Cryptocurrencies have revolutionized the world of finance, offering individuals an opportunity to participate in a decentralized digital economy. With the rise of blockchain technology, these digital assets have gained popularity as an alternative means of transacting value and a form of investment.

However, with thousands of cryptocurrencies available in the market and new ones emerging on a daily basis, it can be extremely overwhelming and intimidating for beginners to navigate and choose the right ones to invest in.

When venturing into the world of cryptocurrencies, it is essential to proceed with caution and conduct thorough research. While the potential for significant returns exists, the market is also highly volatile, and understanding the fundamentals of each cryptocurrency is crucial. 

This article aims to provide beginners with a guide to the top 10 cryptocurrencies that are ideal for starting their investment journey.

1. Bitcoin (BTC)

Bitcoin (BTC), referred to as the premier cryptocurrency, is one of the tokens to consider as a crypto newbie. Since its launch in 2009, this cryptocurrency has garnered widespread adoption, growing into the largest and the most prominent digital asset. Despite its volatility, Bitcoin is seen as a reliable investment option for beginners, thanks to its high liquidity and strong community.

With a market share of over 48% and a market cap of nearly $600 billion, BTC has maintained its status as the top cryptocurrency. As the market leader, Bitcoin has several use cases and is accepted as a means of payment across the world. Moreover, it is available on virtually every exchange and wallets, which makes it easily accessible to beginners.

Overall, Bitcoin’s decentralized nature and fixed supply make it an attractive investment option, especially for crypto beginners.

Also Read: The Shocking Truth About Bitcoin’s Limited Supply

2. Ethereum (ETH)

Ethereum (ETH) is the second-largest cryptocurrency and an excellent investment option for beginners in the crypto space. The Ethereum blockchain has gained significant popularity due to its smart contract functionality. It is a decentralized open-source network that is at the forefront of blockchain innovation. 

The unique advantage of Ethereum stems from pioneering the concept of smart contracts. In addition to its smart contract functionality, another common use of the Ethereum blockchain is to host other fungible tokens through its ERC-20 compatibility standard. 

As for its cryptographic token Ether (ETH), it is the second most-valuable cryptocurrency in the market. In addition to being a payment option, you can stake the cryptocurrency on the network. This allows you to earn even more Ether tokens as reward for being a network validator.

Like Bitcoin, the Ether token is also available on virtually every crypto exchanges. Meanwhile, it can be easily swapped for other tokens.

Also Read: How Ethereum Has Outperformed all Expectations Since The Shapella Upgrade

3. Solana (SOL) 

Solana is a high-performance cryptocurrency blockchain that supports smart contracts and decentralized applications. The Solana token (SOL) is the utility cryptocurrency of the Solana blockchain. Whether you are a seasoned trader or a newcomer, you can rarely go wrong with the Solana token.

SOL is used to pay transaction fees on Solana blockchain, which is one of the most prominent networks for minting non-fungible tokens (NFTs). This makes the token a highly-coveted asset in the NFT industry. As of this writing, the Solana token is one of the top 10 cryptocurrencies in the market, with a market capitalization of nearly $7.9 billion.  

SOL tokens are available on most centralized exchanges, such as Binance, Coinbase, Kraken, etc.

Also Read: Solana Has A Layer 2! How Nitro Opens The Gateways To Cosmos

4. Aptos (APT)

Aptos, dubbed the “Solana Killer”, is another top cryptocurrency that crypto newbies might want to watch out for. APT is the native token of Aptos, a layer-1 (L1) blockchain designed to provide scalability, safety, reliability, and upgradeability.

Although it’s been barely nine months since the token entered the market, APT has grown exponentially, making its way into the top 40 largest cryptocurrencies by market cap.

As of this writing, APT has a trading volume of $87 million, which indicates a significant activity in the market. Moreover, there is positive market sentiment surrounding the cryptocurrency, making it a good investment opportunity. In fact, CoinGecko shows that the Aptos community is bullish about the token.

However, traders are always advised to approach the market with caution. Make sure to do your own research before risking your funds in the crypto market.

Also Read: Aptos Ecosystem and Price Overview (2023)

5. Avalanche (AVAX)

AVAX is the utility cryptocurrency of the Avalanche network, a decentralized platform that aims to provide fast, efficient, and highly scalable solutions for decentralized applications (dApps) and financial systems. It is an excellent choice for beginners looking to invest in the blockchain industry.

The AVAX token serves several purposes within the Avalanche ecosystem. Some of these uses include network participation, transaction fees, and governance. Like Bitcoin, AVAX has a fixed supply, meaning that it is relatively scarce and less prone to inflation.

AVAX boasts a market capitalization of over $4 billion, making it the 17th largest cryptocurrency in the market. You can purchase the Avalanche token on centralized exchanges, like Coinbase, Bitfinex, and Crypto.com.

Also Read: Everything You Need to Know About Avalanche Subnets

6. Fantom (FTM) 

FTM is the native token of the Fantom blockchain, a Layer-1 blockchain and an open-source decentralized platform that offers smart contract solutions. The FTM token powers transactions and governance on the Fantom network. This cryptocurrency is one of the tokens to consider as a crypto beginner.

