13 Best New Crypto Projects to Invest in August 2024

New cryptocurrency projects provide a unique opportunity for investors. Due to the nascent nature of the sector and high volatility, some new crypto projects explode in value seemingly overnight, generating returns that are mostly unheard of when investing in more established crypto assets or traditional financial instruments.

However, with thousands of new crypto projects launched every few weeks, it can be difficult to separate those that are truly promising and those that are just looking to take advantage of the fast-moving crypto space and have no concrete roadmap goals.

In this article, we will examine what are, in our opinion, the best new crypto projects that deserve your attention.

10 best new crypto projects: Top investment opportunities for May 2024

In the sections that follow, we are going to examine some of the best new crypto projects in the market right now. Please note that the following selection is based on this author’s opinion and should be taken as such.

1. Lista – DeFi protocol pioneering the “destablecoin” concept

Lista is a project that has created a liquidity protocol that allows users to earn yield on cryptocurrencies and borrow a decentralized stablecoin called lisUSD. In addition to lisUSD, the Lista protocol also features LISTA, which is a utility and governance token for the Lista DAO. Currently, the LISTA token is being featured on the Binance cryptocurrency exchange via a Megadrop program.

Why Lista?

The Lista project is aiming to pioneer the concept of “destablecoins” which are fully decentralized stablecoins that utilize liquid-staked crypto assets as collateral (for example, they don’t use centralized tokens such as USDT or USDC). In contrast to typical crypto assets, destablecoins are less volatile, but still don’t track any fiat currency on a pure 1:1 basis. Here is how the Lista team describes destablecoins: 

“All currencies are different and have varying reference rates, so price fluctuations should be considered a norm defined by the market instead of aiming for a sense of absolute price stability at all cost. Similarly with destablecoins, it does not aim to achieve absolute price parity with US $1 as a primary objective nor rely on fiat assets as the backed collateral.”

Lista is initially launching on the BNB Chain blockchain platform, although the team has plans to expand the protocol to other blockchains in the future.

The foundation of the Lista protocol is the proven concept utilized by MakerDAO, which is one of the most successful lending protocols in the Ethereum ecosystem. However, Lista expands on MakerDAO by implementing liquid staking and sourcing additional liquidity from decentralized exchanges.

2. Celestia – A hub for new projects and TIA airdrops

Celestia (TIA) is a modular data availability network designed to make it easy to launch a blockchain. It’s a unique approach in the cryptocurrency landscape, focusing on providing a scalable and secure foundation for blockchain development. Celestia offers features like Data Availability Sampling (DAS) to enable high throughput while maintaining verifiability for users. This network allows for deploying customizable blockchains, similar to launching smart contracts, and is compatible with Ethereum rollup frameworks.

Why Celestia?

Celestia is one of the most exciting new blockchains on the market, and plenty of projects are choosing to build on their platform. This means that Celestia users and stakers can look forward to plenty of TIA crypto airdrops as Celestia-based projects look to kickstart their communities and distribute tokens. To learn more about these opportunities, we suggest you watch the following video.

3. Jupiter – Newly launched token for Solana’s most popular DEX aggregator

Jupiter (JUP) is a cryptocurrency platform that offers various services primarily focused on the Solana blockchain. Key features include the ability to swap assets for the best available price, set limit orders to trade at desired prices and automate investments through Dollar Cost Averaging (DCA). Additionally, it provides a bridge service to transfer assets into the Solana ecosystem. The interface is user-friendly and designed for seamless integration with cryptocurrency wallets. Jupiter aims to streamline and enhance the trading experience for Solana-based assets.

Why Jupiter?

The rise of new coins and tokens on Solana (think WEN, WIF, BONK, etc.) has led to a massive increase in the volume of traded assets on the blockchain. Jupiter is the primary platform for traders to buy and sell Solana-based tokens, aggregating prices from a variety of decentralized trading protocols that are deployed on Solana. In addition, Jupiter recently launched a token launchpad platform, allowing users to invest in new and promising projects with their JUP tokens.

4. Pikamoon – New GameFi metaverse project

Pikamoon (PIKA) is a play-to-earn gaming project inspired by Pokemon and its cute and fun creatures, as well as MOBA titles like League of Legends. Players can pit their Pikamoon NFT-based creatures against other players and computer-controlled enemies. Completing missions and game progression allows players to earn PIKA rewards, which can be used to upgrade Pikamoons.

Why Pikamoon?

If the popularity of games like League of Legends and DOTA is any indication, Pikamoon could see its player base grow massively in the future. The project also has a unique proposition to retain new players, as it allows users to earn real money rewards in the form of PIKA tokens, which can be exchanged for real money or other cryptos on supported exchanges.

