This historical trend, paired with Fidelity’s latest report highlighting Bitcoin’s ($BTC) growing adoption by nation-states, central banks, sovereign wealth funds, and treasuries, collectively signals a seismic shift in 2025’s potential to become a generation-defining year in crypto history.

So with bulls likely to run well into 2025, the big question on everyone’s mind is: What’s the best crypto to buy right now to position yourself for life-changing gains?

To answer this, we conducted an in-depth research process involving time-sensitive market analysis, latest price consideration (under $1) and expert opinion, leading us to uncover five standout contenders with millionaire-making potential.

At the top of the list is GameFi powerhouse Pikamoon ($PIKA), which is poised to disrupt the billion-dollar blockchain gaming sector. Other top picks include massively scalable Cardano ($ADA), AI-driven blockchain innovator Hedera ($HBAR), supply chain pioneer VeChain ($VET), and memecoin OG Dogecoin ($DOGE).

In short, our list of the top cryptocurrencies to invest in today now includes:

• Pikamoon ($PIKA) – GameFi’s Next-in-Line 9-Figure Winner.
• Cardano ($ADA) – Long-term Crypto Gem Eying Mainstream Adoption.
• Hedera ($HBAR) – The Blockchain for Enterprise Adoption and AI Integration.
• Dogecoin ($DOGE) – The OG Memecoin Poised for a New All Time High (ATH).
• Sei ($SEI) – The Blockchain Powering the Next-Gen DEX Trading.

How We Selected the Best Cryptocurrencies to Buy Right Now

Our rigorous selection process focused on six key criteria to identify the altcoins most likely to dominate the 2025 bull run.

1. Current Price and Market Cap

Cryptocurrencies under a dollar offer some of the highest upside potential for investors looking to maximize returns without committing massive capital upfront. Low entry prices also allow for diversification, enabling you to spread investments across multiple promising projects instead of putting all your eggs in one basket.

Take our top pick Pikamoon (PIKA), for example: trading at just around $0.00037 and boasting a market cap under $10 million, it offers a rare opportunity to secure life-changing gains. Projects like Dogecoin also started at similarly low valuations before doing 1000+x, creating millionaires along the way. Pikamoon combines that same explosive meme potential with far superior tokenomics and real-world utility.

Compare this to Cardano or Hedera, which, while still under $1, already command multibillion-dollar market caps. While these are excellent long-term investments, their growth is likely to be steady rather than meteoric. With Pikamoon, however, the upside potential for 10x or even 100x plus returns is just plain obvious.

2. Supply & Demand Dynamics

Strong tokenomics are the backbone of long-term growth in any cryptocurrency. Projects that strategically balance reducing supply with increasing demand create a sustainable environment for price appreciation, regardless of market cycles. In evaluating supply and demand dynamics, we focused on three critical aspects:

• Capped Supply: A fixed token supply eliminates the risk of dilution, ensuring scarcity as demand grows. This is especially critical for projects targeting multi-cycle growth, as a capped supply creates upward pressure on price over time.
• Deflationary Mechanics: Built-in deflationary features stood out as a key factor in our analysis. Mechanisms like token burns reduce circulating supply with every transaction, purchase, or interaction, amplifying scarcity and rewarding long-term holders with consistent value appreciation.
• Integrated Utility: Tokens with multiple utilities naturally generate sustained demand, even during market downturns.

3. Expanding Industry Dominance

The sectors a crypto project targets are just as critical as its underlying fundamentals. While some focus on niche applications, the true heavyweights are those positioned to dominate fast-growing, multi-billion-dollar industries.

Take GameFi as an example. During the 2021 bull run, GameFi peaked at a market cap of $37 billion (as obvious from the chart above), accounting for just 0.6% of Bitcoin’s dominance.

Now, industry experts predict that GameFi could capture as much as 10% of the total crypto market in the upcoming cycle, which would easily propel its market cap beyond $450 billion (if the total crypto market cap is $4.5 trillion). Similarly, memecoin analysts, such as Murad Mahmudov, project that memecoins are on track to evolve into a $1 trillion market, driven by the emerging “memecoin supercycle” narrative that is currently gaining traction.

Therefore, projects that leveraged these high-growth opportunities naturally rose to the top of our list because they offered unparalleled explosive potential for investors.

4. Development Team Credibility

A crypto project’s success often hinges on the expertise, transparency, and track record of its development team. The best teams are not just technically proficient but also display a clear vision and the ability to execute under market pressures.

