coins.
You can also read: Best Meme Coins to Buy
Utility tokens
Utility token provides services within the blockchain network and can be used to get access to facilitate transactions and rewards. Investments in utility tokens are generally made when investors believe in the project’s potential, and the token’s price reflects the project’s value.
Security tokens
Security tokens are similar to traditional stocks, where investors are entitled to dividends in the form of the platform’s revenue. However, security tokens are subject to a strict regulatory framework because of their profit distribution systems.
Governance tokens
A governance token employs a democratized approach and emphasizes the project’s decentralized nature. They usually exist in a decentralized autonomous organization that runs via smart contracts.
Stablecoins
Stablecoins provide price stability as their market values are generally pegged to the value of stable assets like gold or USD. Stablecoins are generally similar to fiat currencies within the digital currency space but are traded at higher volumes.
Do Altcoins Have a Future Over Bitcoin?
While Bitcoin remains the dominant player in terms of market capitalization and mainstream recognition, altcoins offer unique features and functionalities that cater to different use cases and preferences. Some altcoins might struggle while others become more popular. The ones that offer real benefits and strong technology will likely be the most successful. If you are looking to invest in different cryptocurrencies without spending as much as they would on Bitcoin, there are some best altcoins like ETH, ADA and more.
Ultimately, the future of altcoins depends on a multiple of factors, including technological advancements, regulatory developments, market dynamics, and user adoption. It’s essential to do your own research before investing. As the future of Bitcoin and altcoins to thrive in their respective ways.
Conclusion
To conclude, navigating the evolving landscape of top altcoins to buy in 2024 reveals a diverse range of promising options. Every digital currency mentioned above is poised for transformative capabilities, innovation, and resilience, bringing unique features and functions for investors and crypto enthusiasts.
Considering the high volatility in the crypto market, every trader interested in altcoin investments must conduct thorough research and due diligence, discover the advantages of altcoin investments, and seize their potential before pouring their funds into the crypto market. According to our analysis, Ethereum, Cardano, Solana, and Polkadot are expected to bring massive returns in 2024, driven by market dynamics, community governance, and technological upgrades.
FAQs
Are Altcoins Good for Investment?
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Altcoins can be good for investment only if users choose the right cryptocurrency based on its pricing, tokenomics, protocol and project development, and market dominance.
Where Can I Buy Altcoins?
Altcoins can be purchased on major crypto exchanges, such as Binance, Bitpay, Kraken, Coinbase, and many more.
Should I trade or HODL Altcoins?
The decision to HODL, sell, or trade altcoins depends on an individual’s financial goals, market analysis, and risk tolerance. By considering different factors like current market conditions, users’ investment horizon, and other factors that are fundamental to the altcoins held, users must decide whether to trade or HODL their altcoins.