The Polygon (Matic) network significantly boosts scalability and efficiency using Layer 2 protocols. By offloading tasks to separate blockchains, Polygon can process up to 65,000 transactions per second and rivals systems like Visa in speed. Another example is the altcoin Ethereum (ETH), which increases its processing capacity through sharding. By splitting the database into smaller, more manageable segments, Ethereum can handle more transactions simultaneously.
The influence of open-source projects on altcoins
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Cryptocurrency Prices by Market Cap
The BCH ecosystem also supports decentralized development, including a token protocol for creating new token-backed projects. Some altcoins power entire ecosystems, such as Ethereum (ETH)’s support for DeFi protocols and NFT marketplaces. Others, like stablecoins, offer a hedge against volatility by pegging their value to fiat currencies or other assets. Innovation and community-driven growth – some altcoins succeed by innovating and fostering active communities. Projects often engage developers, investors, and enthusiasts to build ecosystems that drive adoption and utility. For instance, memecoins like Dogecoin (DOGE) thrive due to their strong, community-driven approach and viral appeal, even without significant technical advantages.
- The TRONIX (TRX) token is the native currency of the TRON Protocol, functioning as the basic unit of account and the medium currency for all assets within the TRON ecosystem.
- LEO, which runs on Ethereum and EOS blockchains, launched in 2019 after the U.S. government seized $3.6 billion in funds held by Crypto Capital, Bitfinex’s former payment processor.
- In the 12-month period ending September 2025, Solana’s blockchain ecosystem generated a staggering $2.85 billion in revenue, according to a research report from 21Shares.
- This dynamic interaction between developers and users significantly contributes to Ethereum’s development and success.
Ethereum became the hub of this trend, with many teams using its ERC-20 standard to launch tokens. This sparked a wave of investor interest in new altcoins tied to blockchain-based ideas from social media to supply chains. Capital rotated from Bitcoin to Ethereum and into smaller tokens, driving a speculative frenzy. Projects like Cardano and Tron soared, riding a wave, powered more by hype than fundamentals. The list of cryptocurrencies featured above are ranked by market cap, an accurate and real-time representation of the market valuation of a coin as defined by its latest price multiplied by its circulating supply.
A clear trend in the recent market cycle has been the retail investor preference for highly speculative meme coins over utility tokens from fundamentally sound projects. This highlights just how early and sentiment-driven the crypto market still is, where the allure of quick gains often outweighs long-term value creation. Whether Bitcoin or altcoins are the better investment depends on the investor’s individual goals and risk appetite. Bitcoin is seen as “digital gold” and has an established market presence, while altcoins often offer innovative technologies and use cases that go beyond Bitcoin. Although altcoins have high-growth potential due to their price volatility, they also carry greater risks. Established altcoins such as Ethereum and Cardano show clear potential due to their historical data and ongoing project development.
Zcash (ZEC) is an altcoin and the first cryptocurrency to use zero-knowledge encryption to enable private peer-to-peer payments. It is designed to be a private, fast and low-fee alternative to Bitcoin, with transactions often costing only a fraction of a cent. Zcash also features a fixed supply of 21 million coins and employs self-funded development to ensure continuous feature and UX improvements.
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