The Next Bitcoin: 5 Up-And-Coming Cryptocurrencies (2024)

Bitcoin is the king of cryptocurrencies. You know it. I know it. Everyone knows it. What everyone doesn’t know is what crypto could be the next Bitcoin. 

Which digital asset is going to the moon next? There are literally thousands of cryptocurrencies, which makes finding the next Bitcoin a challenge for even the savviest investors. 

Solana is a cryptocurrency that has a lot of hype around it and could possibly be the next Bitcoin. Polygon, Uniswap, and PancakeSwap have a lot of potential as well.

What cryptocurrencies are set to explode? Let’s take a look at a few.

What are Cryptocurrencies?

What are Cryptocurrencies?

Before we jump into the next big crypto, let’s take a moment and explain what we mean by cryptocurrency. A cryptocurrency is a digital asset that can be bought, sold, and traded without the need for third-party institutions like banks.

These digital currencies use cryptographic algorithms to keep transactions secure.

Most cryptocurrencies use blockchain technology, which creates an immutable ledger that tracks all transactions and keeps a record of who owns what.

Cryptocurrencies are often referred to as coins and tokens, however, these terms have different meanings.

For example, coins are most often used as currency – there are many online businesses that accept Bitcoin as a form of payment.

Tokens are typically used as a utility for a project. BNB is a great example of a utility token. It is used for voting on new listings and paying transaction fees.

What is Bitcoin (BTC)?

What is Bitcoin (BTC)?

Bitcoin has reigned so long at the top of the crypto mountain that it is often used as a replacement for the term ‘cryptocurrency.’ While Bitcoin is a cryptocurrency, not all cryptocurrency is Bitcoin.

There are thousands of digital assets out there, Bitcoin just happens to be the most well-known.

An unknown developer who goes by the name Satoshi Nakamoto launched Bitcoin in 2009. It was the first cryptocurrency and continues to be the most valuable.

Bitcoin was the digital asset that paved the way for all the coins that followed. However, there are many who believe the market has outgrown Bitcoin’s usefulness.

For now, Bitcoin is ubiquitous. It is well-known and easily accessible by anyone with an internet connection.

This is why people are searching for the next big cryptocurrency. Which digital asset is set to explode onto the scene and provide investors with significant returns?

Here are five potential candidates that could be the next Bitcoin.

1. Solana (SOL)

Solana (SOL)

Interest in Solana came to a fevered pitch last fall, but the cryptocurrency is still going strong six months later.

In less than a year, the project has gone from relative obscurity to a top-six crypto by total market capitalization.

This Web3 blockchain focuses on the problems of scalability and throughput that plague the crypto world.

Its fast transactions per second (TPS), finality time, and low transaction fees make Solana an intriguing candidate for any investor. More than $36B Solana is staked, which ranks second in the market.

Plus, it doesn’t hurt that the project has $6B in Total Value Locked (TVL), a stat that shows confidence in Solana’s future.

Lastly, Solana is a major player in the NFT world. If you’re aware of the NFT market, then you know that the industry has gone bonkers.

These non-fungible tokens offer high-growth potential and Solana is in the center of it all.

Magic Eden, Solanart, Solsea, and many others give Solana a significant advantage in the NFT market.

Daily New NFTs

2. Polygon (MATIC)

Polygon (MATIC)

Next up is Polygon, a crypto project that plays a large part in scaling Ethereum. This is done through providing interoperability through side chains that connect directly to the Ethereum blockchain.

That’s a mouthful, isn’t it? Let’s break it down a little further.

Think of it as the express lanes on a freeway. Ethereum is the primary infrastructure. It’s the “highway” used to perform transactions.

However, during times of high traffic, transactions clog up the process, slowing things down for everyone.

Polygon comes alongside Ethereum and offers an express lane through the use of a sidechain. This sidechain runs next to the primary blockchain, but offers much faster transaction speeds at lower costs.

By processing transactions for Ethereum blockchain, Polygon makes it lighter and faster, which encourages development and growth.

Additionally, developers have the ability to create decentralized applications (dApps) for the Ethereum blockchain using Polygon.

It gives them the ability to customize and control their apps, something they may not have with other platforms.

Lastly, Polygon resides within the top 20 of all cryptocurrencies by market capitalization.

There is a finite supply of 10 billion MATIC tokens, which means as the demand for Polygon continues to rise, so too will its price.

3. Uniswap (UNI)

Uniswap (UNI)

Third on our list of cryptos that could be the next Bitcoin is Uniswap, a popular decentralized exchange (DEX).

This cryptocurrency is on our list because it’s set to take a significant market share from centralized exchanges like Binance and Kraken.

With Uniswap, users have a decentralized way to control their funds. Instead of relying on the use of an order book that traditional markets use, Uniswap offers a direct peer-to-peer platform that uses an automated market-making system.

As a result, investors and traders have a secure place to trade without the need for a middleman.

Uniswap was developed as a way to make buying and selling cryptocurrencies easier. It also gives investors and traders access to liquidity pools and yield farming, something not readily accessible on centralized platforms.

Currently, Uniswap ranks #28 by market capitalization. Despite its high ranking, the price of Uniswap is significantly lower than other major players in the market, like Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Binance Coin.

If you’re just getting started in the crypto market and don’t have a lot to invest, Uniswap isn’t a bad option.

