Cryptocurrencies: understanding major and alternative projects
This page is a discovery reference. The goal: help a beginner understand what a project does, what its token is used for, and what its strengths/weaknesses are, without useless jargon and without false promises.
Important: this content is not investment advice. The crypto market is volatile; some projects are solid, others are highly speculative, and many evolve quickly (tokenomics, team, regulation, competition, hacks, etc.). Use this page to sort and understand, then dig deeper afterward.
If you’re completely new: How to get started in crypto. To buy/sell via platforms: Understanding CEXs. For the basics (wallet, blockchain, security): Cryptocurrency.
What are the differences between cryptocurrencies?
The word “crypto” covers very different families. Some are currencies (pay / store value). Others are blockchains (Layer 1) that serve as infrastructure for applications (finance, games, identity…). Layer 2 are “layers” on top of Ethereum to reduce fees. DeFi groups together financial services (exchange, lending/borrowing) via smart contracts. Stablecoins aim to stay stable (often pegged to the dollar). DePIN projects connect crypto to the real world (networks, energy, storage). AI/compute projects tokenize computing power or access to services. Finally, some tokens are mainly community-driven: their value depends more on attention than on utility.
Important disclaimer
I present projects in a straightforward way: what they are for, how they work overall, and what typical risks are. A good project can keep falling for a long time if the market is bad. A highly speculative project can rise very fast… then crash violently. Never rely on a single source: cross-check, read the docs, look at liquidity, and understand the tokenomics.
📚 Table of contents
3️⃣ The main cryptocurrencies
Bitcoin (BTC)
Bitcoin is the first crypto that truly “held up” over time: a digital currency designed to work without a bank. The idea is simple to understand: instead of trusting an institution to validate transactions, the network follows public rules and economic security (miners + nodes + incentives). Bitcoin is often compared to “digital gold”: programmed scarcity, limited issuance, and a reference-asset status in the ecosystem.
What is BTC used for? To transfer and store value, and to pay network fees. For a beginner, the key idea is this: you don’t need to buy “a full 1 BTC”. You can buy a fraction. Many people use BTC as a “core” asset: when the market is uncertain, Bitcoin often remains the main benchmark.
Strengths: reputation, liquidity, robustness, rules that are hard to change. Weaknesses: volatility, not application-oriented (that’s not its goal), user experience sometimes less “modern” than other networks. Speculation level: moderate (but still volatile).
To go further: Bitcoin page.
Ethereum (ETH)
Ethereum is the big programmable platform: it allows you to create smart contracts (programs that execute rules) and applications (DeFi, exchanges, lending, tokens, NFTs…). If Bitcoin looks like a “currency”, Ethereum looks like an “application infrastructure” that many projects build on. That’s one reason why the Ethereum ecosystem is huge: technical standards, developer tools, and very strong historical adoption.
What is ETH used for? ETH is used to pay “gas” (fees) and it is also a central asset in the network’s economy: staking, DeFi collateral, market liquidity. One important point for a beginner: you can use Ethereum applications without necessarily “liking” investing, because ETH mostly acts as fuel and a base asset.
Strengths: massive ecosystem, adoption, diversity of uses. Weaknesses: fees can be high, Layer 2 is often needed to improve UX, strong competition. Speculation level: moderate to high (depending on cycles).
To go further: Ethereum page.
4️⃣ Layer 1 blockchains (major infrastructures)
Solana (SOL)
Solana mainly targets performance: fast transactions, low fees, and a smoother “app-like” experience. For a beginner, the idea is simple: if a blockchain is slow or expensive, applications become painful. Solana therefore tries to support very active use cases (trading, games, NFTs, micro-transactions) without costing a fortune for each action. That’s why Solana is often found in very dynamic ecosystems.
What is SOL used for? SOL is used to pay fees and to secure the network through staking/validators. Its value depends on ecosystem activity (applications, users, volume), but also on the overall market: even a good network can drop if the whole market sells off.
Strengths: speed, low costs, very active ecosystem. Weaknesses: debates about centralization, complexity, history of outages (even if it’s improving). Speculation level: high.
To go further: Solana page.
Avalanche (AVAX)
Avalanche is a Layer 1 that highlights speed and modularity. For a beginner, think of Avalanche as an “infrastructure” that can host applications, but also allow specialized environments (often called subnets): for example, a network optimized for a game, or for more regulated finance. The benefit: instead of having a single blockchain that must do everything, you can have “zones” better adapted to certain uses.
What is AVAX used for? To pay fees, secure the network (staking), and power the internal economy. The value depends on application activity and adoption… but remains very sensitive to competition, because there are many Layer 1s.
Strengths: fast finality, flexibility, compatibility with the Ethereum ecosystem (EVM). Weaknesses: huge competition, interest cycles that vary. Speculation level: high.
To go further: AVAX page.
Cosmos (ATOM)
Cosmos starts from a concrete problem: there are many blockchains, but they don’t naturally communicate. For a beginner, imagine isolated “networks”: to move from one to another, you have to use bridges, platforms, or sometimes risky solutions. Cosmos assumes there will be lots of blockchains and wants to make their communication easier, as if we were building cleaner “roads” between them.