According to CoinGecko data, FTM ranks as the 51st biggest cryptocurrency, with a market cap of $849.4 million. The token has been on the rise lately, gaining more than 17% of its value in the past year.  Besides investing in the spot market, you can stake your FTM tokens by delegating them to a validator node on various platforms, like Binance, Coinbase, OKX, and so on.

Also Read: How Fantom Scales Beyond Blockchains

8. Tether (USDT)

USDT is one of the stable cryptocurrencies, popularly known as stablecoins, that tracks the value of the United States dollar. The stablecoin is issued by Tether, a block chain company focused on the digitalization of fiat currencies. USDT offers the decentralized nature of cryptocurrencies (I.e. can be sent between users without the use of a third-party middleman), while also offering a stable value.

These unique properties make USDT a safe haven for crypto investors, especially newbies. The infamously high volatility of the crypto markets implies that the price of several crypto assets can rise or fall within a single day, making them unreliable as a store of value. USDT and other stablecoins, on the other hand, are immune to these fluctuations.

With a market cap of $83.3 billion, Tether’s USD is the third-largest cryptocurrency and biggest stablecoin in the market. It is worth noting that USDT is deployed on different chains, including BNB, Ethereum, Tron, and so on. And you can buy the stablecoin on most exchanges, including Binance, Coinbase, Kraken, and so on.

While the inherent properties of Tether or any other stablecoin means that it is not expected to appreciate in value, holding stablecoins such as USDT or USDC can be beneficial in saving time and costs when a great opportunity to allocate arrives.

Also Read: What Are Stablecoins And What You Need To Know About Them

9. Render (RNDR) 

Launched in 2017, Render (RNDR) is a decentralized GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) rendering network powered by blockchain technology. This network allows artists to render their art with their available hardware through a distributed network of GPU-equipped PCs. Render has its own native cryptocurrency known as RNDR.

This cryptocurrency is designed to reward individuals who link their GPUs with the system. Since coming onto the open market, RNDR has received widespread acceptance from both retail traders and institutions. Moreover, the token is connected to a cutting-edge technology in the Render network, suggesting that it might be one for the future.

You can purchase RNDR on popular exchanges, like Kraken, Coinbase, Binance, ByBit, etc. That said, you should always do your due diligence before investing in any token.

Also Read: Top 5 Chinese Crypto Projects With Massive Potential In 2023

10. Arbitrum (ARB) 

Arbitrum (ARB) is a layer-two (L2) scaling solution for Ethereum. It utilizes optimistic rollups to achieve its goal as a scaling solution, allowing faster, more scalable, and cheaper transactions. ARB is the native token of the Arbitrum chain. 

With the growing need for scalability and efficiency, the ARB token offers a promising investment opportunity. The token has a market capitalization of over $1.43 billion, making it the 39th-largest cryptocurrency in the market. This is even more impressive when you consider that ARB is relatively new.

However, it is important to exercise caution when investing in new tokens, such as ARB, as they have less liquidity than older tokens. You can purchase Arbitrum on prominent exchanges, like Coinbase, Binance, OKX, and so on.

Also Read: Which Arbitrum Projects Received the Largest $ARB Airdrops and Why Does it Matter?

11. The Sandbox (SAND) 

The Sandbox is an Ethereum-based virtual world where users can create, trade, and monetize digital assets. SAND is the native token of the Sandbox ecosystem, as it powers all of its transactions and interactions. Considering the recent rise of the Metaverse, this ERC-20 token is a smart investment option for individuals new to the crypto space.

Interestingly, the SAND token ranks amongst the top 100 cryptocurrencies by market cap. According to CoinGecko data, the coin boasts a market cap of nearly $800 million. The SAND token has a number of in-game use cases, including fee, governance, and staking.

If you are intrigued by the Metaverse, the SAND token is a good cryptocurrency choice to invest in. You will find this token on popular exchanges, such as Binance, Crypto.com, Kraken, and so on.

Also Read: Fueling the Future: Scaling Innovation at The Sandbox’s Singapore Lion City Partner Day

Closing Thoughts

There are various factors to consider when looking to invest in cryptocurrencies. At the very least, you should consider the overall stability, widespread adoption, and the potential for long-term value of a crypto asset before purchasing it.

Indeed, the world of cryptocurrency offers a lot of exciting and lucrative opportunities to both seasoned traders or newcomers. However, investing in the right assets is crucial to ensure a positive and successful start as a crypto beginner. 

Moreover, the cryptocurrency market is volatile and unpredictable, which makes it a risky venture. Hence, it is essential to approach the market with caution and ensure to do your due diligence before investing in crypto.

Also Read: Top 7 Cryptocurrency Decentralized Exchanges (DEXs) For Trading 

[Editor’s Note: This article does not represent financial advice. Please do your research before investing.]

Featured Image Credit: ChainDebrief

This article was written by Opeyemi Sule.