Markets

Insider Trading

Hedge Funds

Retirement

Opinion

Top 15 Ethereum Competitors and Alternatives in 2024

In this article, we will discuss the top 15 Ethereum competitors and alternatives in 2024. If you want to skip our analysis about some of the key players in the cryptocurrency market, you can proceed to the section highlighting the Top 5 Ethereum Competitors and Alternatives in 2024.

The Global Cryptocurrency Market and a Comparison of Giants

According to a report by Grand View Research, the global cryptocurrency market was valued at $4.67 billion in 2022 and is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 12.5% from 2023 to 2030, to reach $11.71 billion by the end of the forecasted period. You can also take a look at 15 Best Blockchain and Bitcoin ETFs.

Bitcoin and Ethereum are the two most traded cryptocurrencies in the world. Both Bitcoin and Ethereum utilize blockchain technology, however, they have different purposes and technical architectures. Bitcoin was introduced in 2009 by the mysterious Satoshi Nakamoto as a decentralized digital currency primarily tailored for peer-to-peer digital transactions without the involvement of financial institutions. Bitcoin emphasizes security, and scarcity with its blockchain optimized primarily for monetary transactions. Bitcoin is powered by the energy-intensive Proof-of-Work (PoW) consensus mechanism and operates on the SHA-256 hash algorithm, Bitcoin has the highest market capitalization among all cryptocurrencies, valued at over $1.3 trillion on April 14. However, its smart contract capabilities are limited compared to Ethereum. You can 15 Countries Where Bitcoin is Legal and Illegal.

Ethereum on the other hand was launched in 2015 and is a global, open-source platform for decentralized applications that empowers developers to build decentralized applications (dApps) and execute smart contracts, which are self-executing agreements encoded in code.  Examples of decentralized apps that can be built on Ethereum include tokens, non-fungible tokens, decentralized finance apps, lending protocols, and decentralized exchanges. Tokens are interchangeable digital assets that represent value on a blockchain. Non-fungible tokens (NFTs) are unique, non-interchangeable tokens that represent ownership of digital items such as art, collectibles, or virtual real estate. Decentralized finance (DeFi) apps are blockchain-based financial applications that operate without centralized intermediaries, Lending protocols are DeFi apps that allow users to lend and borrow cryptocurrencies, which often use NFTs as collateral and Decentralized exchanges (DEXs) facilitate the trading of cryptocurrencies in a decentralized manner, without any intermediaries. As of April 14, Ethereum has a market cap of over $386 billion.

Ethereum charges a fee for transactions and smart contracts on its blockchain network known as Gas which is paid entirely in Ethereum coins. Gas is measured by the amount of computational effort required to execute an operation or a smart contract, the more complex the execution operation is, the more Gas is required to fulfill that operation, and can vary from time to time depending on the network’s demand. Gas fees for Ethereum transactions can range from $0.0001 to over $100, depending on the blockchain’s demand.

Key Players in the Cryptocurrency Market

Companies offering user-friendly cryptocurrency exchange platforms and providing services such as trading, lending, and wallets have contributed significantly to the growth of the cryptocurrency market and have also established themselves as key players in the digital finance industry. Some of the largest companies offering platforms and wallets for the cryptocurrency market include Coinbase Global Inc. (NYSE:COIN), Robinhood Markets, Inc. (NASDAQ:HOOD), and Block, Inc. (NYSE:SQ).

Coinbase Global Inc. (NYSE:COIN) operates a cryptocurrency exchange platform and is the largest cryptocurrency exchange in the United States in terms of trading volume. On April 3 Coinbase Global Inc. (NYSE:COIN) announced that it had obtained registration as a Restricted Dealer by the Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA), making it the first and largest international cryptocurrency exchange registered in Canada. The registration marks a significant milestone in Coinbase Global Inc.’s (NYSE:COIN) commitment to the Canadian market, following its Enhanced Pre-Registration Undertaking in March 2023 for regulatory compliance and formally launching its services back in August 2023. Coinbase Global Inc. (NYSE:COIN) plans to establish partnerships with local financial institutions and stakeholders in Canada to encourage the adoption of digital assets and promote economic development. On April 11 Coinbase Global Inc. (NYSE:COIN) announced the launch of margined Bitcoin Cash and Litecoin futures contracts by Coinbase Derivatives, making it the first CFTC-regulated exchange to offer such contracts. Dogecoin futures contracts are also expected to launch later this month. Coinbase Derivatives aims to improve access to digital asset trading by reducing upfront capital requirements and ensuring regulatory compliance.