5. IO.NET – Decentralized platform for GPU power

IO.NET is a decentralized platform that supplies computing power for AI (artificial intelligence) applications. The platform leverages GPU power contributed by users worldwide, who are compensated for connecting their GPUs to the network. Payments are processed on the Solana blockchain, ensuring near-instant and low-cost transactions.

Why IO.NET?

IO.NET addresses the limited availability and high costs currently affecting companies that use artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies. The network reduces costs and improves availability by leveraging underutilized GPU power sources, such as independent data centers, cryptocurrency mining operations, and networks like Render. The IO.NET system operates through a DePIN (decentralized physical infrastructure network).

The platform utilizes the Solana-based IO token for payments and transaction fees within its ecosystem. The IO token can also be staked, either directly or through delegation, to improve the network’s security and earn rewards. The IO token also plays a governance role, providing holders access to the IO Grants DAO for governance decisions.

6. Renzo Protocol – Easy-to-use interface for ETH restaking

Renzo Protocol (REZ) is a liquid restaking protocol that aims to provide an easy-to-use interface to the EigenLayer ecosystem. Renzo can be used by ETH holders to earn higher yields compared to simply staking ETH. Users can deposit ETH or liquid staking tokens (for example Lido’s stETH) to receive an equivalent amount of ezETH tokens.

Why Renzo Protocol?

Ethereum restaking has been one of the most significant trends in the crypto industry over the past couple of months. However, the existing solutions enabled by EigenLayer are not exactly beginner-friendly. Renzo integrates with a wide variety of products and services that support EigenLayer and allows users who are not as experienced to easily earn restaking rewards and connect to a range of DeFi platforms. Given the fact that the total value locked into various EigenLayer-compatible services grew from $400 million to $15 billion in the span of just 6 months, Renzo Protocol seems well-positioned to benefit from the growing trend.

7. AltLayer – A unique approach to Web3 scalability

AltLayer (ALT) is a decentralized protocol focused on enhancing scalability and efficiency in the Web3 ecosystem. It specializes in the launch of native and restaked rollups, including both optimistic and zk rollup stacks. AltLayer offers Rollups-as-a-Service (RaaS), aiming to streamline the process of building, operating, and scaling applications on the blockchain. 

Why AltLayer?

The AltLayer platform emphasizes ease of use and aims to support various applications like gaming, DeFi, and NFTs. AltLayer was one of the projects featured on the Binance Launchpool campaign, which gave it a significant boost and exposure among the broader crypto community. This advantage could turn into a positive long-term price trend for the token, which is already up more than 60% in the past couple of months following its exchange listing.

8. LayerZero – An advanced blockchain interoperability protocol

LayerZero is a smart contract protocol that allows messages to be sent between different blockchain networks. A LayerZero Endpoint contract can be deployed on a blockchain to allow it to send and receive messages to other blockchains supported by the LayerZero protocol.

The LayerZero project has the vision of enabling an “omnichain” ecosystem where the LayerZero protocol functions as a fundamental layer that allows different blockchains to interoperate.

LayerZero is one of the most advanced blockchain interoperability protocols today, and has already handled more than 135 million messages between blockchains. The protocol supports a diverse range of blockchains including Ethereum, BNB Chain, Polygon, Solana, Optimism and many others. 

Why LayerZero?

LayerZero’s ZRO token launched in June 2024, and quickly secured listings on the industry’s leading cryptocurrency exchanges, including Binance. 

The token is used to facilitate the governance of the LayerZero ecosystem and keep it decentralized by allowing token holders to influence key decisions related to the protocol. 38.3% of the ZRO token supply has been allocated to LayerZero community members.

Despite being a relatively new crypto asset, ZRO already commands a very respectable market capitalization of $1.05 billion and is ranked #66 in the cryptocurrency market cap rankings at the time of this writing.

9. Sei – Highly scalable new crypto project

Sei (SEI) is a high-speed, high-performance blockchain designed for applications requiring rapid transaction processing and finality. It stands out with its innovative parallelized architecture, which enhances scalability and developer flexibility. Sei achieves impressive speeds, with 390 ms block finality and a capacity for 12,500 transactions per second (TPS). It builds on established technologies like Tendermint consensus and WASM for robust security. Sei is also environmentally conscious and committed to carbon neutrality.

Why Sei?

Scalability remains the biggest challenge for many of the major cryptocurrencies, like Bitcoin and Ethereum. For context, the Bitcoin blockchain can process just 7 TPS, while Ethereum is not much better at 15 TPS. Sei leverages parallel architecture to achieve much higher throughput, allowing applications that require a lot of computing power to run on the blockchain. This makes it possible to run games, decentralized trading protocols, and other services that require high transaction speeds.