As such, transparency plays a significant role here, as projects led by doxxed teams (those who publicly share their identities) instill greater investor confidence. In addition, teams with previous experience in scaling successful blockchain ventures or building innovative technologies bring credibility that can attract big institutional and retail investors alike.

5. Community-Driven Momentum

The strength of a project’s community often determines its resilience and growth trajectory. A loyal community not only holds through volatility but actively amplifies the project’s message, creating a ripple effect of adoption and awareness. In that regard, viral marketing efforts, grassroots campaigns, and user-generated content contribute to building an unshakable foundation of support.

Community participation also drives ecosystem growth by incentivizing holders to engage in staking, governance, or other utilities, fostering organic demand. Projects that encourage a strong sense of belonging, or even cultural identity within their community, tend to develop a “diamond-hand” mentality among their holders, reducing sell pressure and sustaining long-term momentum.

6. Recent Performance & Future Catalysts

Finally, we evaluated recent price performance and identified upcoming catalysts to get insights into a project’s immediate and long-term potential. Steady gains in price and trading volume often signal growing interest, while high-profile partnerships, upcoming exchange listings, or product launches serve as significant triggers for upward momentum. Beyond price, it’s important to assess whether a project is actively innovating or releasing updates that align with industry trends. Catalysts like integration into emerging sectors, partnerships with major institutions, or advancements in utility are often the turning points that propel projects into the spotlight.

Through the meticulous research criteria outlined above, we were able to identify the absolute best crypto opportunities that combine strong fundamentals, industry relevance, and explosive growth potential. Let’s take an in-depth look at these standout projects and what makes them hardwired for success.

5 Best Cryptocurrencies to Invest in Today: Priced at Less than a Dollar

1. Pikamoon ($PIKA) – GameFi’s Next-in-Line 9-Figure Winner

Leading our list of the best crypto to buy right now is Pikamoon (PIKA), an industry-leading GameFi-MemeFi hybrid token with millionaire-making potential. As the native token of the upcoming AAA-standard open-world Play-to-Earn game Pikamoon, this GameFi’s next winner is well-positioned to flip the billion-dollar valuations of inferior GameFi giants like Axie Infinity (AXS), The Sandbox (SAND) and Illuvium (ILV).

For perspective, Axie Infinity soared to a jaw-dropping $9.78 billion market cap, with its token hitting an all-time high of $165. Illuvium eclipsed that with a staggering $2,868.95 price tag. Now, 4 years later, Pikamoon is armed with exponentially more capital, stronger tokenomics, and AAA-standard gaming tech that the industry has never seen before. Currently trading at a criminally undervalued price of $0.00037, with a sub-$10 million market cap, Pikamoon is undeniably the best penny cryptocurrency with the most explosive upside potential in the next bull run.

A True Entertainment-First Blockchain Game with Unmatched AAA Graphics

Before explaining why PIKA is set to explode, let’s first briefly explore the AAA-standard gaming product being built by its fully doxxed team at Orbit Cosmos.

Evidently, the GameFi space has long been plagued by lackluster gameplay, with studies showing that 60% of players abandon blockchain games within just 30 days. However, Pikamoon provides a paradigm shift by blending unparalleled AAA-standard quality graphics with immersive blockchain-built gaming, captivating players for the long haul as the game and its in-game economy evolves.

Built on Unity 6, the gold standard for AAA-quality Web2 games, Pikamoon is set to introduce Web3’s first-ever AAA Open World and Battle Royale modes, creating a groundbreaking gameplay experience that leaves players wanting more and more (for both enjoyment and monetary purposes).

Setting the stage for Pikamoon is Dreva, an intricately designed 3D open world brimming with magic, mystery, and endless adventure. With six distinct elemental regions, each featuring its own climate, ecosystem, and unique Pikamoon species, the game offers unparalleled diversity in content and gameplay as players capture, tame, and harness the powers of Pikamoon creatures to help save humanity.

For a deeper dive into Dreva’s regions, characters, gameplay, and lore, check out the Pikamoon Whitepaper or follow the team on X and Medium for regular updates, concept art reveals, gameplay sneak peeks, character previews and more.

Why Pikamoon (PIKA) is our Top Crypto Pick to Invest in Right Now

With the GameFi market projected to skyrocket from $21.91 billion in 2025 to an astonishing $200.72 billion by 2034, growing at a staggering CAGR of 28.50% according to Market Research Future, Pikamoon is uniquely positioned to seize a massive share of this lucrative expanding cash pie. Here’s why:

A Multi-Utility Tokenomics Powerhouse

As a rare gem that flawlessly combines GameFi and MemeFi into a single, PIKA is a potent package of tokenomic innovation, growth, and longevity.