What is ATOM used for? Mainly for staking (securing the network) and governance (voting on upgrades). The difficulty for a beginner: in Cosmos, many chains have their own token, so you need to understand how ATOM “captures” global value (this point is debated depending on how the ecosystem evolves).
Strengths: clear multi-chain vision, interoperability, modular architecture. Weaknesses: value capture can be hard to read, possible fragmentation. Speculation level: high.
To go further: ATOM page.
Polkadot (DOT)
Polkadot also targets a “multi-chain” world, but with a very structured organization. For a beginner, the idea is: a central chain (relay chain) provides security and coordination, and connected chains (parachains) can be specialized (finance, games, identity…). Rather than having 50 blockchains each doing everything on their own, Polkadot wants a system where specialized blockchains can connect to the same “core”.
What is DOT used for? DOT is used for staking (security), governance, and access to network resources. DOT’s value therefore depends on Polkadot’s ability to attract projects and users, and on real activity in its ecosystem. If the ecosystem stagnates, DOT becomes more “narrative”.
Strengths: coherent architecture, shared security, active governance. Weaknesses: complexity, sometimes slow adoption, strong competition (Cosmos, Ethereum L2s, other L1s). Speculation level: high.
Cardano (ADA)
Cardano is a Layer 1 known for its “methodical” approach. For a beginner, think of a project that prioritizes rigor (step-by-step development) and aims for an application platform (smart contracts) with a long-term logic. Cardano often attracts people who like the idea of a project built “properly”, even if, market-wise, what matters in the end is real usage.
What is ADA used for? ADA is used to pay fees, secure the network via staking, and participate in governance. The interest in ADA mainly depends on: are useful applications actually running on Cardano? Does the ecosystem attract developers, liquidity, users?
Strengths: large community, accessible staking, long-term vision. Weaknesses: huge competition, innovation sometimes perceived as slower, adoption varies. Speculation level: high.
Near (NEAR)
NEAR focuses on one simple thing: user experience. For a beginner, the idea is to make crypto applications less painful: smoother transactions, logic closer to a classic web app, and a simpler environment for developers. NEAR is a Layer 1, so its main role is to be the base on which applications run.
What is NEAR used for? To pay fees, secure the network via staking, and power the internal economy (incentives, liquidity, use cases). Value depends on real application adoption. Like many L1s, NEAR can be technically strong… without the market following if real usage doesn’t take off.
Strengths: UX orientation, developer focus, scalability ambition. Weaknesses: intense competition, need for strong apps, market cycles. Speculation level: high.
Kaspa (KAS)
Kaspa is often followed for its “fast transactions / fast confirmations” narrative. For a beginner, it’s a crypto that aims to be efficient as a payment network, without necessarily being an application platform like Ethereum. The Kaspa audience is often very “tech”, and the project can be heavily driven by the community and speculation around its technical choices.
What is KAS used for? To pay for transactions and support the network’s economy. Value depends mainly on recognition of the network as “useful” and on liquidity. Since Kaspa is followed largely through a “performance narrative”, it can be more sensitive to attention cycles.
Strengths: simple concept (efficiency), active community. Weaknesses: less obvious application usage, dependence on narrative, volatility. Speculation level: very high.
Tron (TRX)
TRON is a Layer 1 often used for transfers and “practical” activity (low fees, lots of volume). For a beginner, TRON is often seen as a network oriented toward usage and efficiency. It has a controversial reputation depending on the audience, but it remains very present in the ecosystem because of its high activity.
What is TRX used for? TRX is used to access network resources (fees/energy depending on the model), participate in governance, and secure through staking. Its value depends on real activity, but also on overall perception (centralization, regulation, reputation).
Strengths: massive usage, low costs, efficiency. Weaknesses: centralization criticism, variable image, dependence on platform/regulatory context. Speculation level: high.
Elrond / MultiversX (EGLD)
MultiversX (formerly Elrond) aims for a fast Layer 1, with a product-oriented and adoption-oriented approach. For a beginner, it’s a blockchain that wants to be usable at scale: fast transactions, applications, and a more “accessible” experience through in-house tools/products. Like many L1s, the main challenge isn’t only the tech, but the ecosystem: applications, users, liquidity.
What is EGLD used for? To pay fees, secure the network via staking, and serve as a central asset in the MultiversX economy (incentives, app usage). Value depends on real adoption, but also on very strong competition among L1s.
Strengths: performance, staking, product orientation. Weaknesses: huge competition, interest cycles, need for “flagship” apps. Speculation level: high.
To go further: EGLD page.
Aptos (APT)
Aptos is a newer Layer 1, often presented as performance- and developer-experience-oriented. For a beginner, Aptos is part of those blockchains that want to offer modern infrastructure for applications (DeFi, games, services). The important point to understand: this type of project succeeds based on its ability to attract useful apps and liquidity, not just theoretical speed.
What is APT used for? To pay fees, secure the network (staking), and participate in governance. APT therefore depends on real usage and the ecosystem’s economic incentives. Because it’s a “newer” project, it can be more sensitive to narrative and market cycles.