Robinhood Markets, Inc. (NASDAQ:HOOD) provides a user-friendly platform that can be used to trade stocks and cryptocurrencies. On March 19, Robinhood Markets, Inc. (NASDAQ:HOOD) announced its official launch in the United Kingdom and offered key features and benefits for investors including options trading, 5% AER (Annual Equivalent Rate) on uninvested cash, access to over 6,000 global companies, commission-free trading, and no foreign exchange fees on trades, in comparison to the significant fees charged by other UK brokers. On February 29, Robinhood Markets, Inc. (NASDAQ:HOOD) announced its collaboration with Arbitrum, a Layer 2 scaling solution that will give Robinhood Wallet users access to Arbitrum swaps through decentralized exchanges. Robinhood Wallet users can now benefit from reduced transaction fees and faster transaction speeds on some of the most prominent networks in the cryptocurrency market. Over the next few months, Robinhood and Arbitrum will also collaborate to facilitate access to cross-chain swaps and other initiatives that are aimed at lowering the barriers to using web3 on Robinhood Wallet. Commenting on the event, Johann Kerbrat, General Manager of Robinhood Markets, Inc.’s (NASDAQ:HOOD) Crypto Divison said:

“Ethereum gas fees are an essential part of securing the network, but these same fees can hinder adoption, Layer 2s like Arbitrum, which is currently the leading chain by total-locked value, help solve this problem for our users. Accessing and transacting on L2s has historically been difficult to non-crypto natives, but Robinhood Wallet now helps strip away the complexities to help onboard those new to web3.”

Block, Inc. (NYSE:SQ), formerly known as Square, Inc. is a global technology company with a focus on financial services and owns Square, Cash App, TIDAL, and TBD. On December 07, 2023, Block, Inc. (NYSE:SQ) launched Bitkey a self-custody cryptocurrency wallet in over 95 countries across six continents that consists of three components: a mobile app for seamless transactions on smartphones, a hardware device for securely storing cryptocurrencies offline, and a set of recovery tools in case customers lose their phone, hardware, or both. Unlike traditional self-custody wallets, Bitkey uses three keys to secure cryptocurrencies: one integrated into the mobile application, another in the hardware device, and the third stored on Bitkey’s server. Any two keys can be used to move cryptocurrencies or approve other security-related actions such as initiating recovery or modifying security settings. Bitkey has also partnered with prominent platforms like Coinbase and Cash App, enabling seamless transfers of cryptocurrencies from exchanges to the Bitkey wallet.

Ethereum’s decentralized platform not only facilitates digital transactions but has also transformed the landscape of decentralized applications as they operate on a distributed network of servers and are not prone to censorship and fraudulent activities. As the cryptocurrency market continues to evolve, innovations in blockchain technology will further expand the possibilities within the cryptocurrency industry. With this context, let’s take a look at the list of the top 15 Ethereum competitors and alternatives in 2024. You can also take a look at the best day trading tips for beginners.

nick-chong-0bO235Rhqec-unsplash

Our Methodology

To come up with the top 15 Ethereum competitors and alternatives in 2024, we employed a consensus approach. We consulted more than 10 articles on the internet to find the top Ethereum competitors and alternatives in 2024. Of them, we picked cryptocurrencies that appeared in 50% of our sources and ranked them according to their market cap as of April 14, 2024. Here are the top 15 Ethereum competitors and alternatives in 2024.