• Game-Changing Utility: As the native token of the Pikaverse, PIKA fuels everything from in-game purchases and staking rewards to marketplace transactions, making it integral to the game’s entire ecosystem.
• Memetic Magic: With its Pokémon-inspired cute yet ferocious creatures at the center of attention, Pikamoon effortlessly taps into viral meme culture, ensuring its content resonates with and spreads across the multi-billion-dollar memecoin ecosystem.
• Deflationary Burn Mechanism: Built to reward long-term holders, PIKA features a deflationary mechanism that permanently burns 0.5% of every transaction. This progressive supply reduction adds scarcity, therefore driving value over time.

The Relentless Cult-Like PIKA Army

Pikamoon’s 11,450+ active token holders and 80,000+ social media followers across X, YouTube, Telegram, Reddit, and Discord are notably GameFi’s most relentless cult in recent history. Here’s what sets the PIKA Army apart:

• Grassroots Origins: Unlike most projects, Pikamoon excluded venture capitalists from its presale, prioritizing everyday investors and fostering genuine, bottom-up support.
• The PIKA Gold Rush: Even in the depths of the bear market, Pikamoon’s potential drew overwhelming attention, with the final stage of its presale selling out in just six days, raising $1.4 million, a milestone now fondly dubbed the “PIKA Gold Rush.”
• Unwavering Engagement: Pikamoon’s community thrives on regular events, from AI-powered Royal Rumbles to poker nights and PIKA raids on rival projects. These activities not only entertain but also reward participants, cementing long-term holder loyalty.

The PIKA Army’s unwavering belief in the project makes it one of the most sell-resistant and bullish communities in the GameFi space.

A Fully Doxxed Team You Can Trust

Transparency in the crypto world is rare, but Pikamoon sets a new standard by having a fully doxxed team of founders and developers. Orbit Cosmos, being Asia’s fastest-growing game development studio and the force behind Pikamoon, proudly showcases its team of over 80 developers in marketing.

For proof of its commitment to openness, check out Pikamoon’s 1-hour behind-the-scenes documentary, where you’ll meet the three co-founders and see the entire team in action.

This level of transparency eliminates rug-pull fears and adds a layer of accountability that’s unmatched in the space. As the altseason approaches, investors will inevitably gravitate toward projects like PIKA that offer unmatched trust and full-on-display transparency.

Pump-Worthy Developments on the Horizon

If Pikamoon’s current trajectory isn’t bullish enough, its upcoming developments are guaranteed to send its prices soaring through the stratosphere:

• A New Roadmap for 2025 and Beyond: Tailored to attract mainstream Web2 gaming audiences, this roadmap is designed to expand the community and set the stage for mass adoption.
• A Revamped, Gamified Website: Get ready for a more immersive and interactive Pikamoon platform that enhances user engagement and showcases the project’s innovative edge.
• Updated Branding: A bold and uniquely modern identity that will ensure Pikamoon stands out as a leader in both the GameFi and MemeFi spaces.

2. Cardano ($ADA) – The Long-term Crypto Gem Eyes Mainstream Adoption

Cardano is among the top three layer-1 blockchains for smart contracts and DeFi applications, standing behind only Ethereum and Solana in terms of market dominance. Leveraging its advanced proof-of-stake (PoS) consensus mechanism, Cardano aims to create a more inclusive and sustainable financial ecosystem while addressing key challenges like scalability and accessibility.

Although Cardano’s price hasn’t broken its 2021 all-time high of $3.10, it gained nearly 70% in 2024, setting the stage for a potential breakout year in 2025. With cutting-edge upgrades such as Ouroboros Leios, Hydra scaling solutions, and the privacy-focused Midnight sidechain on the horizon, ADA looks set to solidify itself as the best penny crypto for long-term investment.