Strengths: “modern” image, focus on performance/UX. Weaknesses: L1 competition, adoption to prove over time, volatility. Speculation level: very high.
Sui (SUI)
Sui is a recent Layer 1 that highlights performance and a technical approach designed to make certain interactions more efficient (especially for apps that execute many operations). For a beginner, Sui is part of the “new generation” of blockchains aiming to compete with major networks through better user experience and low costs.
What is SUI used for? To pay fees, secure the network via staking, and support the internal economy. As with Aptos, the key point is adoption: if strong applications settle in and users arrive, the token captures value more naturally. Otherwise, the token can mainly live through speculation.
Strengths: “modern tech” narrative, potential ecosystem. Weaknesses: intense competition, adoption to prove, volatility. Speculation level: very high.
5️⃣ Layer 2 solutions
Optimism (OP)
Optimism is an Ethereum Layer 2 solution. For a beginner, Ethereum can be expensive to use: each action costs fees. A Layer 2 exists to do many actions “off to the side”, then secure them by relying on Ethereum. Result: lower fees and smoother usage, while still being linked to Ethereum’s security.
What is OP used for? OP is mainly a governance and incentive token (ecosystem funding, decisions, programs). That means one important thing: the network can be used without necessarily holding OP, so OP is often more sensitive to narrative and distribution decisions.
Strengths: clear utility (reducing fees), L2 adoption. Weaknesses: L2 competition, complexity (bridges), dependence on Ethereum. Speculation level: high.
Arbitrum (ARB)
Arbitrum is one of the most used Layer 2s. For a beginner, the logic is the same: make Ethereum usable at a lower cost. Many DeFi projects deploy on Arbitrum because it’s cheaper, faster, and the ecosystem is large.
What is ARB used for? Mainly for governance. Here again, we’re dealing with a token that depends heavily on decisions, incentives, and market perception. If Arbitrum stays a major DeFi hub, the token can keep interest; otherwise it becomes more “narrative”.
Strengths: adoption, ecosystem, liquidity. Weaknesses: L2 competition, bridge-related risks, highly speculative token. Speculation level: high.
Polygon (MATIC)
Polygon is known for its role as an “accelerator” of the Ethereum ecosystem. For a beginner, Polygon was for a long time a “cheaper” entry point to use applications, even if today the L2 landscape is more competitive. Polygon offers different tools and approaches, which makes the project flexible… but sometimes harder to summarize in one sentence.
What is MATIC used for? Depending on the components, MATIC is used to pay fees, participate in security, and support the ecosystem’s economy. Its interest depends on adoption, integrations, and the project’s ability to remain central in a world where many L2 solutions emerge.
Strengths: reputation, integrations, track record. Weaknesses: L2 competition, positioning complexity, fast cycles. Speculation level: high.
6️⃣ Decentralized finance (DeFi)
DeFi groups together financial services without a bank: exchange, lending/borrowing, yield… For a beginner: you interact with smart contracts. The benefit: transparency and global access. The risk: bugs, hacks, liquidations, and volatility.
Aave (AAVE)
Aave is a lending/borrowing protocol. For a beginner: instead of a bank, smart contracts manage deposits and loans. Borrowers post collateral, and if the value drops too much, the position can be liquidated. This matters: DeFi can be efficient, but it can be brutal during high volatility.
What is AAVE used for? Mainly for governance and certain security/incentive mechanics depending on versions. The token’s value depends on the protocol’s success and the overall DeFi market.
Strengths: major protocol, solid history, adoption. Weaknesses: smart contract risks, liquidations, dependence on DeFi. Speculation level: high.
Uniswap (UNI)
Uniswap is a decentralized exchange (DEX). For a beginner: you can swap tokens without using a centralized platform, via liquidity pools. People deposit tokens into pools, and swaps happen automatically. This makes access very simple… but exposes you to risks (shady tokens, mistakes, attacks, fees depending on the network).
What is UNI used for? UNI is mainly for governance (votes). Uniswap can be used without owning UNI, so UNI is often more linked to narrative and decisions than to being the protocol’s “fuel”.
Strengths: sector reference, liquidity, adoption. Weaknesses: competition, potential regulation, mostly-governance token. Speculation level: high.
Maker (MKR)
Maker is linked to the DAI stablecoin. For a beginner: the goal is to create a “crypto dollar” based on crypto collateral deposits, with risk-management rules. It’s more complex than a company-issued stablecoin because it depends on parameters (types of collateral, thresholds, rates) and governance.
What is MKR used for? MKR governs the protocol: choosing accepted collateral, adjusting parameters, and steering risk. It’s a “serious” utility, but it requires understanding the mechanics.
Strengths: historic pillar, clear utility, structuring system. Weaknesses: complexity, dependence on decisions and collateral. Speculation level: high.
PancakeSwap (CAKE)
PancakeSwap is a major DEX on BNB Chain. For a beginner: it’s like Uniswap, but in the Binance/BNB Chain ecosystem, often with low fees and many farming/reward mechanics. These mechanics can attract people… but also create constant selling pressure if rewards are sold.
