Best Crypto to Buy in 2024.

There are thousands of cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, Ethereum, Dogecoin, Tether, and others making it best when you’re first getting started in the world of best cryptocurrencies to buy in 2024. To help you get your bearings, here are the 10 best crypto to buy based on their market capitalization.

What Are the Cryptocurrencies?

Cryptocurrency is a digital payment system and does not depend on banks to confirm transactions. It can allow anyone anywhere to send and receive payments because of a peer-to-peer system. Instead of physical money around and traded in the real world, cryptocurrency payments exist as digital entries to an online database relating exact transactions. When you transfer cryptocurrency reserves, the dealings are recorded in a public ledger. Cryptocurrency is kept in digital wallets or all the coins’ value is now in circulation.

1. Bitcoin (BTC): Best crypto to buy for long-term investors

Market cap: $889.02 billion

Bitcoin (BTC) is a decentralized cryptocurrency introduced in a 2008 whitepaper by an individual or group using the pseudonym Satoshi Nakamoto. Launched in January 2009, Bitcoin operates as a peer-to-peer digital currency, allowing direct transactions without intermediaries. Nakamoto’s identity remains unknown.

The first-ever cryptocurrency, Bitcoin pioneered the use of blockchain technology. Nakamoto published the whitepaper in October 2008 and mined the genesis block on January 3, 2009. While Nakamoto initiated Bitcoin, control was later handed to Gavin Andresen, and over 750 contributors have since improved the code.

Bitcoin’s uniqueness lies in being the first cryptocurrency, creating a global community, and inspiring the development of thousands of competing projects. With a market capitalization surpassing $1 trillion in 2021, Bitcoin remains the largest cryptocurrency, supported by the institutional interest and diverse platforms. It is the best crypto to buy for long-term investors?

To buy Bitcoin (BTC), you can use various crypto exchanges like Binance, Coinbase Pro, OKEx, Kraken, Huobi Global, and Bitfinex. If you’re new to crypto, learn more on CoinMarketCap’s educational portal, Alexandria.

2. Ethereum (ETH): Best crypto to buy for beginners

Market cap: $286.06 billion

Ethereum (ETH) is a decentralized blockchain system with its cryptocurrency, Ether. Created by Vitalik Buterin in 2013 and launched in 2015, Ethereum serves as a platform for various cryptocurrencies and decentralized smart contracts. With a unique feature of executing smart contracts, Ethereum has undergone several updates, including the recent “London” hard fork in August 2021.

The eight co-founders, including Vitalik Buterin and Gavin Wood, initiated Ethereum in 2014. Ethereum’s ICO in 2014 raised $18.3 million, with an initial price of $0.311 per Ether. The Ethereum Foundation launched the blockchain on July 30, 2015 officially.

Ethereum’s key innovation is its smart contract platform, which enables the automatic execution of online agreements. The blockchain also hosts over 280,000 ERC-20-compliant tokens, including popular ones like USDT, LINK, and BNB.

The Ethereum Name Service (ENS) is a decentralized naming system based on the Ethereum blockchain, simplifying complex crypto addresses into human-readable names like “Alice.eth.”

You can buy Ethereum (ETH) on major crypto exchanges like Binance, Coinbase Pro, OKEx, Kraken, and Huobi Global, with popular trading pairs such as ETH/USD and ETH/GBP.

3. Tether (USDT): Best crypto to buy for long-term investors

Market cap: $92.08 billion

Launched in 2014, Tether (USDT) is a blockchain platform designed to enable the digital use of fiat currencies, providing a modern approach to money. Tether allows users to transact with traditional currencies across the blockchain without the typical volatility associated with digital currencies. The founders of Tether, initially known as Realcoin, include Brock Pierce, Reeve Collins, and Craig Sellars.

Brock Pierce, an entrepreneur and co-founder of Blockchain Capital, has played a significant role in the crypto and entertainment industries. Reeve Collins served as the CEO of Tether during its initial two years and has co-founded successful companies in various sectors. Craig Sellars, also involved in the Omni Foundation, has worked in multiple cryptocurrency organizations.

Tether’s uniqueness lies in its value being pegged to the U.S. dollar, backed by equivalent reserves held by Tether. This stability makes USDT a haven for crypto investors during periods of market volatility. However, controversies and concerns about the validity of Tether’s USD reserves have arisen over the years, impacting USDT’s price.

Tether (USDT) can be purchased on numerous cryptocurrency exchanges, with significant trading volume comparable to or exceeding that of Bitcoin. It serves as a viable alternative to USD on exchanges where fiat-to-crypto trading pairs are unavailable.

4. Solana (SOL): Best crypto to buy for longterm investment

Market cap: $46 billion

Solana (SOL) is a decentralized open-source blockchain project launched in March 2020 by the Solana Foundation. Created by Anatoly Yakovenko, a former Qualcomm engineer, Solana employs a unique hybrid consensus model, combining proof-of-history (PoH) with proof-of-stake (PoS) to enhance scalability for decentralized app (DApp) creation and decentralized finance (DeFi) solutions.

Notable for its remarkable processing speed, Solana has gained popularity among both small-time and institutional traders. Anatoly Yakovenko’s PoH innovation contributes to the protocol’s scalability, ensuring fast transaction and smart contract execution times. Solana aims to make decentralized finance widely accessible, offering low transaction costs and scalability.

Despite its impressive performance and institutional interest, Solana has faced challenges, including network outages and criticisms regarding tokenomics favoring venture capital investors. As of September 2021, Solana is ranked 7th on CoinMarketCap with a market cap exceeding $46 billion and a live price of USD 108.84.

SOL tokens can be acquired on various exchanges, with Binance and Coinbase being notable options. It’s essential to note the inherent risks associated with cryptocurrency investments.

