Top 10 cryptocurrencies to invest in 2025

The near collapse of Wall Street in the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis shattered the trust the general public put in traditional finance (TradFi) institutions. The centralized structure of TradFi left little space for independent financial settlements.

To address the crisis, the revolutionary concept of decentralized finance (DeFi) emerged and disrupted how money moved. Cryptocurrency is the currency empowering the DeFi ecosystem by enabling peer-to-peer (P2P) transactions without any centralized control.

What is a cryptocurrency?

A cryptocurrency is a digital currency built on a blockchain network that deploys cryptography to secure transactions.

Unlike traditional currencies, a cryptocurrency is not controlled by a centralized intermediary like a central bank or a government.

Related: What is Crypto? Cryptocurrency explained

The top ten cryptocurrencies in terms of market capitalization are:

1. Bitcoin

Built by the pseudonymous creator "Satoshi Nakamoto," Bitcoin is the world's first decentralized and the largest cryptocurrency. Once dismissed as a "scam," Bitcoin is now considered a competitive "store of value" and is being accumulated by the likes of the U.S. and El Salvador governments and MicroStrategy (Nasdaq: MSTR).A statue of depicting Satoshi Nakamoto, a presumed pseudonym used by the inventor of Bitcoin, in El Zonte, El Salvador, on Sunday, June 1, 2025. The IMF and El Salvador reached a staff-level agreement on the first review of the 40-month extended arrangement under the Extended Fund Facility (EFF), which would provide nearly $120 million for the Central American country, the multilateral institution said in a statement.

Digital asset treasuries (DATs) and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) tied to Bitcoin have made it increasingly popular within the traditional circles. It hit an all-time high (ATH) of $124,457.12 on Aug. 14.

Launch: 2009

Market Cap: $2.2 trillion

Price: $112,045.90

2. Ethereum

Founded by Vitalik Buterin, Ethereum is the world's second-largest cryptocurrency. The blockchain it empowers has become the favorite of developers building decentralized applications (dApps), in particular decentralized finance (DeFi) apps.

ETFs tied to ETH have performed well, and DATs like Bitmine Immersion Technologies (NYSE: BMNR) have also embraced ETH. The cryptocurrency hit a new ATH of $4,953.73 on Aug. 25.

Launch: 2015

Market Cap: $518 billion

Price: $4,320.54

3. XRP

XRP is a cryptocurrency created by the team behind Ripple Labs. It had been at the center of a years-long contentious legal battle over its regulatory status.

Latest, it is certainly not considered a security any longer when traded among retail traders over exchanges. Ripple can also raise funds via the institutional sale of XRP, thanks to an exemption.

While spot ETFs tied to XRP are no longer approved, futures ETFs are available for trading.

Launch: 2012

Market Cap: $173 billion

Price: $2.92

4. USDT

USDT is a stablecoin that the crypto firm Tether began issuing in 2014. Unlike usually volatile cryptocurrencies like BTC, a stablecoin keeps its value stable by being pegged to the U.S. dollar.

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USDT is the world's fourth-largest cryptocurrency and the largest stablecoin. The signing of the GENIUS Act into law in the U.S., which deals with USD-pegged stablecoins, increased USDT adoption even further.

Tether is among the world's largest holders of U.S. Treasuries, surpassing those of South Korea and Germany.

Launch: 2014

Market Cap: $168 billion

Price: $0.9999

5. BNB

BNB is the native token of the BNB Chain, the blockchain ecosystem introduced by the Binance crypto exchange. As a native token, BNB helps you make transactions to participate in the BNB Chain economy.

Launch: 2017

Market Cap: $121 billion

Price: $875.74

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6. SOL

SOL is the native token of the Solana blockchain network. Its high speed and low fees make it one of the most popular networks among dApp developers. The crypto launchpad pump.fun has become immensely popular.

This is why Solana advocates often refer to it as the "Ethereum killer."

Notably, Donald Trump launched the eponymous meme coin ahead of the presidential inauguration using the Solana blockchain.

Launch: 2020

Market Cap: $113 billion

Price: $210.81

7. USDC

USDC is the USD-pegged stablecoin launched by the crypto firm Circle (NYSE: CRCL). After USDT, it is the world's second largest cryptocurrency.

The passage of the GENIUS Act and the spectacular public debut of Circle have led to increased adoption of USDC.

Launch: 2018

Market Cap: $72 billion

Price: $0.9999

8. Dogecoin

Dogecoin is a meme coin — a category of cryptocurrency that began as a mockery of mainstream cryptocurrencies and is inspired by memes and trends.

The first meme coin, Dogecoin began as a prank on Bitcoin and gained immense popularity within the crypto community. The crypto asset, inspired by a popular Shiba Inu dog meme, has found support from the likes of Elon Musk.

Launch: 2013

Market Cap: $35 billion

Price: $0.2334A sticker advertising Dogecoin on a cryptocurrency ATM in Hong Kong, China, on Monday, Feb. 3, 2025. Donald Trump's moves to impose tariffs on major US trading partners sparked a selloff in cryptocurrency markets, with an index of smaller tokens on track for the steepest two-day rout in almost three years.

9. TRX

TRX is the native token of the TRON blockchain network. Billionaire Justin Sun's project, TRON, aims to revolutionize digital content through decentralized distribution.

Launch: 2017

Market Cap: $31 billion

Price: $0.3324

10. ADA

ADA is the native token of the Cardano blockchain. While the former is named after the 19th-century mathematician Ada Lovelace, the latter after the 16th-century Italian polymath Gerolamo Cardano.

Founded by Ethereum co-founder Charles Hoskinson, Cardano is also a popular blockchain among dApp and non-fungible token (NFT) developers.

Launch: 2017

Market Cap: $31 billion

Price: $0.8479

Disclaimer: The information provided here is for general informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. You should consult with a licensed financial advisor before making any investment or financial decisions.

This story was originally reported by TheStreet on Sep 8, 2025, where it first appeared in the MARKETS section. Add TheStreet as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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