10 Best Cryptocurrencies to Buy for Beginner Traders According To Reddit

2. Ethereum

Market Cap: $400.750 Billion

Value as of December 27: $3,328

Ethereum, created by Vitalik Buterin in 2013, took blockchain beyond just digital money by allowing smart contracts and decentralized apps. It officially started in 2015 and gained attention after the 2016 DAO hack, which caused the network to split into Ethereum and Ethereum Classic. Key achievements include forming the Enterprise Ethereum Alliance, introducing NFTs with the ERC-721 standard, and switching to a more energy-efficient proof-of-stake system in 2022. With updates like “Dencun” in 2024, Ethereum keeps growing and supporting new uses for blockchain technology. Spot Ethereum ETFs were approved for trading in July 2024.