10 Best Altcoins to Buy in December 2024

With Bitcoin typically leading the charge in a crypto market cycle, investors will often turn to altcoins in an effort to make greater percentage returns. However, there are so many new cryptocurrency tokens being created that it can be difficult to know which are the best altcoins to buy.

Thankfully, I’ve taken the time to discover the top altcoins that I think people should be investing in towards the end of 2024 and in early 2025. I’ll explain exactly why each of these altcoins were created and why altcoins are so important within the crypto space.

Our Altcoin List for December 2024

1. iDEGEN (IDGN) – An AI-centered project that learns from its community

2. Vantard (VTARD) – A portfolio of meme coins accessible through a single altcoin

3. Dogizen (DOGIZ) – A Telegram gaming protocol, launched as the world’s first Telegram ICO

4. Ethereum (ETH) – The world’s largest smart contract platform

5. Cardano (ADA) – A smart contract-enabled Layer 1 built on peer-to-peer research

6. Solana (SOL) – A Layer 1 blockchain that prioritizes speed and scalability

7. Ripple (XRP) – A protocol designed for large-scale cross-border payments

8. Dogecoin (DOGE) – The world’s first meme coin with real utility

9. Pepe coin (PEPE) – A Pepe the Frog meme coin with “pure memetic power”

10. Toncoin (TON) – An open, decentralized internet created by the team behind Telegram

Criteria for Selecting the Best Altcoins

When choosing the best altcoins to buy, there are certain things that I’ll look out for:

• Utility – The top altcoins will have real utility, both within the project’s ecosystem and also in the real-world. The best altcoins to invest in are those that have been created with a purpose and that can potentially fix a genuine problem. If an altcoin has real utility, it is less likely to be a pump-and-dump scheme and is also more likely to experience mainstream adoption.
• Team – Any altcoins that you’re considering investing in should have a strong, experienced team behind them. Be wary of buying altcoins that have an anonymous team without proven experience – there could be a reason that they’re hiding their identities!
• Tokenomics – The best altcoins to buy include those with strong tokenomics. Check out the project’s whitepaper or website to find the altcoin’s total supply, token allocation and vesting schedule. These things will let you know whether the altcoin is inflationary or deflationary, and also how the different tokens are split. The best altcoins will be spread between the community, liquidity pools, exchanges, marketing efforts, and more.
• Community – Take a look online to see whether or not the altcoin project has a strong community behind it. If lots of people are talking positively about the project and are involved in governance and staking, for example, it’s a good indication that the project is actively being adopted by real-users.

3 Best Altcoins to Buy in 2024

Here are my top picks for the best altcoins to invest in 2024.

1. iDEGEN (IDGN)

iDEGEN ($IDGN) is one of the best altcoins to buy now. iDEGEN is an AI-centered project that was created as an experiment in what could be achieved by community interaction.

iDEGEN utilizes the @iDEGEN_AI Twitter (X) account, which posts automatically once every hour. Powered by AI, the iDEGEN Twitter account learns from any comments made by users on each post. These interactions then help the AI model to learn, which further impacts future posts.

iDEGEN can follow a number of potential evolutionary paths, determined by community engagement. This makes iDEGEN one of the most decentralized cryptocurrency projects available in 2024.

$IDGN is one of the best altcoins to buy. It’s available as part of a unique presale, using a dynamic pricing model that works as follows:

If a purchase is made during a five-minute interval, the price stays the same for the next five minutes. If purchases occur in two consecutive intervals, the price increases by 5% for the next. If no purchases occur within a five-minute interval, the price decreases by 5%.

Built on Solana, there is a total supply of 11,111,111,111 $IDGN tokens. 90% of these are allocated to the community, while 10% are maintained as liquidity.

2. Vantard (VTARD)

Vantard is one of the most unique cryptocurrency projects available in 2024. With solid fundamentals and a vibrant community, this makes $VTARD one of the top altcoins for investors.

Based around Vanguard, one of the world’s most famous investment management platforms, Vantard is a “Meme Index Fund” that invests in top-performing meme coins as part of the Vantard Meme Portfolio.

Made up of approximately 20 different meme coins, investors can purchase $VTARD tokens to gain exposure to the Vantard portfolio. The portfolio includes Bluchip meme coins, Trench Gems and 1000x Vaporware, meaning that investors can access a number of different meme coins within a single investment. $VTARD acts both as a standalone, tradable token, whilst also enabling users to swap their holdings for any individual meme coins held within the portfolio.

