Forget Bitcoin. That ship has sailed. The chance of making a profit from the leading cryptocurrency following its dramatic upturn in 2017 is long gone.
The good news is there are hundreds of altcoins to watch in 2018 which have the potential to net you a tidy profit.
Over the last few years, the ICO (Initial Coin Investment) market has exploded.
Cryptocurrencies have wafted away the doubters and matured into a $650 billion cash pool. While everyone is talking about Bitcoin and it’s closest rivals, Ethereum, Litecoin and Dash, these are not the best cryptocurrency investments for 2018.
Professional traders and crypto commentators expect 2018 to be another explosive year in the ICO market. An article published in Forbes predicts:
“This will be the year that more unknown cryptocurrencies double in value. How many will quadruple in value is anybody’s guess.”
With over 5,000 altcoins in the current market – all claiming they have the potential to yield tremendous returns, knowing which digital currencies to back this year is a difficult decision.
So we’re going to help make it a little easier with this list of altcoins that are making waves, but are not everyone’s radar – yet!
Our recommendation for altcoins to watch in 2018 is based on in-depth analysis that takes into account the security measures adopted in the blockchain technology, the company’s business model, interest the coins are attracting and of course, the price.
It should be noted that the price we list below is based on the market at the time of writing. For the most up-to-date prices check out the latest updates on all cryptocurrencies before you purchase.
The Best Altcoins For 2018
IOTA (mIOTA)
It’s no secret that the cryptocurrency market is highly volatile, but one of the newcomers holding its own and making an impression is IOTA.
In November 2017, the price for this altcoin was a mere $0.35. In less than two months, this third generation token has pumped out more than a 100% profit into stakeholder accounts.
The early signs look good, but the long-term prospects are even more promising.
IOTA uses Tangle technology that is specifically designed to cater for the Internet of Things – hence its name, “Internet of Things Application (IOTA).”
Samsung Artik has already been singing the praises of the company’s blockless architecture, and now IOTA has teamed up with the corporate venture capital firm, Bosch Group, the cryptocurrency is primed for widespread publicity.
Rather than using nodes to confirm transactions, the IOTA’s Tangle technology uses actual transactions to establish other transactions. This essentially negates the need for transaction fees.
The no transaction fee feature serves the best interests of cryptocurrency investors and is one of the principle reasons IOTA has such a promising future.
The price has increased five-fold in the last few weeks.
Where to buy IOTA: Binance, Bitfinex
NEO (NEO)
Some investors may consider the trading price for NEO is already too high.
But there is still good reason for backing the Chinese crypto: it’s arguably the safest cryptocurrency investment in a highly volatile market, and there is still plenty of room for growth.
Furthermore, NEO could explode at any moment. It’s undoubtedly the altcoin to watch in 2018 even if it is deemed a “boring” investment.
The question you should be asking is whether you want the excitement of a rollercoaster investment or a token that is guaranteed to make a profit?
What makes NEO an attractive proposition, is the company’s blockchain technology.
The algorithm they use is more secure and efficient than Ethereum’s, and the company writes smart contracts that give investors tangible assets that can be used online.
Given Alibaba – the Asian equivalent of Amazon – has publicly announced the company may start accepting payments in cryptocurrency there is a strong possibility NEO will be shown the red carpet. The two companies have worked together in the past (wink).
There’s a lot to like about NEO cryptocurrency.
The blockchain supports the digitalisation of assets and has a network of operators in the link that prevents the ICO being controlled by a single nodes operator.
This fits the mould of the blockchain revolution which will make NEO (and other similar coins) a favourite with investors outside financial institutions.
The company also plans to introduce more ICOs to its network which will give the firm and the token more credibility with the investors.
Given NEO is already in a strong position and has significant plans to expand, we believe this is a digital currency that is worth backing in 2018.
Where to buy NEO: Binance, Coinbase, Bittrex
Verge (XVG)
Verge is a somewhat controversial option to include on our list.
But we suspect this sleeping giant is about to wake up and start throwing its weight around.
Although XVG tokens have been rattling around the digital space since 2014, the cryptocurrency is still trading at a surprisingly low price.
This can only mean two things: investors do not feel the tokens bring anything new to the table, or investors do not trust the technology. Yet a closer look tells you that both reasons for rejecting Verge are null and void.
The main sticking point with Verge is that transactions can be conducted securely and anonymously. While anonymity is welcomed from a privacy point of view, there are concerns that anonymous transactions fly in the face of blockchain philosophies and could ultimately be exploited.
Ordinarily, you would expect protocols with anonymous gateways to be used illegally. However, the saving grace is that Verge’s technology is open source and not owned by any company.
In our eyes, Verge is seeking to install innovative protocols that could, and perhaps should, become standard policy if cryptocurrencies replace fiat currencies.
Furthermore, transactions with Verge speed up the more people use it. Other blockchains slow down.
Verge is already 20 times faster than Bitcoin. In essence, Verge has all the attributes to become a leading ICO.
Where to buy Verge: Binance
Substratum (SUB)
Taking the lead from Verge, Substratum is also developing an open-source ICO for providing free and unrestricted access to a mainstream audience.
The Substratum network adopts a worldwide grid of nodes that boasts industry-leading cryptography capable of delivering secure content from anywhere.