What is CAKE used for? CAKE is used for incentives (rewards), sometimes governance, and various internal utilities. “Reward tokens” are often very sensitive to tokenomics (emissions, burn, real utility).
Strengths: real usage on BNB Chain, large volume. Weaknesses: inflation/emissions, competition, DeFi risk. Speculation level: very high.
Morpho (MORPHO)
Morpho positions itself around optimizing lending markets. For a beginner: the idea is to improve efficiency (better rates, better liquidity usage) via mechanisms that optimize matching supply and demand. It’s a “technical DeFi” project: its value depends on real adoption by users and applications.
What is MORPHO used for? Often for governance and steering the protocol. Value depends on real traction (TVL, usage) and trust (smart contract risks).
Strengths: clear “efficiency” proposition, strong DeFi narrative. Weaknesses: competition, DeFi risk, adoption to prove. Speculation level: very high.
Chainlink (LINK)
Chainlink solves a simple problem: a blockchain doesn’t know “the BTC price” or “the result of an event” by itself. Smart contracts need reliable data (prices, indices, events): Chainlink provides these via oracle networks. For a beginner, it’s an infrastructure building block: many DeFi applications can’t work properly without reliable oracles.
What is LINK used for? To pay for services, economically align/incentivize the network, and potentially contribute to security mechanisms as it evolves. Its interest is often seen as more “utility-driven” than purely narrative.
Strengths: concrete utility, massive integrations. Weaknesses: competition, dependence on Web3/DeFi activity. Speculation level: high.
Quant (QNT)
Quant highlights interoperability between systems (blockchains and traditional systems) with a very “enterprise” narrative. For a beginner: it’s a project that aims to facilitate integration, like middleware between multiple networks. Its value is mainly judged on real partnerships, usage, and clarity of the business model.
What is QNT used for? Often for access/licensing and the network economy (depending on architecture). Typical risk: the value can depend on things that are hard to verify (contracts, deals, real adoption).
Strengths: institutional interoperability narrative. Weaknesses: dependence on partnerships, opaque perception, volatility. Speculation level: very high.
Ondo (ONDO)
Ondo is often mentioned in the RWA narrative (tokenization of real-world assets / bridging traditional finance and blockchain). For a beginner: the idea is to make certain financial products accessible as tokens (with rules and a structure). Potentially interesting… but highly dependent on regulation, compliance, and partners.
What is ONDO used for? Governance/economics of the ecosystem depending on products. The key point: separate “RWA buzz” from real adoption with solid flows.
Strengths: powerful narrative, TradFi/crypto bridge. Weaknesses: dependence on regulation/partners, risk that marketing > usage. Speculation level: very high.
7️⃣ Stablecoins and pegged assets
USDT (Tether)
USDT is the “cash” of the crypto world: it targets 1 USDT ≈ 1 dollar. For a beginner, it’s useful to trade, transfer, or temporarily exit volatility without going back through a bank. Its importance mainly comes from liquidity: it’s one of the most used assets on crypto markets.
What is USDT used for? To stay stable and facilitate swaps/transfers. The main risk isn’t “the market”, but the issuer: reserve transparency, regulation, trust. It’s not a token “meant to go up”, it’s a tool.
Strengths: huge liquidity, practical utility. Weaknesses: issuer/regulatory risk. Speculation level: low (but non-zero structural risk).
USDC
USDC is also a dollar stablecoin, often perceived as more “institutional” in its communication. For a beginner, the use is the same: a tokenized dollar to trade, pay, transfer, or temporarily protect yourself from volatility. The main difference is the issuer’s structure, transparency, compliance, and how USDC is integrated into platforms and applications.
What is USDC used for? To be a digital dollar. The risk is similar to USDT: issuer risk, regulation, possible freezing of addresses depending on rules (important point: some stablecoins can enforce restrictions for compliance).
Strengths: many integrations, “compliance” image. Weaknesses: issuer/regulatory risk, possible censorship depending on policy. Speculation level: low.
PAX Gold (PAXG)
PAXG is a token pegged to physical gold (depending on the model). For a beginner: it’s a way to own “a piece of gold” through a transferable and fractional token. The idea is to use crypto logistics (fast transfer, fractions) for a real-world asset.
What is PAXG used for? To represent gold and position yourself in a diversification logic. The main risk: issuer/custody (who holds the gold? what guarantees?), regulation, and liquidity depending on the platform.
Strengths: diversification, simple concept. Weaknesses: issuer/custody risk, variable liquidity. Speculation level: moderate.
8️⃣ Artificial intelligence and distributed computing
Bittensor (TAO)
Bittensor tries to create a decentralized AI network: participants provide contributions (models, answers, compute) and the system rewards what is judged useful. For a beginner, the logic is: “we tokenize the incentive to produce useful AI”. It’s ambitious, but also complex: the network must generate real value, otherwise the token is mainly carried by AI hype.
What is TAO used for? To organize the reward economy (incentivize, select, pay). Value depends on real adoption and the AI narrative (often very cyclical).