Bullish Catalysts for Cardano in 2025

• Innovative Governance with CIP-1694
  The introduction of CIP-1694 gives Cardano’s massive community direct control over the network’s future. This governance model unlocks the vast Cardano Treasury, one of the largest in crypto, enabling funding for ecosystem development, marketing, and integrations—all decided by its users.
• Scalability and Speed with Ouroboros Leios and Hydra
  Historically criticized for being slower than competitors, Cardano is addressing scalability head-on with Ouroboros Leios and Hydra. These upcoming advancements are set to dramatically boost transaction speeds and efficiency, ensuring Cardano remains competitive as blockchain adoption grows.
• Midnight and Partner Chains
  Expected in 2025, Midnight will be Cardano’s privacy-focused sidechain, offering enhanced security for sensitive transactions. Additional partner chains will bring new use cases to Cardano while incentivizing ADA staking by rewarding stakers with native tokens from these chains.
• Mainstream Adoption Through FC Barcelona Partnership
  Cardano’s recent collaboration with FC Barcelona could turn out to be a game-changer for bridging blockchain with mainstream audiences. By introducing NFTs, ADA tokens, and blockchain education tools to Barcelona’s massive global fanbase, this partnership positions Cardano for significant adoption and growth while enhancing its real-world utility.

3. Hedera ($HBAR) – The Blockchain for Enterprise Adoption and AI Integration

With a nearly 200% increase last year, but a price still around $0.29 Hedera ($HBAR) is another penny crypto to keep an eye on. As innovative enterprise-focused blockchain platforms, Hedera uses industry-unique hashgraph consensus algorithms to offer unparalleled speed, scalability, and energy efficiency compared to traditional blockchains. Unlike other Layer 1s, Hedera is governed by a decentralized council that includes tech giants like Google, IBM, and LG, ensuring long-term stability and trust. For investors seeking a high-potential altcoin with solid fundamentals and growing institutional support, HBAR checks every box.

Bullish Catalysts for Hedera in 2025

• Developer-Friendly Ecosystem: Hedera’s performance-optimized Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) smart contracts and developer-friendly APIs make it easy for developers to build real-time Web3 applications. Its intuitive tooling has attracted a growing ecosystem of web3 and enterprise developers, ensuring continuous innovation on the platform.
• Recent Partnerships with Tech Giants: Hedera’s collaborations with global leaders like Nvidia, Intel, and ServiceNow highlight its enterprise-grade blockchain capabilities.

• Nvidia & Intel: Hedera’s consensus service recently got integrated into the “Verifiable Compute” solution to audit and govern AI workflows, ensuring trust and data integrity in AI-driven systems.
• ServiceNow: As a member of Hedera’s Governing Council, ServiceNow is leveraging Hedera to optimize workflows for 80% of Fortune 500 companies, which opens doors to mass adoption in enterprise applications throughout 2025.
• Chainlink: Hedera has partnered with Chainlink to provide real-time data feeds to Hedera-based smart contracts.

• Regulatory Tailwinds with HBAR ETF Approval: HBAR’s momentum could accelerate further as the regulatory environment improves under the upcoming pro-crypto administration. Canary Capital filed for ETF approvals back in November 2024 which signals growing institutional interest, which could bolster its current price once the ETF approval wave hits.
• Potential Price Upside: Currently ranked as the 17th largest crypto by market cap, HBAR has significant room to grow. If Hedera’s market cap matches Solana’s current valuation, HBAR could reach a price of $2.41, representing a nearly 10x upside from its current level.

4. Dogecoin ($DOGE) – The OG Memecoin Poised for a New All Time High (ATH)

While new memecoins keep bursting into the crypto scene one after another, Dogecoin ($DOGE) remains the undisputed pioneer of the genre. Often referred to as the “grandfather of all memecoins,” DOGE continues to prove its staying power, evolving far beyond its whimsical beginnings to become the 7th largest cryptocurrency by market cap (a spot no other memecoin has come even close to).

As the 2025 bull approaches, Dogecoin is set for a major comeback. Evidently, following Donald Trump’s election win, DOGE rallied nearly 145%, fueled by a renewed wave of investor optimism. Now trading at around $0.35, which is approximately 50% below its 2021 all-time high of $0.7376, Dogecoin presents an attractive entry point for investors seeking explosive gains in 2025. Here’s why we preferred DOGE over Shiba Inu (SHIB) for this list:

Bullish Catalysts for Dogecoin (DOGE) in 2025

• The D.O.G.E. Initiative: One of Dogecoin’s most unexpected catalysts for a pump could be Donald Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency (D.O.G.E.) initiative. Though not directly tied to Dogecoin, the program’s pro-crypto sentiment particularly with Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy as Co-heads could provide a significant boost to DOGE’s price this year.
• Integration with X (Formerly Twitter) Coming Soon? Elon Musk’s vision for X as a payments and communications hub puts Dogecoin in a prime position for mainstream utility. Rumors of Dogecoin’s integration into X’s payment ecosystem have been circulating for months, and the potential impact on its price could be monumental, For instance DOGE could be used on X for:

• Tipping Creators: Users could tip content creators in DOGE, driving widespread adoption.
• Premium Subscriptions: DOGE could power paid features on the platform, expanding its use case.
• Everyday Transactions: Imagine buying goods and services directly through X, with Dogecoin as the default currency.