What makes Substratum stand out from the competition is the company rewards affiliate investors that host apps on their websites rather than cryptocurrency exchanges that mine the coins.
Individuals can, therefore, earn a little extra coin by allocating a portion of their CPU capacity to run nodes.
If you’re not technically-minded and have concerns about setting your home PC up as a node, don’t worry.
Developers have created an operating application that is specially designed for home users. If reports are anything to go by, installing and managing the software is very easy.
The substratum business model works on a number of fronts.
Firstly, the system provides a secure and private means of buying and selling of goods online without having to use VPN’s or TOR to navigate government-imposed censorship.
But the main draw is the prospect for investors of all kinds to contribute to the ICO revolution and earn little extra cash by participating in the blockchain community.
Now that really is putting the power of finance into the hands of the general public.
Where to buy Substratum: Binance, HitBTC
Ripple (XRP)
Of all the cryptocurrencies on the market, Ripple is among the digital coins that are most likely to succeed. How do we know this?
The company that created Ripple already has an audience with influential bankers.
Although the blockchain community like to believe ICOs are the solution to fix a woefully flawed financial system.
The reality is that banks, and the government legislation they control, will not allow the general public to waltz in and replace their empire with a soundly regulated digital currency.
Ripple’s exchange potential satisfies the requirements of financial institutions, corporations and individuals – it offers almost free and instant international money transfers (both fiat and crypto).
The system creates a secure digital pathway that empowers the individual while acting as a profit generator for the banks and corporations which primarily act as agents.
This unique system may not be the ideal solution for blockchain visionaries, but it does make Ripple a powerhouse in the digital currency space.
And because transactions can be made in real-time, the coin is best placed to handle the scope of real-world transactions as well.
Casual investors and the masses within the blockchain community may not like the idea of banks infiltrating their new gold standard through the back door.
But the fact of the matter is, Ripple is already backed by dozens of venture capitalists and is most likely to be adopted by mainstream financial institutions.
That said, it is likely that the moneymakers will be ploughing money into XRP and not the blockchain community. But there are always investors that follow the herd and traders will be encouraging their clients to back Ripple.
It seems inevitable that Ripple will be the cryptocurrency that makes the biggest waves in 2018.
Even if the potential for banks to gain control over blockchain irks you, it’s going to happen anyway, so you may as well get it on the action and claim your cut off the banks stash for a change.
Where to buy Ripple: Binance, Bitfinex, BitStamp, Shapeshift, Changelly, Kraken, GateHub
DigiByte (DGB)
Although still trading at a very low threshold, DigiByte is definitely a digital currency to watch in 2018.
As more content is published praising the business model and blockchain technology of DigiByte, the more public interest grows in this token as a prospective digital currency.
DigiByte has been around for several years now but increased its value by 1.2 times in 25 minutes just before Christmas.
Since then the price has jumped five cents in just a few weeks.
Now the coins are getting media attention we expect their stock to continue the upward trend.
What makes DigiByte appealing is that the platform boasts one of the most secure UTXO blockchains and is significantly faster at processing transactions than cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum.
DigiByte creates blocks every 15 seconds, which when combined with high-powered processor makes it one of the fastest cryptocurrencies around.
Transaction speeds give cryptocurrencies an advantage, especially when the long-term goal is to use digital coins to purchase goods from physical stores.
Bitcoin, for example, takes 10 minutes to complete a transaction. DigiByte takes 1.5 minutes.
DigiByte is almost certain to make profits in 2018. It may not be the digital currency that explodes this year, but the tokens certainly have the potential to remain in the game for the long-term.
Where to buy DigiByte: Binance, ShapeShift, LiteBit
Tron (TRX)
It was touch and go whether to add Tron to our list given China’s uncertain stance on cryptocurrency trading and ICOs.
Now it looks as though the powerhouse will lift its ban, the prospect of Tron being a frontrunner in the digital currency market seems highly promising.
Several fundamental factors single Tron out as a major potential for investors.
The coin experienced a flurry last month despite China standing firm on their decision to ban ICOs at the time. Tron not only enjoyed a steady spurt, at one point it spiked.
And there is another reason we think Tron may have a strong run in 2018. The cryptocurrency was launched by Justin Sun, a graduate of Hupan University, an elite entrepreneur leadership program founded by no other than Jack Ma – the founder of Alibaba.
Given the influence Alibaba has on internet shopping, there is a strong likelihood the eCommerce platform will invite customers to purchase goods using cryptocurrencies.
And the owner of Alibaba has the right to choose the cryptocurrencies he feels will be most appropriate. The success of a former student appropriately promotes his University.
Where to buy Tron:Binance
Final Thoughts
Last year, Bitcoin proved the enormous potential of investing in cryptocurrencies. What’s more, the digital coins most likely to succeed this year have better technologies and business models than Bitcoin.
While Bitcoin remains the industry standard, the altcoins to watch in 2018 have the potential to topple the leader from its lofty perch.
And as our list indicates, there is plenty of competition that could make 2018 a fascinating year for the blockchain community.
If you need more advice on altcoin investing, check our Guide To Successfully Invest In Altcoins and ICOs – remember, the most worthy ones, are the ones that take time to look for.
