Table of Contents
Introduction
With over 21,000 cryptocurrencies in existence today, determining which altcoins have the most growth potential can be a challenging task for investors. However, a handful of leading altcoins stand out that are well-positioned for major gains in 2024 based on their technology, real-world use cases, developer activity, and community support.
This guide will explore five altcoins that have tremendous upside in the coming years: Ethereum, Cardano, Solana, Polygon, and Polkadot. Let’s dive in and see why these cryptocurrencies should be on your radar for 2024 and beyond.
Ethereum (ETH) – Altcoins
As the second largest cryptocurrency behind Bitcoin, Ethereum has cemented itself as the leading altcoin to watch in 2024. Ethereum has the largest developer ecosystem in crypto, and provides the foundation for most decentralized applications and NFT projects to be built.
Some major catalysts that could fuel Ethereum growth in 2024 include the long-awaited upgrades to Ethereum 2.0 which will improve scalability through sharding and move the network to a more energy-efficient proof-of-stake consensus mechanism. These foundational upgrades will unlock Ethereum’s ability to scale to thousands of transactions per second and handle exponentially more activity.
Beyond technical upgrades, Ethereum is also transitioning to a deflationary tokenomics design through its EIP-1559 upgrade already implemented in 2021. This shifts Ethereum to a burn mechanism that destroys tokens with every transaction, reducing overall supply over time. As demand grows while supply shrinks, basic economics suggests substantially higher prices for ETH by 2024.
Cardano (ADA)
Known as the most academically rigorous and scientifically researched blockchain, Cardano stands out among altcoins as an innovative third generation smart contract platform. Lead by its research-first methodology, Cardano aims to solve major blockchain issues around sustainability, scalability, and interoperability.
In 2022, Cardano will begin onboarding decentralized applications through advanced smart contract capabilities on its network after the Alonzo hard fork integration in 2021. This will enable real-world utility for ADA beyond just payments, competing directly against Ethereum.
Additional performance upgrades will allow Cardano to scale its throughput to over 1 million transactions per second, eliminating congestion issues faced by older blockchains today. With lower fees and faster speeds suitable for large-scale commercial applications, ADA is likely to see its biggest growth phase yet in 2024.
Solana (SOL)
One altcoin that has already seen meteoric growth in 2022 is Solana, the ultra-fast smart contract blockchain network. Solana uses innovative Proof-of-History and Proof-of-Stake mechanisms to achieve industry-leading speeds of 50,000 transactions per second and 400ms block times that dwarf other chains.
These performance capabilities have attracted over 400 projects to build on Solana across DeFi, NFTs, Web3 and more. As transaction activity and adoption continues accelerating at a breakneck pace into 2024, analysts predict SOL prices could double or triple in the coming years.
Polygon (MATIC)
Formerly Matic Network, Polygon has emerged as the leading Ethereum scaling solution to provide faster and cheaper transactions on Web3 applications. Using an innovative Layer 2 sidechain architecture secured by the Ethereum mainnet, Polygon processes over 7.5 million daily transactions for just fractions of a penny in fees.
As Ethereum continues battling high gas costs and congestion issues in 2024, Polygon’s role as the de facto scaling solution will grow exponentially prominent. Polygon bridges the best of both worlds between Ethereum’s security and Polygon’s speed and cost-efficiency, presenting a clear path for mass adoption of Web3 apps going forward. MATIC prices could easily see 10x gains or more in 2024.
Polkadot (DOT)
Polkadot’s interoperable blockchain protocol provides the critical infrastructure to interconnect private and public chains, oracles, permissioned networks, and future technologies. This multi-chain design can facilitate cross-blockchain transfers and communication to power a true internet of blockchains.
As bridging fragmented networks becomes essential for realizing Web3’s connected ecosystem potential, Polkadot aims to be the backbone enabling this next generation internet. Early mover advantage as one of the first interconnected blockchain networks could help Polkadot thrive in 2024 and beyond as cross-chain applications accelerate.
Conclusion
Ethereum, Cardano, Solana, Polygon, and Polkadot represent the top tier of altcoins well-positioned for substantial growth in 2024. Their advanced capabilities around smart contracts, scalability, and interoperability provide the blockchain foundations necessary to power Web3 and the global digital economy.
Along with Bitcoin leading as the digital reserve asset, these altcoins cover all the key roles required for blockchain and cryptocurrencies to proliferate into the technological and financial mainstream. Keep an eye on these five coins this coming year and the next as their ascendance continues disrupting global systems.
| Altcoin | Price | Market Cap | Circulating Supply | 1 Year Growth | 3 Year Growth | 5 Year Growth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ethereum (ETH) | $1,517 | $185.7 billion | 123 million ETH | -36% | 1,018% | 27,478% |
| Cardano (ADA) | $0.38 | $12.9 billion | 34 billion ADA | -56% | 347% | N/A |
| Solana (SOL) | $22.24 | $7.6 billion | 500 million SOL | -65% | N/A | N/A |
| Polygon (MATIC) | $1.02 | $8.4 billion | 8.5 billion MATIC | -79% | 788% | N/A |
| Polkadot (DOT) | $6.20 | $5.5 billion | 900 million DOT | -60% | N/A | N/A |
| NEAR Protocol | $2.19 | $1.6 billion | 750 million NEAR | -41% | N/A | N/A |
| Algorand (ALGO) | $0.22 | $1.5 billion | 7 billion ALGO | -67% | 16% | N/A |
| Cosmos (ATOM) | $10.99 | $3.1 billion | 285 million ATOM | -52% | 58% | 820% |
| Monero (XMR) | $158.53 | $2.9 billion | 18 million XMR | -29% | 111% | 1,613% |
FAQS
- Which altcoin has the most potential in 2024?
Ethereum is likely the altcoin with the most potential going into 2024. As the second largest cryptocurrency and the foundation for most decentralized apps, major upgrades like the move to proof-of-stake and implementation of sharding will drastically improve Ethereum’s scalability and transaction capacity. This key development alongside Ethereum’s already massive developer ecosystem point to huge growth ahead.
- What is the best new altcoin to invest in 2024?
Solana (SOL) is one new altcoin that has tremendous investment potential for 2024. In just two years of existence, Solana has already seen major adoption thanks to its blazing fast speeds of 50,000 transactions per second – far faster than other chains. As new projects continue flocking to build on Solana in 2023, analysts predict SOL could double or triple within the next year as usage and demand accelerates.
- Which layer 1 altcoins will dominate in 2024?
The top layer 1 altcoins likely to dominate going into 2024 are Ethereum, Cardano, and Solana. Ethereum will cement its frontrunner status with the game-changing Merge to proof-of-stake. Cardano will ramp up real-world usage with smart contracts, while Solana’s explosive growth trajectory continues as the fastest blockchain in the world attracts next-gen decentralized apps.
- What altcoins have staking rewards?
Many altcoins offer staking rewards currently, including Cardano (ADA), Solana (SOL), Polkadot (DOT), Tezos (XTZ), Cosmos (ATOM), Algorand (ALGO), and plenty more. Staking allows crypto holders to earn passive income upwards of 5-12% APY by locking up their coins to help validate transactions. As proof-of-stake chains like Cardano take off, staking will become even more popular.
- What will Polygon (MATIC) be worth in 2024?
As the premier scaling solution for Ethereum reconciliation issues like high gas fees and slow transactions, Polygon could grow exponentially in 2024 as adoption accelerates. Analysts predict 10x gains or greater for MATIC by the end of 2023. If its crucial role bridging Ethereum’s mass usage with superior speed/cost continues as the dominant Layer 2, Polygon may easily be worth over $5+ per token by 2024.