In terms of transparency, Vantard constantly shows the meme coins contained within the portfolio, including the chain that they’re built on, the average purchase price and current price, as well as the overall return on investment (ROI).

Combining traditional financial tools (index funds) with the popularity and volatility of meme coins, $VTARD is potentially one of the best altcoins to buy now.

3. Dogizen (DOGIZ)

Dogizen is a Telegram-oriented cryptocurrency project that aims to provide an ads-first platform that benefits both advertisers and real-users. Centered around Telegram gaming, Dogizen is providing Web2 users with access to Web3 games within one of the world’s largest social platforms.

With Telegram home to almost 1 billion users, Dogizen is ready to tap into one of the largest, most lucrative markets available in the world.

In terms of its ecosystem, the Dogizen Universe is made up of:

• The Dogizen Launchpad
• Dogizen MVP
• The Dogizen Software Development Kit (SDK)

Dogizen is powered by DOGIZ, an altcoin being launched as part of the world’s first Telegram initial coin offering. Not only is Dogizen breaking new ground with its cryptocurrency token, it’s also helping to revolutionize the Telegram platform.

DOGIZ has a total supply of 1 trillion tokens, split into the following:

• Community (40%) – 400 billion DOGIZ tokens
• Presale (10%) – 100 billion DOGIZ tokens
• Marketing (15%) – 150 billion DOGIZ tokens
• Liquidity (15%) – 150 billion DOGIZ tokens
• Product (20%) – 200 billion DOGIZ tokens

Other Top Altcoins to Watch

Although the above coins stood out as the best altcoins to buy right now, there are numerous of other crypto projects that caught my eye. Here are 7 more promising long-term cryptos to watch.

1. Ethereum (ETH)

Ethereum is one of the most innovative cryptocurrency projects available in 2024. Built to improve upon Bitcoin’s lack of scalability and smart contract functionality, Ethereum is a decentralized application (dApps)-focused Layer 1 blockchain that allows developers to deploy a huge variety of DeFi protocols.

Since its launch, Ethereum has become the world’s largest decentralized ecosystem. It is a pseudo-private network, with users able to create a free account without providing personal information. A huge number of Layer 2 blockchains have been launched on Ethereum, with the network having significant implications across all of the following sectors:

• DeFi – LayerZero, Chainlink and Yearn.Finance
• Layer 2 Blockchains – Immutable X, Base Chain and Arbitrum
• Gaming – Sandbox, Decentraland and CryptoKitties
• Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) – Crypto Punks, Bored Ape Yacht Club and Azuki
• Wallets – MetaMask, Exodus and Atomic
• Decentralized Exchanges (DEXs) – Uniswap, KyberSwap and SushiSwap

The Ethereum network is decentralized, with participants running nodes by staking Ether (ETH), the protocol’s native cryptocurrency. ETH is one of the best altcoins to buy in 2024; as well as having use cases across the Ethereum ecosystem, it can also be used as a trustless digital currency and for securing the Ethereum blockchain.

2. Cardano (ADA)

Cardano is a Proof of Stake (PoS) blockchain founded on peer-to-peer research. It was created to solve the blockchain trilemma – the idea that no blockchain can be scalable, secure and decentralized at the same time.

Much like Ethereum, Cardano is an open-source, decentralized blockchain that allows developers to deploy smart contracts on-chain. This means that the Cardano ecosystem is made up of a range of decentralized applications and financial tools.

The Cardano ecosystem includes:

• Wallets – Yoroi, Exodus and Atomic Wallet
• Decentralized Exchanges – Minswap, MuesliSwap and SundaeSwap
• Stablecoins – Djed, iUSD and USDm
• Lending and Borrowing Protocols – Lenfi, Liqwid and Nexo
• And More

The Cardano network uses the ADA altcoin. ADA can be used as a store of value and a means of exchange, as well as for staking (securing the Cardano blockchain) and paying transaction fees. There is a total supply of 45 billion ADA tokens.

