The most exciting thing about cryptocurrency investments is how they can skyrocket in value. Last year, market leader Bitcoin (BTC +2.08%) added $1.2 trillion to its market cap and surged past $100,000. Because of the massive potential returns, every investor wants to find the next cryptocurrency to explode.
Of course, the volatility of cryptocurrency can work for you or against you. Prices can fall just as quickly. It's also impossible to know which cryptocurrency will go on a hot streak next.
However, we can pick out some possible candidates capitalizing on current trends, such as artificial intelligence (AI) and digital asset trading. Our list includes a mix of established and newer coins, so you can choose the ones that fit your risk tolerance.
Decentralized Application (dApp)
Five cryptocurrencies to explode in 2025
Here are the cryptocurrencies that could be due for a significant bull run:
1. Solana
Solana (SOL +2.99%) is a blockchain platform with smart contract capabilities. It's one of Ethereum's (ETH +2.85%) biggest competitors and is famous for its blazing-fast speeds and transaction fees that cost a fraction of a cent.
CRYPTO: SOL
Key Data Points
Since Solana can run smart contracts, it has a wide range of use cases, including decentralized finance (DeFi) services and, more recently, the tokenization of real-world assets (RWAs). It's also a popular place to launch meme coins -- for example, Official Trump (TRUMP +12.39%) is a Solana-based token.
Ethereum is a fierce competitor, but Solana's speed advantage makes it an excellent alternative. It processes thousands of transactions per second (tps) and is capable of up to 65,000, thanks to its unique proof-of-history validation method. Based on that and Solana's low fees, it's the next big crypto that could deliver rapid growth.
Company data unavailable
Unable to load company data for instrument ID:
The AI boom has been one of cryptocurrency's most exciting recent technological developments. Superintelligence Alliance is a very high-risk investment, but it could capitalize on that development, especially as the number of companies using AI continues to grow. It plans to leverage:
- SingularityNET's AI development and integration
- Fetch.ai's advanced autonomous AI agents that handle real-world tasks for users
- Ocean Protocol's data sharing and monetization
3. Chainlink
On their own, blockchains are disconnected from the world and don't have access to real-world data. Chainlink (LINK +3.64%) bridges the gap, serving as an oracle platform that provides the infrastructure to let blockchains securely access external data.
CRYPTO: LINK
Key Data Points
Tokenized RWAs are an example of why this matters. Several blockchains now have tokenized versions of stocks and other assets. For tokenized RWAs to work, the blockchain needs data from the outside world on the current values of those assets.
Chainlink scored a big win in August 2025 when it began working with the U.S. Department of Commerce to bring government economic data to public blockchains. It's a clear sign that Chainlink is the oracle platform of choice and will serve a crucial role in the future of the crypto market.
4. TRON
TRON (TRX +1.76%) is another smart contract blockchain. It was founded by businessman Justin Sun, who previously worked at Ripple, the company behind XRP (XRP +3.56%), another successful cryptocurrency.
CRYPTO: TRX
Key Data Points
Smart Contracts
One of the big selling points with TRON right now is its massive stablecoin supply. Stablecoins, which are crypto tokens pegged to the value of another asset, have been growing rapidly in popularity. TRON's stablecoin supply is second only to Ethereum, and in some regions, it has more stablecoin activity than Ethereum.
TRON is also a top blockchain in terms of activity. It has more than 2 million daily active addresses, ranking third in that category, and it has processed over 11 billion transactions total. TRON's activity levels and role in the stablecoin market make it a dark horse candidate to take off.
5. Aave
Aave (AAVE +10.08%) is a DeFi protocol and lending platform that allows users to lend and borrow cryptocurrency. Everything is done with smart contracts, so no intermediary is required. Users can earn interest on the digital assets they lend.
What to look for in a booming crypto
When you're evaluating a booming crypto, start with its real-world utility. Look at the use cases for it and the problems it intends to solve. A good place to find this information is in the cryptocurrency's whitepaper, typically found on its website. Here are a few more important items you can use to evaluate a cryptocurrency:
- Leadership: A strong management team can help separate cryptocurrencies that last from those that are a flash in the pan. See who's behind the project, their qualifications, and their experience.
- Unique attributes: This could be anything that makes a cryptocurrency stand out from the competition, such as Solana's speed or TRON's success with stablecoins.
- Total value locked (TVL): For blockchains with smart contract capabilities, TVL shows you how much value is on a blockchain. It's a good measure of which blockchains people are using.
- Number of users: This is another metric that gives you an idea of a blockchain's popularity.
There's no guarantee a booming crypto will keep its momentum going. But those factors can help you determine whether a cryptocurrency has legitimate value or is just designed to enrich the developers behind it.
FAQ
About the Author