Top 15 Ethereum Competitors and Alternatives in 2024

15. Filecoin (FIL)

Market Cap as of April 14: $3.42 billion

Filecoin (FIL) is an open-source, public cryptocurrency and digital payment system made by Protocol Lab. Filecoin (FIL) allows users to rent out their unused storage space and earn tokens in return and creates a decentralized marketplace where one can store information securely and efficiently. Filecoin (FIL) ranks 15th on our list of top 15 Ethereum competitors and alternatives in 2024.

14. Polygon (MATIC)

Market Cap as of April 14: $7.31 billion

Polygon (MATIC), formerly known as Matic Network, is one of the top Ethereum alternatives in 2024 for processing transactions faster and cost-effectively. Polygon (MATIC) provides a solution for the Ethereum blockchain by offering a way to process transactions off the Ethereum blockchain and then commit them back to the main blockchain. Polygon (MATIC) plays a pivotal role in facilitating transactions and decentralized applications as Ethereum’s blockchain can be slow and expensive to use.

13. Chainlink (LINK)

Market Cap as of April 14: $8.58 billion

Chainlink (LINK) is a decentralized oracle network designed to connect different networks and protocols. Chainlink (LINK) enables smart contracts to securely interact with external data sources, APIs, and payment systems to expand their capabilities. Chainlink (LINK) supports data movement between all blockchains worldwide and is one of the top 15 Ethereum competitors and alternatives in 2024.

12. USD Coin (USDC)

Market Cap as of April 14: $9.69 billion

USD Coin (USDC) is a stablecoin pegged to the US dollar on a 1:1 basis. USD Coin (USDC) is issued by regulated financial institutions and is fully backed up by reserved assets. USD Coin (USDC) is commonly used for trading, investing, and transferring value on blockchain networks. USD Coin (USDC) ranks 12 in our list of top 15 Ethereum competitors and alternatives in 2024.

11. Tron (TRX)

Market Cap as of April 14: $9.87 billion

Tron (TRX) is a blockchain and peer-to-peer (P2P) network that enables content creators to sell their content directly to consumers without any intermediaries and transaction fees. Tron (TRX) is developed by the Tron network and is used for various purposes, including transactions, smart contracts, and voting on network governance. As of 2024, Tron (TRX) is one of the top competitors and an alternative to Ethereum.

10. Polkadot (DOT)

Market Cap as of April 14: $9.98 billion

Polkadot (DOT) is a scalable, secure, and decentralized multi-chain network for the next web and is built on the Substrate framework. Polkadot (DOT) allows independent blockchains to share information and assets securely and creates an interconnected and scalable ecosystem. Polkadot (DOT) is one of the top Ethereum competitors and alternatives in 2024, developers can use the Polkadot (DOT) infrastructure to create custom blockchains with larger design spaces for decentralized assets and applications.

9. Avalanche (AVAX)

Market Cap as of April 14: $14.10 billion

Avalanche (AVAX) is a blockchain platform that offers tools for creating decentralized finance (DeFi) applications, financial assets, and enterprise-scale financial solutions and is one of the top competitors and alternatives to Ethereum in 2024. Avalanche (AVAX) is also compatible with Ethereum and its network is designed on multi-chain linear scalability which can process over 4,500 transactions per second.

8. Shiba Inu (SHIB)

Market Cap as of April 14: $14.21 billion

Shiba Inu (SHIB) is a meme-based cryptocurrency inspired by the Dogecoin community and is one of the top competitors and alternatives to Ethereum in 2024. Shiba Inu (SHIB) creates a decentralized ecosystem for artists, creators, and developers to collaborate and build projects. Shiba Inu (SHIB) is the native token of the ShibaSwap decentralized exchange and is used for various purposes including as a peer-to-peer digital payment system.

7. Cardano (ADA)

Market Cap as of April 14: $17.65 billion

Cardano (ADA) is a decentralized Proof-of-Stake (PoS) blockchain that requires less energy to operate compared to the Proof-of-Work (PoW) mechanism. Cardano (ADA) was developed by Ethereum’s co-founder Charles Hoskinson as a platform for Web3 applications. As of 2024, Cardano (ADA) is one of the top competitors to Ethereum.