3. Solana (SOL)

Solana is described as “Web3 Infrastructure for Everyone”. Solana is another Layer 1 blockchain network designed for mass adoption. Solana is:

• Fast – Solana has a block time of 400 milliseconds
• Decentralized – Solana is validated by more than 1,000 nodes
• Scalable – Solana is able to complete thousands of transactions per second
• Energy Efficient – Solana uses an energy efficient Proof of Stake mechanism

Solana has a growing DeFi ecosystem made up of Layer 2 networks, NFTs and cryptocurrency tokens:

• NFTs – Mad Lads, Okay Bears and DeGods
• Wallets – Phantom, Solflare and Slope
• Memecoins – Popcat, dogwifhat and Bonk

Solana (SOL) is one of the best altcoins to buy in 2024. It is the native cryptocurrency of the Solana network and can be used as a payment method for both daily and cross-border transactions. SOL can also be used for staking, transaction fees and governance. As the Solana DeFi ecosystem continues to grow, SOL will have increasing utility across different Solana protocols.

4. Ripple (XRP)

Ripple is one of the largest cryptocurrency-focused companies in the world. Ripple aims to use blockchain technology to enable low-cost cross-border payments using the XRP cryptocurrency. Ripple primarily targets large institutions, banks and payment providers, allowing them to send money overseas with minimal fees.

Ripple uses the XRP Ledger (XRPL), a decentralized public blockchain. XRPL is home to a network of trusted validators who help to validate blockchain transactions and secure the blockchain. This unique consensus mechanism is referred to as the Ripple Protocol Consensus Algorithm (RPCA).

XRP has long been one of the industry’s top altcoins. It is designed to be used as a bridge currency within the Ripple ecosystem. When a financial institution wants to send money abroad, they purchase an equivalent amount of XRP, which they send on the Ripple network. This is done quickly and with minimal fees. Then, at the other end, the receiver will convert their XRP into the relevant fiat currency.

XRP is arguably one of the best altcoins to invest in because it is one of the only cryptocurrencies to have legal clarity, having recently been deemed not to be a security after a lengthy court case against the SEC.

5. Dogecoin (DOGE)

Dogecoin (DOGE) is the original meme coin. It was created in 2013 as a joke but has since become one of the best altcoins to buy, having experienced huge mainstream adoption and a significant price increase since its launch.

Dogecoin is a Layer 1 blockchain. It uses a Proof of Work (PoW) consensus mechanism, although it doesn’t consume as much energy as the Bitcoin blockchain does.

DOGE is an open-source cryptocurrency built around the Doge meme. It uses the Shiba Inu dog as its figurehead and was created with an uncapped supply. 

Despite its creation and meme coin origins, DOGE is accepted at a number of retailers and is used as a means of exchange. It has significant real-world utility and the Dogecoin ecosystem continues to grow as it sees adoption amongst real-users.

Dogecoin is an incredibly community-focused cryptocurrency, placing an emphasis on being “Useful”, “Reliable”, “Personable” and “Welcoming”. Historically, Dogecoin has been favoured by Elon Musk, whose tweets have positively influenced the price of DOGE in the past.

6. Pepe coin (PEPE)

Pepe ($PEPE) is one of the biggest meme coins in 2024. Created on Ethereum, Pepe is a tribute to the popular “Pepe the Frog” meme created in the 2000s. $PEPE was designed as a community-oriented coin with “pure memetic power”.

$PEPE has limited utility, although it has experienced significant growth in both price and adoption over the last twelve months. In fact, the Pepe team don’t shy away from the fact that their meme coin has no utility. The Pepe roadmap includes three stages:

• Phase 1 – Meme
• Phase 2 – Vibe and HODL
• Phase 3 – Meme Takeover

There is a total supply of 420,690,000,000,000 $PEPE tokens. $PEPE is a deflationary altcoin with a no-tax policy. $PEPE was one of the leading meme coins during 2023 and 2024, with many investors believing that it could have similar longevity to Dogecoin (DOGE) and Shiba Inu (SHIB).

7. Toncoin (TON)

TON, otherwise known as “The Open Network”, is a decentralized internet created by the team behind Telegram. There are several elements that make up the TON network, including:

• The TON Blockchain – A “superserver” home to a number of decentralized products
• TON DNS – A service that assigns human-readable names to wallets, smart contracts and websites
• TON Sites – A launchpad for decentralized, anonymous and encrypted Web3 websites
• TON Storage – A decentralized file storage solution

TON is focused on cross-chain interoperability, helping blockchain networks to communicate with one another through the Toncoin cryptocurrency. Toncoin (TON) can be used across the TON network. The TON altcoin can be used for transactions, within Web3 games, to purchase NFTs, and more. There is a total supply of over 5 billion TON tokens, which have an annual inflation rate of 0.6%. 