If integrated successfully, X could skyrocket Dogecoin’s utility to unprecedented levels, transforming it from a largely speculative asset to a practical digital currency with global reach.

Dogecoin’s community, affectionately dubbed “the DOGE Army” , remains its backbone that continues to generate grassroots campaigns for FOMO-driven buying. Combined with Elon Musk’s unwavering support and Trump’s pro-crypto administration providing potential institutional tailwinds, 2025 could be the year DOGE finally hits $1.

5. Sei ($SEI) – The Blockchain Powering the Next-Generation of Decentralized Trading

Sei represents a unique innovation in the blockchain space that addresses the inefficiencies plaguing decentralized exchanges (DEXes). As the first sector-specific Layer 1 blockchain, Sei is tailor-made to optimize DEX trading processes with unmatched speed, scalability, and cost efficiency.

Since the recent launch of its mainnet, Sei has positioned itself as a high-performance solution for decentralized finance (DeFi) and trading platforms with developers, investors, and traders alike flocking to the network. Currently trading around $0.37, Sei offers an enticing entry point for investors, sitting nearly 70% below its March 2024 all-time high of $1.14. With multiple bullish catalysts coming soon, this Layer 1 blockchain is primed for significant growth in the coming months and beyond.

Bullish Catalysts for Sei in 2025

• Lightning-Fast Transaction Finality
  With its unparalleled ability to achieve transaction finality in under 600 milliseconds, Sei ensures a frictionless trading experience. This speed is especially critical for DEXes and high-frequency trading platforms, giving Sei a competitive edge over generalized Layer 1 blockchains.
• Enhanced Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) Scalability
  Sei boosts EVM scalability to an impressive 5 gigagas per second, significantly enhancing performance levels for Ethereum-based applications. This feature makes Sei an attractive option for developers seeking to scale their dApps while minimizing latency and costs.
• Growing Ecosystem
  Since the launch of its mainnet, Sei has been rapidly expanding its ecosystem. Highlights include:
  • Integration with Magic Eden: The introduction of NFTs on Magic Eden has opened up new markets for Sei’s blockchain, drawing more users and increasing network activity.
  • New DApps and Partnerships: An influx of decentralized applications and strategic partnerships is boosting adoption, with gaming and DeFi projects playing a key role in driving user engagement.
  • Community-Driven Growth: Hosting gaming events and supporting innovative projects have helped Sei foster a growing community.

Final Thoughts – What is the Best Crypto to Buy Right Now?

Pikamoon (PIKA) stands head and shoulders above the competition as the best crypto to acquire due to its multi-dimensional appeal as the backbone of an upcoming AAA-standard Web3 game and its viral memetic potential.

Introducing an industry-leading Battle Royale mode, an expansive open-world adventure, scarcity-driven tokenomics, and a visionary team of over 80 developers from Asia’s fastest-growing game studio, Pikamoon is set to dethrone legacy GameFi giants and deliver exponential returns for today’s investors.

At its current price of around $0.00037 and a market cap of under $10 million, PIKA is a hidden gem waiting to explode in the coming weeks. Positioned at the intersection of GameFi and MemeFi, with a clear mission to rival industry titans like Nintendo, Pikamoon offers a once-in-a-lifetime chance for millionaire-making returns.

So, the writing on the wall is clear: PIKA is the ticket to financial freedom and the frontrunner in the next wave of GameFi innovation in 2025. With its game-changing roadmap already in motion, the time to invest is right now.

Pikamoon (PIKA) is currently trading on MEXC, Bitget, and Uniswap. To stay updated with the latest developments, join the PIKA Army on Discord or follow the project on X.

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This article is sponsored content. All information is provided by the sponsor and Brave New Coin (BNC) does not endorse or assume responsibility for the content presented, which is not part of BNC’s editorial. Investing in crypto assets involves significant risk, including the potential loss of principal, and readers are strongly encouraged to conduct their own due diligence before engaging with any company or product mentioned. Brave New Coin disclaims any liability for any damages or losses arising from reliance on the content provided in this article.