5. Binance Coin (BNB)

Market Cap: $50.35 billion.

Binance Coin (BNB), introduced in July 2017, holds a market cap of $50.35 billion. As the largest global cryptocurrency exchange by daily trading volume, Binance aims to revolutionize financial activity with its ecosystem, including Binance Chain, Binance Smart Chain, Binance Academy, Trust Wallet, and Research projects. BNB’s 2017 price of $0.10 surged to around $317 by late January 2024, marking a remarkable gain of 317,254%.

The founders, Changpeng Zhao (CEO) and He Yi (CMO) have played pivotal roles in Binance’s growth since its official launch in 2017. Binance’s unique decentralized ecosystem, commitment to development, and strategic measures like BEP-95 have contributed to its prominence.

To buy BNB, Binance is the recommended platform, offering various trading pairs and competitive rates. The current live BNB price is $330.55 USD, with a market cap of $50,142,115,320 USD, ranking it #4 globally. For real-time rates and easy conversion, CoinMarketCap provides a converter feature. Cryptocurrency newcomers can find guidance on entering the market and buying tokens in CoinMarketCap’s education portal, Alexandria.

6. XRP (XRP)

Market cap: $34.38 billion

The XRP Ledger (XRPL), launched in 2012 by David Schwartz, Jed McCaleb, and Arthur Britto, offers a decentralized, low-cost ($0.0002 per transaction), and fast (3-5 seconds settlement) alternative to traditional blockchains. It supports various applications like micropayments, DeFi, and NFTs, with a unique decentralized exchange (DEX) and tokenization capabilities. Ripple, founded in 2012 by the XRPL creators and Chris Larsen, is associated with the project. XRP can be bought on exchanges such as Binance, Huobi, and Bitstamp. The ledger is renowned for its reliability, operating since 2012 and closing 70 million ledgers. Developers can utilize XRPL to create efficient payment solutions, tokenization, DeFi, CBDCs, and stablecoins, with support for Python, Java, and JavaScript.

7. U.S. Dollar Coin (USDC)

Market cap: $24.7 billion

Get real-time updates on the USDC to INR currency conversion rate on Coinbase. The current price of USDC has reached a new all-time high of ₹83.29, with a 0.09% decrease in the past 7 days and a 0.04% decline in the last 24 hours. The circulating supply is 24,726,893,903.223 USDC, contributing to a market cap of ₹2.06T. The 24-hour trading volume stands at ₹512.50B, and the median holding time for Coinbase customers is 3 days. USDC is currently the 15th most traded asset on Coinbase, with 99% of users increasing their net position in USDC over the past 24 hours. You can buy USDC on Coinbase’s centralized exchange, making it easily accessible.

8.Cardano (ADA)

Market cap: $21.71 billion

Cardano is a proof-of-stake blockchain platform founded in 2017 by Charles Hoskinson, a co-founder of Ethereum. It aims to enable positive global change by redistributing power to individuals through a secure, transparent, and fair society. The native ADA token, named after mathematician Ada Lovelace, grants holders the right to vote on network changes. Cardano’s Alonzo hard fork, launched in September 2021, introduced smart contract functionality, leading to various real-world applications like supply chain tracking and secure storage of educational credentials. The project emphasizes peer-reviewed research to ensure durability and stability. Cardano can be bought on major exchanges such as Binance, Bittrex, eToro, and HitBTC. Check live ADA prices on CoinMarketCap’s converter feature for various fiat currency pairs.

9. Avalanche (AVAX): Best crypto to buy for beginners

Market cap: $15.01 billion

Avalanche, launched by Ava Labs, aims to address the blockchain trilemma by employing three distinct blockchains: the X-Chain for creating and exchanging AVAX tokens, the C-Chain for hosting smart contracts with its Avalanche Virtual Machine, and the P-Chain for coordinating network validators and creating new subnets. This unique architecture allows for higher throughput without compromising decentralization. Founded by Emin Gün Sirer, Kevin Sekniqi, and Maofan “Ted” Yin, Avalanche has attracted attention with its interoperability, working on DApps and DeFi integration, and bridging with Ethereum. AVAX is available on various exchanges, with a current price of $40.98 USD and a market cap of $15.01 billion USD, ranking #9 on CoinMarketCap.

10. Dogecoin (DOGE)

Market cap: $13.2 billion

Dogecoin (DOGE) is a digital currency created in December 2013 by Billy Markus and Jackson Palmer, inspired by the “doge” Internet meme featuring a Shiba Inu. Forked from Litecoin, it aimed to be a fun and light-hearted cryptocurrency, distinct from Bitcoin’s serious image. Elon Musk, Tesla CEO, has expressed his favoritism for Dogecoin on social media. The current Dogecoin price is $0.091377 USD, with a 24-hour trading volume of $383,794,091 USD. DOGE is down 1.92% in the last 24 hours, ranking #10 on CoinMarketCap with a market cap of $13,021,102,620 USD. Its circulating supply is 142,499,266,384 DOGE coins, and its maximum supply is not available. Learn how to buy dogecoin on Etoro?

Conclusion

The cryptocurrency market has many options for both beginner and experienced investors. Like, Bitcoin (BTC) remains a stable option for beginners because of its pioneering status and broad acceptance and Ethereum (ETH) has a special smart contract platform. Tether (USDT) is a reliable option for stability linked to traditional fiat currencies. Solana (SOL) and Binance Coin (BNB) have innovative solutions but come with potential risks.

XRP, U.S. Dollar Coin (USDC), Cardano (ADA), Avalanche (AVAX), and Dogecoin (DOGE) cater to distinct requirements through research and risk consideration. Choosing the best crypto to buy depends on investors’s preferences, risk tolerance, and investment goals.