10. Ether.fi – Restaking rewards for ETH stakers

Ether.fi (ETHFI) offers a platform for Ethereum staking with enhanced features. It allows users to stake ETH and receive eETH, a liquid staking token that can be used in DeFi applications. The platform emphasizes native restaking for additional rewards and promotes decentralized Ethereum validation. Ether.fi runs Operation Solo Staker to support decentralization and ensures users control their keys, reducing counterparty risks. The ecosystem includes various DeFi partnerships and a governance token, ETHFI, which gives holders a say in the platform’s future.

Why Ether.fi?

Staking Ethereum is one of the most popular passive income strategies in crypto. Ether.fi offers a novel way to stake Ethereum, which features restaking and, subsequently, higher rewards. It also features gamified features, which allow stakers to earn loyalty points for the duration of their stake. These points can be converted into additional rewards.

11. Mantle – Layer 2 for Ethereum with a powerful dApp development suite

Mantle (MNT) is an Ethereum layer-2 network aiming for mass adoption of decentralized and token-governed technologies. It features a high-performance modular architecture, providing low fees and faster finality by combining roll-up technology with a decentralized data availability layer. Mantle also includes the Mantle Liquidity Staking Protocol (LSP) for staking ETH and earning yield. Governance of the Mantle ecosystem is token-holder driven, with decisions made through proposals and voting. 

Why Mantle?

Mantle allows developers to build decentralized applications on Ethereum through a user-friendly UI that makes the development of new decentralized products and services more accessible. In addition, Mantle’s layer 2 nature means that transactions are fast, secure, and cheap.

12. Dogwifhat – New meme coin sensation

Dogwifhat (WIF) is a Solana-based meme coin that takes inspiration from Dogecoin, Shiba Inu, and other cryptocurrencies that leverage the popularity of online memes. The project doesn’t take itself very seriously and offers no extra utility beyond regular value transfers over the blockchain.

Why Dogwifhat?

If you’re into making risky moves, WIF could be an interesting coin to take a look at. It has exploded by over 50,000% since it first started trading in November 2023, and its growth strongly resembles that of other successful meme coins, like DOGE and SHIB. WIF could potentially have a lot of room to grow still, as the project commands a market cap of $3.1 billion (compared to $28.8B for DOGE and $13.8B for SBIB).

13. Sui – Bridging the gap between Web2 and Web3

Sui (SUI) aims to bring the benefits of Web3 with the ease of Web2. It offers scalable infrastructure characterized by high speed, low fees, and predictable costs, claiming to achieve over 297,000 transactions per second with an average finality time of around 400ms. Sui emphasizes delivering a familiar user experience and is designed to accommodate future scalability needs. Its ecosystem supports various use cases, including gaming, finance, and commerce. 

Why Sui?

Sui uses developer tools that are well-known to most blockchain developers. These tools include the Move programming language, which is intended to simplify secure smart contract development. In addition, the Sui project focuses on blockchain gaming solutions, empowering players to own assets and creators to manage royalties.

How we selected featured projects

The projects that we featured in this article must fulfill a specific set of criteria, which can be broken down into three main parts:

• Projects that have found their footing in the crypto market despite their young age: We look for projects that have a significant market cap (at least $200M), which ensures that they are not (as) susceptible to any potential market manipulation.
• Projects that have a clear business plan and look to solve real-world problems: One of the prerequisites for our list is projects’ clear orientation to solving problems that people actually need to solve. Without that, long-term prospects become very bleak.
• Projects that have been launched in the past 12 months: Since we are focusing on new crypto projects, it would make no sense to include years-old projects. Still, we decided on the 12-month cutoff point somewhat arbitrarily, and a case could be made that we could have focused on a bit older/younger projects.

While we do mostly abide by the criteria listed above, it’s worth pointing out that we could veer off these guidelines if we believe a project merits inclusion in the article, even if it doesn’t tick all the boxes. 

The bottom line

The crypto landscape in May 2024 presents a diverse array of promising projects, each offering unique opportunities for investment. From Jupiter’s innovative approach to asset swapping on the Solana blockchain and Celestia’s exciting new blockchain platform to the meme coin craze of Dogwifhat and Mantle’s Layer 2 solution for Ethereum, these projects showcase the dynamic and rapidly evolving world of cryptocurrency. 

As always, investors should conduct thorough research and consider the inherent risks in the volatile crypto market. This diverse selection underscores the potential for both growth and innovation in the crypto sector.

If you want to read more about new crypto projects and ways to invest in them, you could check out our list of the best crypto presales for May 2024. In the same vein, you could consider our guide on the best ICO projects for May 2024.

For a more generally focused examination of potentially lucrative crypto investment opportunities, read our weekly updated list of the best cryptos to buy.