Strengths: differentiating concept, strong AI narrative. Weaknesses: complexity, adoption hard to measure, volatility. Speculation level: very high.
Fetch.ai (FET)
Fetch.ai highlights autonomous agents: programs able to act (book, optimize, negotiate) in economic systems, combining AI and blockchain. For a beginner: the idea is to create an automation layer where “agents” can deliver services. The challenge: go from a seductive concept to concrete, repeated use cases.
What is FET used for? To power the network economy (payments, services, incentives). Like many AI tokens, it can be very sensitive to market attention.
Strengths: AI narrative + potential utility. Weaknesses: adoption hard to prove, AI competition, volatility. Speculation level: very high.
Render (RNDR)
Render aims to connect people who need GPU power (3D rendering, compute) with people who have available GPUs. For a beginner: instead of buying a big server, you can “rent” resources through a network. It’s a simple idea: tokenize access to a resource that really exists (compute).
What is RNDR used for? To pay for services and run the network economy. The project has a more direct link to a real need, but it remains exposed to competition and to AI/3D demand cycles.
Strengths: understandable utility, real-world link. Weaknesses: competition, execution, demand cycles. Speculation level: very high.
Akash (AKT)
Akash is often presented as “decentralized cloud”. For a beginner: instead of renting a server from a cloud giant, you rent resources via a distributed marketplace. If it works well, it can reduce some costs and offer a more open alternative, but the challenge is huge: reliability, support, adoption, user experience.
What is AKT used for? To participate in the economy (payments/incentives) and governance. Value depends on real usage: are people actually renting these resources?
Strengths: concrete use case (compute/cloud). Weaknesses: centralized cloud competition, adoption difficulty, volatility. Speculation level: very high.
Ocean Protocol (OCEAN)
Ocean Protocol targets data tokenization/monetization. For a beginner: the idea is to allow actors to share/sell datasets in a controlled way, while keeping access and confidentiality rules. It connects well to AI (data has value), but it’s a very complicated topic: legal, technical, and economic.
What is OCEAN used for? To run the marketplace economy (access, incentives) and often governance. The risk: many “data marketplaces” exist on paper, few become unavoidable.
Strengths: logical data/AI narrative. Weaknesses: complex adoption, competition, difficult execution. Speculation level: very high.
9️⃣ Projects with real-world utility (DePIN, Web3, storage)
Helium (HNT)
Helium is a DePIN project: it tries to build network infrastructure (IoT/connectivity) through the community. For a beginner: people install “hotspots” and the network rewards expanding coverage. The concept is concrete: it’s not just finance, it’s infrastructure. The real test is simple: are customers actually using this network?
What is HNT used for? To incentivize, pay, and organize the network economy. If real usage follows, the token can capture “natural” value. If usage is low, the token can remain mostly speculative.
Strengths: real-world link. Weaknesses: complex economic model, hard large-scale adoption. Speculation level: high.
Filecoin (FIL)
Filecoin offers decentralized storage. For a beginner: instead of relying on a single cloud, you rent storage space from a network of providers. The originality: the network tries to cryptographically prove that data is actually stored. It’s a real use case, but it needs strong execution to rival traditional cloud services.
What is FIL used for? To pay for storage and run the economy (incentives, collateral depending on mechanisms). Value depends on real usage volume, competitiveness, and trust.
Strengths: concrete use case. Weaknesses: complexity, cloud competition, sensitive tokenomics. Speculation level: high.
Sia (SC)
Sia also targets decentralized storage. For a beginner: same general idea, often more “niche”. With this kind of project, the main point is adoption: are people actually storing data there, sustainably, with an acceptable experience? Niche projects can be interesting, but they often have higher volatility and lower liquidity.
What is SC used for? To pay for usage and support the network’s economy. Typical risk: if adoption doesn’t take off, the token mostly depends on speculative cycles.
Strengths: understandable utility. Weaknesses: adoption, liquidity, competition. Speculation level: very high.
Arweave (AR)
Arweave often positions itself as “permanent” (or very long-term) storage. For a beginner: instead of paying a monthly subscription to store data, the idea is to pay for very long preservation, with an economic structure supposed to sustain storage over time. It’s a different concept from traditional cloud and from some other networks.
What is AR used for? To pay for storage and power the economy (incentives). The risk: the “long-term” promise depends on economic and technical reality. You need to look at real adoption (who stores what, how much) and model durability.
Strengths: differentiated positioning, useful for archiving. Weaknesses: economic model to understand, competition, volatility. Speculation level: high.
Presearch (PRE)
Presearch wants to offer an alternative search engine with tokenized incentives. For a beginner: you search, and the project tries to redistribute part of the value via a token. The concept is easy to understand, but the challenge is gigantic: competing with Google and others is extremely difficult.
What is PRE used for? To power incentives and the project’s economy. Main risk: if adoption isn’t massive, the token can be mostly speculative and economically fragile.
Strengths: understandable web use case. Weaknesses: crushing competition, hard adoption, volatility. Speculation level: very high.