6. Dogecoin (DOGE)

Market Cap as of April 14: $23.95 billion

Dogecoin (DOGE) started as a joke based on the popular “Doge” meme and since then has gained a significant following and community. Dogecoin (DOGE) is a decentralized cryptocurrency that can be used for peer-to-peer transactions, tipping, and charitable donations and is one of the top 15 Ethereum competitors and alternatives in 2024. Dogecoin (DOGE) is known for its strong community spirit and has been supported by various celebrities and influencers.

Click to continue reading Top 5 Ethereum Competitors and Alternatives in 2024.

Suggested Articles:

Disclosure: None. Top 15 Ethereum Competitors and Alternatives in 2024 is originally published on Insider Monkey.

AI, Tariffs, Nuclear Power: One Undervalued Stock Connects ALL the Dots (Before It Explodes!)

Artificial intelligence is the greatest investment opportunity of our lifetime. The time to invest in groundbreaking AI is now, and this stock is a steal!

AI is eating the world—and the machines behind it are ravenous.

Each ChatGPT query, each model update, each robotic breakthrough consumes massive amounts of energy. In fact, AI is already pushing global power grids to the brink.

Wall Street is pouring hundreds of billions into artificial intelligence—training smarter chatbots, automating industries, and building the digital future. But there’s one urgent question few are asking:

Where will all of that energy come from?

AI is the most electricity-hungry technology ever invented. Each data center powering large language models like ChatGPT consumes as much energy as a small city. And it’s about to get worse.

Even Sam Altman, the founder of OpenAI, issued a stark warning:

“The future of AI depends on an energy breakthrough.”

Elon Musk was even more blunt:

“AI will run out of electricity by next year.”

As the world chases faster, smarter machines, a hidden crisis is emerging behind the scenes. Power grids are strained. Electricity prices are rising. Utilities are scrambling to expand capacity.

And that’s where the real opportunity lies…

One little-known company—almost entirely overlooked by most AI investors—could be the ultimate backdoor play. It’s not a chipmaker. It’s not a cloud platform. But it might be the most important AI stock in the US owns critical energy infrastructure assets positioned to feed the coming AI energy spike.

As demand from AI data centers explodes, this company is gearing up to profit from the most valuable commodity in the digital age: electricity.

The “Toll Booth” Operator of the AI Energy Boom

  • It owns critical nuclear energy infrastructure assets, positioning it at the heart of America’s next-generation power strategy.
  • It’s one of the only global companies capable of executing large-scale, complex EPC (engineering, procurement, and construction) projects across oil, gas, renewable fuels, and industrial infrastructure.
  • It plays a pivotal role in U.S. LNG exportation—a sector about to explode under President Trump’s renewed “America First” energy doctrine.

Trump has made it clear: Europe and U.S. allies must buy American LNG.

And our company sits in the toll booth—collecting fees on every drop exported.

But that’s not all…

As Trump’s proposed tariffs push American manufacturers to bring their operations back home, this company will be first in line to rebuild, retrofit, and reengineer those facilities.

AI. Energy. Tariffs. Onshoring. This One Company Ties It All Together.

While the world is distracted by flashy AI tickers, a few smart investors are quietly scooping up shares of the one company powering it all from behind the scenes.

AI needs energy. Energy needs infrastructure.

And infrastructure needs a builder with experience, scale, and execution.

This company has its finger in every pie—and Wall Street is just starting to notice.

Wall Street is noticing this company also because it is quietly riding all of these tailwinds—without the sky-high valuation.

While most energy and utility firms are buried under mountains of debt and coughing up hefty interest payments just to appease bondholders…

This company is completely debt-free.

In fact, it’s sitting on a war chest of cash—equal to nearly one-third of its entire market cap.

It also owns a huge equity stake in another red-hot AI play, giving investors indirect exposure to multiple AI growth engines without paying a premium.