4. Cardano (ADA)

Cardano (ADA)

Cardano is another cryptocurrency that many predict will take off in 2022. Perhaps the biggest reason investors are showing interest in Cardano is because the project has implemented smart contracts into its platform.

The expectation is that Cardano will begin partnering with large corporations, which will result in a significant increase in value.

Remember that when it comes to crypto, demand and adoption serve to drive up the price of a given currency.

That’s a big reason some expect to see Cardano take off later this year, predicting that the price could get as high as $5 per ADA.

If that’s the case, Cardano might be one of the best investments for the year.

This is a project that’s very similar to Solana. Cardano wants to offer users a fast network that can quickly and easily scale when the time comes.

However, Cardano is no longer the fancy new coin on the block, which means it’s time for the project to put up or shut up. Many believe it has done just that with its support for smart contracts.

Overall, Cardano aims to give users a cheap and effective way to interact with cryptocurrency.

As the project continues to move forward and add more features and functionality, expect its price to follow suit.

5. PancakeSwap (CAKE)

PancakeSwap (CAKE)

Last on our list is PancakeSwap. We know it’s a little unconventional so bear with us.

PancakeSwap is another decentralized exchange that’s risen to popularity recently.

The platform launched in 2020 and offers users a way to buy and sell digital currencies, participate in yield farming, and invest in liquidity pools, all without the need for a third party.

The biggest difference between PancakeSwap and Uniswap is the blockchain on which it’s built. Uniswap primarily supports Ethereum’s ERC20 tokens, while PancakeSwap uses the Binance Smart Chain’s BEP20 tokens.

Since its launch, PancakeSwap has attracted millions of investors and traders while locking in billions in liquidity on its platform.

While CAKE was worth $44 in the middle of 2021, it’s since fallen off to around $7 at the time of writing.

However, that makes it an excellent option for anyone thinking about investing in cryptocurrency.

With a market cap of $2 billion and a Total Value Locked of $4.7 billion, PancakeSwap is a crypto worth taking a closer look.

How to Spot Which Coins are Set to Explode?

We’re not going to lie to you, there’s no sure-fire way for you to pick which coins will be the next Bitcoin.

However, there are some ways you can determine which cryptocurrencies will be legitimate investments with a chance to explode in the coming months and years.

Honestly, these are good factors to consider anytime you’re planning on investing in a market as volatile as cryptocurrencies.

Purpose

Purpose

Consider projects that have a utility in mind. Many coins are launching with no specific purpose, which most often means they’re not long for the crypto world.

For example, if you buy into the hype of a meme coin like DogeCoin or Shiba Inu, you’re taking a risk.

Would you take a ride on a fast boat that didn’t have a specific destination in mind? Sure, it would be fun for a while, but you don’t know where you’re going or when you’ll get there.

Some cryptocurrency projects are like that. Instead, invest in projects that have legitimate use-cases like Solana and Cardano.

Leadership

Leadership

The credibility of a cryptocurrency could hinge heavily on its leadership team. Who founded and launched the project can play a big part in its success or failure.

If you can’t easily find information about the team behind a cryptocurrency, it might be a sign that you should avoid investing in it.

Community

Community

Many crypto projects have rabid communities behind them that drive the project forward.

The community’s size, along with its enthusiasm and commitment, can play a significant role in how well a cryptocurrency performs. However, there are times when the hype from a community can overshadow the actual value of the project itself.

Additionally, a hyped community could lead to potential pumping of a cryptocurrency for the sake of driving up the price, making money on their investment, then quickly selling.

Because of this, it’s critical that you keep an unbiased and level-headed perspective when evaluating a cryptocurrency.

Roadmap

Roadmap

Another important factor to consider when looking at the potential of a crypto project is its roadmap. What is planned for the future? How far into the future does the roadmap go?

It may not make sense for some cryptocurrencies to have a roadmap far into the future, but the ones that plan on sticking around for the long haul have goals they plan to accomplish.

In addition to a roadmap, look for the project’s white paper. A cryptocurrency worth its salt will have a strong and well thought out white paper, which defines the concept behind the project.

Reading a white paper will help you understand where the value of the project lies.

Circulating and Total Supply

Circulating and Total Supply

You’ll also want to keep an eye on a project’s circulating and total supply and how they relate to its maximum supply.

Think about how the current and future supplies of the coin will work and take that into consideration before making a final decision about a project.

Does the project have an infinite or finite supply of coins?

Of course, these metrics aren’t 100% reliable. All coins are considered part of the circulating supply, even if they’re stolen or lost.

However, they’re good to be aware of as it’s important to understand how the project could potentially behave in the future.

Conclusion

The Next BITCOIN

The coins listed above are  just a few of the digital currencies that could potentially take Bitcoin’s place as the world’s leading cryptocurrency.

While it’s impossible to say for certain which coin will come out on top, it’s clear that the cryptocurrency landscape is constantly evolving and that there are many viable contenders for the title of “next Bitcoin.”

At the end of the day, what sets Bitcoin apart from other cryptocurrencies is its large network effect – meaning that a lot of people are already using and investing in this currency.

However, with the right team, technology, and community backing, any of the coins on this list could potentially dethrone Bitcoin as the world’s leading cryptocurrency.

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Author Bio - Christopher Liew is a CFA Charterholder with 11 years of finance experience and the creator of Wealthawesome.com. Read about how he quit his 6-figure salary career to travel the world here.

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