What is an Altcoin?

An altcoin is any cryptocurrency that isn’t Bitcoin (BTC). An amalgamation of the words “alternative” and “coin”, altcoins are cryptocurrency tokens built on a blockchain that can have various (or no) use cases

The Importance of Altcoins in Cryptocurrency Market

Altcoins are incredibly important within the cryptocurrency market. Although Bitcoin is the largest, most successful cryptocurrency, it has limited use cases and struggles with scalability.

Altcoins are created for a number of different reasons:

• As payments tokens
• For governance
• As security tokens
• For community participation
• For use within decentralized finance (DeFi) ecosystems

Altcoins can be used to secure blockchain networks through a variety of consensus mechanisms (Proof of Stake (PoS), Proof of Work (PoW), Proof of Authority (PoA), etc.) and provide greater opportunities for investors to get involved in the cryptocurrency space.

Altcoins can also provide diversification opportunities within an investor’s portfolio, hedging against the risks of a Bitcoin investment.

Factors That Could Influence The Price of an Altcoin

Cryptocurrencies are incredibly volatile, and this is especially the case for altcoins.

Market Trends

Market trends can directly impact the price of an altcoin. The cryptocurrency market moves in cycles, typically revolving around the Bitcoin halving.

If the crypto market is experiencing a “bull market”, the price of an altcoin is more likely to increase. On the other hand, if the crypto market is bearish, the price of an altcoin is probably going to fall.

There are also trends within the different sectors contained within crypto. For example, altcoins destined to be used within Web3 gaming ecosystems will likely all move in conjunction with one another. The same can be said for utility tokens, AI tokens, DeFi tokens, etc. Usually (although not always), the cryptocurrencies with the largest market capitalization will move first, followed by low cap cryptocurrencies within the same sector.

Technological Developments

Technological developments could impact the price of an altcoin. With that in mind, the best altcoins to buy are those at the forefront of their respective sectors. Find those altcoins that are more technologically advanced than their competitors.

As technologies advance, altcoins may experience price increases as the market factors in improvements and developments. For example, if the world sees a dramatic change in artificial intelligence, it’s likely – although not guaranteed – that AI-related altcoins might see a change in price.

Regulatory Environment

Regulatory changes can significantly influence the price of altcoins, both positively and negatively, depending on the changes in question.

For example, if regulatory bodies such as the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) decide to tighten up on restrictions regarding cryptocurrencies, the crypto market will likely see a decrease in prices, albeit temporarily.

On the flip side, if restrictions are loosened or the government makes changes to crypto taxes, altcoin prices will typically experience a move to the upside to reflect these positive regulatory changes.

What are the Risks of Buying Altcoins?

As with any investment, there are risks associated with buying altcoins.

Market Volatility

The cryptocurrency market is massively volatile. Bitcoin is a volatile asset class, but altcoins have historically demonstrated far greater price swings in comparison. In fact, it’s entirely possible that an altcoin can lose more than 20% of its value within a 24-hour period. 

Although this volatility is something that investors try to capitalize on, you should be aware that it can have negative implications on your investment. Make sure to diversify your portfolio and only commit small amounts to specific trades. This way, if the price of an altcoin falls dramatically in a short period of time, your other investments should help to counteract the negative impact on your capital.

Security Concerns

Altcoins are typically not quite as secure as Bitcoin. Although all of the altcoins recommended on this list prioritize security, a lot of newly released altcoins can be considered less secure. Make sure that any altcoin projects that you’re considering investing in have been audited – companies such as SolidProof and Coinsult will audit the smart contracts used within a crypto project to determine whether or not they are safe and secure.

Competition

New altcoins are being released every day and this competition can have a detrimental impact on the price of an altcoin that you’re already invested in. For example, if you’re invested in a cryptocurrency project that was launched in 2015, a new project that has similar ambitions may be able to take advantage of new technologies and release a product that is “better”. This, in turn, could see your original altcoin lose users as they switch over to the newer network.

Always make sure you’re investing in altcoins whose team are constantly innovating and aren’t afraid to adapt to changing market conditions and industry improvements.

Final Thoughts

Altcoins are some of the most volatile, but most rewarding, investments that you can make in 2024. All altcoins come with significant risk, but if you’re able to do your research and find those gems with real potential, your portfolio could benefit as a result. 

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