And here’s what the smart money has started whispering…

The Hedge Fund Secret That’s Starting to Leak Out

This stock is so off-the-radar, so absurdly undervalued, that some of the most secretive hedge fund managers in the world have begun pitching it at closed-door investment summits.

They’re sharing it quietly, away from the cameras, to rooms full of ultra-wealthy clients.

Why? Because excluding cash and investments, this company is trading at less than 7 times earnings.

And that’s for a business tied to:

  • The AI infrastructure supercycle
  • The onshoring boom driven by Trump-era tariffs
  • A surge in U.S. LNG exports
  • And a unique footprint in nuclear energy—the future of clean, reliable power

You simply won’t find another AI and energy stock this cheap… with this much upside.

This isn’t a hype stock. It’s not riding on hope.

It’s delivering real cash flows, owns critical infrastructure, and holds stakes in other major growth stories.

This is your chance to get in before the rockets take off!

Disruption is the New Name of the Game: Let’s face it, complacency breeds stagnation.

AI is the ultimate disruptor, and it’s shaking the foundations of traditional industries.

The companies that embrace AI will thrive, while the dinosaurs clinging to outdated methods will be left in the dust.

As an investor, you want to be on the side of the winners, and AI is the winning ticket.

The Talent Pool is Overflowing: The world’s brightest minds are flocking to AI.

From computer scientists to mathematicians, the next generation of innovators is pouring its energy into this field.

This influx of talent guarantees a constant stream of groundbreaking ideas and rapid advancements.

By investing in AI, you’re essentially backing the future.

The future is powered by artificial intelligence, and the time to invest is NOW.

Don’t be a spectator in this technological revolution.

Dive into the AI gold rush and watch your portfolio soar alongside the brightest minds of our generation.

This isn’t just about making money – it’s about being part of the future.

So, buckle up and get ready for the ride of your investment life!

Act Now and Unlock a Potential 100+% Return within 12 to 24 months.

We’re now offering month-to-month subscriptions with no commitments.

For a ridiculously low price of just $9.99 per month, you can unlock our in-depth investment research and exclusive insights – that’s less than a single fast food meal!

Space is Limited! Only 1000 spots are available for this exclusive offer. Don’t let this chance slip away – subscribe to our Premium Readership Newsletter today and unlock the potential for a life-changing investment.

Here’s what to do next:

1. Head over to our website and subscribe to our Premium Readership Newsletter for just $9.99.

2. Enjoy a month of ad-free browsing, exclusive access to our in-depth report on the Trump tariff and nuclear energy company as well as the revolutionary AI-robotics company, and the upcoming issues of our Premium Readership Newsletter.

3. Sit back, relax, and know that you’re backed by our ironclad 30-day money-back guarantee.

Don’t miss out on this incredible opportunity! Subscribe now and take control of your AI investment future!


No worries about auto-renewals! Our 30-Day Money-Back Guarantee applies whether you’re joining us for the first time or renewing your subscription a month later!

A New Dawn is Coming to U.S. Stocks

I work for one of the largest independent financial publishers in the world – representing over 1 million people in 148 countries.

We’re independently funding today’s broadcast to address something on the mind of every investor in America right now…

Should I put my money in Artificial Intelligence?

Here to answer that for us… and give away his No. 1 free AI recommendation… is 50-year Wall Street titan, Marc Chaikin.

Marc’s been a trader, stockbroker, and analyst. He was the head of the options department at a major brokerage firm and is a sought-after expert for CNBC, Fox Business, Barron’s, and Yahoo! Finance…

But what Marc’s most known for is his award-winning stock-rating system. Which determines whether a stock could shoot sky-high in the next three to six months… or come crashing down.

That’s why Marc’s work appears in every Bloomberg and Reuters terminal on the planet…

And is still used by hundreds of banks, hedge funds, and brokerages to track the billions of dollars flowing in and out of stocks each day.

He’s used this system to survive nine bear markets… create three new indices for the Nasdaq… and even predict the brutal bear market of 2022, 90 days in advance.

Click to continue reading…