Basic Attention Token (BAT)
BAT is linked to the Brave browser. For a beginner: Brave offers an advertising model where the user can be rewarded, and where ads are meant to be more respectful. Here, there is a real product (a widely used browser), so the project is more concrete than many purely narrative tokens.
What is BAT used for? To pay/reward inside the Brave ecosystem (ads, creators, users). The key question: is the BAT economy used enough, or do most people just “cash out” and leave?
Strengths: real product, understandable usage. Weaknesses: dependence on the ad model, token adoption. Speculation level: high.
Theta (THETA)
Theta targets decentralized video delivery. For a beginner: instead of everything going through centralized servers, the network can use distributed resources (relay/bandwidth) and tokenize the economy. It’s a clear idea… but competition from video giants is huge, so adoption is the real judge.
What is THETA used for? For security/governance and to support the ecosystem economy. If adoption by partners/platforms is weak, the token becomes mostly speculative.
Strengths: easy-to-understand use case. Weaknesses: hard adoption, centralized competition, volatility. Speculation level: very high.
Energy Web (EWT)
Energy Web targets energy-related use cases (traceability, certificates, integrations). For a beginner: it’s a project trying to connect real-world energy actors with digital mechanisms. This kind of project can be relevant if companies or institutions really use it, but it can also be slow (industrial cycles, regulation).
What is EWT used for? To support the network economy and its use cases. Value depends on real adoption, often less “visible” than in DeFi, because many integrations are B2B.
Strengths: real-world link. Weaknesses: slow adoption, limited visibility, volatility. Speculation level: high.
IoTeX (IOTX)
IoTeX positions itself around IoT and “machines/connected devices” use cases with a blockchain layer. For a beginner: it’s a project aiming to link devices and data to a tokenized economy. Like many IoT projects, the challenge is adoption and the creation of concrete use cases, not just the idea.
What is IOTX used for? To pay for usage, support incentives, and participate in the ecosystem economy. If the ecosystem doesn’t generate enough real usage, the token remains highly speculative.
Strengths: real-world/IoT narrative. Weaknesses: hard adoption, competition, volatility. Speculation level: very high.
🔟 Privacy and confidentiality
Monero (XMR)
Monero is built for privacy: transactions are much less traceable than on Bitcoin/Ethereum. For a beginner, this is key: most blockchains are public, so flows can be analyzed. Monero targets a “private money” use case. The main risk isn’t technical: it’s regulatory pressure and restrictions on some platforms.
What is XMR used for? To pay/transfer with privacy. Value depends on usage and access (listings), because some platforms restrict privacy coins.
Strengths: robust privacy. Weaknesses: regulatory risk, sometimes reduced accessibility. Speculation level: high (with notable regulatory risk).
Secret (SCRT)
Secret targets smart contracts that can handle data more privately. For a beginner: instead of having information visible to everyone on-chain, some data can be encrypted, opening use cases (identity, sensitive data, more privacy-friendly apps). The challenge is adoption: developers need to build on it.
What is SCRT used for? Network fees, staking/security, governance depending on the model. Often a more “niche” token, therefore more volatile.
Strengths: app-level privacy angle. Weaknesses: limited adoption, complexity, indirect regulatory risks. Speculation level: very high.
Zcash (ZEC)
Zcash is a privacy-focused crypto, with the idea of offering “shielded” transactions (protected) optionally. For a beginner, it’s another approach than Monero: Zcash has its technical specifics and a long history. Like all privacy coins, it faces regulatory risk and possible restrictions on some platforms.
What is ZEC used for? To pay/transfer with an option for stronger privacy. Its interest depends on adoption and accessibility.
Strengths: recognized privacy, history. Weaknesses: regulatory/listing risk, volatility. Speculation level: high.
1️⃣1️⃣ Gaming and Web3 economy
Axie Infinity (AXS)
Axie Infinity is an iconic play-to-earn project. For a beginner: it showed that a game could create a tokenized economy… but also that this economy can be fragile. If rewards are too high and demand isn’t strong enough, permanent selling pressure can appear. A Web3 game must generate real demand: players, utility, and consumption inside the ecosystem.
What is AXS used for? Governance and the ecosystem economy (depending on versions). Its value depends on the health of the game, activity, and the market.
Strengths: reputation, history, learned experience. Weaknesses: cyclical economy, dependence on the game, volatility. Speculation level: very high.
The Sandbox (SAND)
The Sandbox is a metaverse/gaming project where the idea is to create experiences, land, and an economy. For a beginner: this type of token depends heavily on the “metaverse hype” cycle and on the product’s ability to retain users. Metaverse tokens often have attention spikes, then long periods of disinterest if real usage doesn’t follow.
What is SAND used for? Payments/internal economy, governance depending on the model, and access to features. The key point: how many people actually use the platform daily?
Strengths: recognized brand, clear narrative. Weaknesses: hard adoption, hype dependence, volatility. Speculation level: very high.
Gala (GALA)
Gala aims to build a Web3 gaming ecosystem. For a beginner: the idea is to support games, an economy, and sometimes nodes/participants. Like all gaming tokens, the #1 factor is adoption: games that are actually played, giving a reason to use the token beyond “trading it”.
What is GALA used for? The internal economy (rewards, purchases, utilities depending on games). Typical risk: selling pressure if the token mainly serves as a reward.
Strengths: gaming narrative, potential diversity. Weaknesses: uncertain adoption, tokenomics, volatility. Speculation level: very high.
Wirtual (WIRTUAL)
Wirtual is a lifestyle/move-to-earn project. For a beginner: you do an activity (sport, challenges), you earn rewards, then the project tries to create utility for the token (shop, perks, partnerships). The challenge is always the same: if everyone earns and sells, the token faces constant selling pressure.
What is WIRTUAL used for? Rewards and internal utility. Its strength depends on partnerships, external revenue, and lasting interest.
Strengths: simple concept. Weaknesses: fragile tokenomics, volatility. Speculation level: very high.
WLKN (WLKN)
WLKN also fits the “activity → reward” logic. For a beginner, this type of project can be motivating, but you must understand the economy: a reward has to be funded by something (external revenue, internal purchases, strong utility). Without that, inflation and selling rewards often crush the token.
What is WLKN used for? Rewards + internal utilities. The more the ecosystem creates demand, the more the token can resist.
Strengths: marketing/easy-to-understand use. Weaknesses: uncertain economic durability. Speculation level: very high.
MOVN (MOVN)
MOVN is a smaller move-to-earn project. For a beginner: same general logic, but often with more liquidity and durability risk. On small tokens, an important detail: a drop in volume can make exiting difficult, and price can be highly manipulable.
What is MOVN used for? Rewards + internal economy. The model must create real demand, otherwise the token faces selling pressure.
Strengths: simple concept. Weaknesses: more fragile project, liquidity, volatility. Speculation level: very high.
Sweat (SWEAT)
SWEAT is linked to the Sweatcoin ecosystem (a mainstream app). For a beginner: a large user base = potential, but the economy must stay coherent. Many move-to-earn tokens fail long term because they distribute too much without creating enough usage demand.
What is SWEAT used for? Rewards + utilities in the ecosystem. Strength = ability to create uses that “consume” the token (purchases, services, partners).
Strengths: user base, understandable concept. Weaknesses: difficult tokenomics, selling pressure, volatility. Speculation level: very high.
1️⃣2️⃣ Community-driven and speculative projects
These projects can deliver extreme performance… but also extreme crashes. For a beginner, remember: value often depends more on attention, liquidity, and timing than on stable utility.
Dogecoin (DOGE)
DOGE was born as a meme, but it became a community symbol. For a beginner: DOGE can be used for simple transactions and has massive notoriety, but its value is mostly tied to attention and market cycles. It’s not a cutting-edge “technical” project: it’s a social token.
Token: DOGE is used for transactions/fees. Strengths: notoriety, liquidity, community. Weaknesses: limited utility, heavily narrative-driven. Speculation level: very high.
Shiba Inu (SHIB)
SHIB is a community token that became an “ecosystem” in its communication. For a beginner: the core remains the same: attention and community matter a lot. Utilities can exist, but price remains strongly influenced by buzz and cycles.
Strengths: massive community, liquidity during hype. Weaknesses: buzz dependence, extreme volatility. Speculation level: very high.
PEPE (PEPE)
PEPE is typically an attention token. For a beginner: its value depends mostly on “how many people want to talk about it and buy it”. Consider it ultra risky: it can make huge moves, but without stable utility it can deflate very fast.
Strengths: fast moves during hype. Weaknesses: almost entirely narrative-driven, extreme risk. Speculation level: very high.
BONK (BONK)
BONK is a community token often associated with Solana. For a beginner: it benefits from the energy of an active ecosystem and speculative waves. Utility is generally secondary compared to attention and liquidity.
Strengths: community momentum, ecosystem effect. Weaknesses: highly cyclical, very risky. Speculation level: very high.
TRUMP (TRUMP)
TRUMP is a narrative token tied to attention. For a beginner: these tokens can pump on buzz and crash violently. Here, the main engine is often news, speculation, and liquidity, not durable utility.
Strengths: ability to attract attention. Weaknesses: extreme volatility, massive risk. Speculation level: very high.
Pump (Pump.fun)
Pump (linked to Pump.fun) is a “product = speculation” narrative. For a beginner: if the protocol generates volume and tokens, the economy runs… but it’s extremely dependent on the market cycle. It can work very strongly in a bullrun and dry up in a bear market.
Strengths: activity/volume dynamics. Weaknesses: extreme risk, total dependence on attention. Speculation level: very high.
LUNC (Terra Luna Classic)
LUNC is the legacy of an ecosystem that collapsed. For a beginner: this token is marked by a major historical event, and its price depends heavily on the community, liquidity, and “recovery” narratives. It’s not a meme coin by nature: it’s a project/ecosystem that suffered a crash, then survived through the community.
What is LUNC used for? The “classic” network economy depending on what remains and what is maintained. But the key point remains speculation and the crash history.
Strengths: active community. Weaknesses: heavy baggage, extreme volatility, narrative dominance. Speculation level: very high.
1️⃣3️⃣ Exchange tokens
An exchange token depends heavily on the health of the platform: volume, users, regulation, reputation. Often, the token helps reduce fees, access perks, or power an ecosystem.
BNB (Binance Coin)
BNB is at the core of Binance and BNB Chain. For a beginner: BNB often reduces fees on the platform, and it is also a utility token on a blockchain where applications run. So it’s both a “platform token” and an “ecosystem token”. Its interest depends as much on activity on Binance as on activity on BNB Chain.
Strengths: huge ecosystem, multiple utility, high liquidity. Weaknesses: dependence on a company/platform, regulation, centralization. Speculation level: high.
To go further: Binance page.
KCS (KuCoin Token)
KCS is KuCoin’s token. For a beginner: it is generally tied to benefits (fees, programs) and platform activity. The risk is simple: if the exchange loses volume or is hit by regulation/reputation issues, the token can suffer. Conversely, during euphoric periods, exchange tokens can be highly sought after.
Strengths: internal utility, well-known platform. Weaknesses: exchange dependence, regulatory risk, volatility. Speculation level: high.
To go further: KuCoin page.
BGB (Bitget Token)
BGB is Bitget’s token. For a beginner: its interest is often tied to internal perks (fees, access, programs). Value depends on activity, volume, and Bitget’s ability to remain competitive. Like all exchange tokens, it is sensitive to the market cycle: bullrun = interest, bear market = pressure.
Strengths: possible internal utility. Weaknesses: platform dependence, volatility. Speculation level: high.
OKB
OKB is tied to the OKX ecosystem. For a beginner: same logic: internal perks and dependence on the platform. The key point is to look at the exchange’s health, compliance, volumes, and the concrete benefits offered by the token.
Strengths: exchange utility. Weaknesses: platform/regulatory risk, volatility. Speculation level: high.
CRO (Cronos)
CRO is tied to Crypto.com and its ecosystem. For a beginner: it’s a company/platform token that also has an associated network. Value depends on the company’s choices, programs, adoption, and the market. These tokens can be very sensitive to reputation and commercial decisions.
Strengths: well-known brand, ecosystem. Weaknesses: company dependence, cycles, volatility. Speculation level: high.
1️⃣4️⃣ Hybrid projects / specific narratives
Dynex (DNX)
Dynex is often presented as a compute-oriented project. For a beginner: you should look at it as a token whose value depends strongly on real usage (services, demand) and on the credibility of the model. Compute projects easily attract speculation, so real adoption is the filter.
Strengths: compute narrative. Weaknesses: uncertain adoption, liquidity, volatility. Speculation level: very high.
To go further: Dynex page.
Flux (FLUX)
Flux targets decentralized infrastructure (cloud/apps). For a beginner: the idea is to host applications on a distributed network instead of a single hosting provider. The key point: how many real applications use Flux and pay/consume resources? If usage is low, the token becomes mostly speculative.
Strengths: concrete infrastructure narrative. Weaknesses: hard adoption, competition, volatility. Speculation level: very high.
Raptoreum (RTM)
Raptoreum is a niche project often associated with mining communities. For a beginner: the more niche a project is, the more volatile it can be and the more it depends on its community. That doesn’t mean “useless”, but it means “more fragile” against cycles and liquidity.
Strengths: community. Weaknesses: limited adoption, low liquidity, volatility. Speculation level: very high.
Pi Network (PI)
Pi Network is known for its “mobile mining” narrative and its huge community. For a beginner: the main topic remains the same: real utility, access/exchange conditions, and concrete adoption. A project can have a massive community without having a stable economy: those are two different things.
Strengths: massive community. Weaknesses: controversies, uncertainties, potential volatility. Speculation level: very high.
Sky Ecosystem (SKY)
Sky is an ecosystem token: its value depends on products and services around it. For a beginner: these tokens only hold if the ecosystem creates natural demand (pay, access, get an advantage). Otherwise, it quickly becomes a “token that lives on attention”.
Strengths: potential if real products exist. Weaknesses: total dependence on execution, volatility. Speculation level: very high.
Toncoin (TON)
TON is often associated with a “mainstream adoption” narrative through integrations and use cases oriented around messaging/communities. For a beginner: the idea is that a crypto can become easier to use if it is integrated into apps people already use. Potential therefore depends a lot on real integrations and concrete usage (payments, services, dApps).
What is TON used for? Network fees, internal economy, and security depending on the model. Strengths: potential distribution/usage, UX. Weaknesses: dependence on integrations, competition, volatility. Speculation level: high.
1️⃣5️⃣ How to analyze a crypto project?
To analyze quickly and cleanly: (1) what is the token used for (fees, governance, rewards, collateral…) ? (2) who pays (real users or speculators) ? (3) is there natural selling pressure (rewards/farming) ? (4) is there a product being used, or just a narrative ? (5) is liquidity solid ? (6) what are the risks (regulation, hacks, centralization, competition) ? (7) is the tokenomics coherent (emissions, burn, utility) ?
To discover other approaches on BoostRevenus: Crypto faucets (test without investing) and Move-to-Earn (rewards through activity).