ToplineBitcoin set several new records throughout 2024 and eclipsed the six-digit threshold for the first time, leading the charge amid a broader crypto rally after Donald Trump’s election victory—but its milestone surge to $100,000 wasn’t even the most impressive outperformance of the market by a cryptocurrency in 2024, thanks to several altcoins and meme coins also rising dramatically.
Key Facts
Bitcoin—surging by 47% since Election Day—has added about $1.2 trillion to its market capitalization this year as of Dec. 19, surging by 130% to just over $102,000.
But it was Pepe, a token named for the meme frog linked to far-right groups, that was the top performer among coins with market capitalizations over $5 billion, gaining about 1,570%, according to CoinMarketCap.
SUI, the native token for Sui’s blockchain network, is the next best performer with a 509% gain, while dogecoin, a cryptocurrency touted by Elon Musk in recent years, outgained bitcoin with a 333% surge, during which the meme coin reached highs not seen since the pandemic.
The token used by Ripple, a digital asset firm cofounded by billionaires Chris Larsen and Jed McCaleb, similarly outpaced bitcoin this year as XRP jumped nearly 304%.
Stellar, used by the Stellar blockchain network, and Toncoin, the native cryptocurrency for a blockchain developed by Telegram, increased by 233% and 155%, respectively, trailing the Hedera network’s token, which grew about 248%.
Another Shiba Inu-inspired token, Shiba Inu, and Tronix’s cryptocurrency TRON just beat out bitcoin this year by climbing 150% and 155%, respectively.
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The 10 Best-Performing Cryptocurrencies In 2024 (market Cap Over $5 Billion)
Pepe: up 1,570.7%, market capitalization $9 billion
SUI: up 509%, market cap $13.7 billion
Dogecoin: up 333.1%, market cap $56.9 billion
XRP: up 303.9%, market cap $142.3 billion
Hedera: up 247.7%, market cap $11.5 billion
Stellar: up 233.4%, market cap $12.9 billion
Toncoin: up 155.6%, market cap $14.6 billion
TRON: up 155.1%, market cap $23.7 billion
Shiba Inu: up 150.1%, market cap $15.2 billion
Bitcoin: up 135.9%, market cap $2 trillion
How Much Did The Crypto Market Grow In 2024?
About $1.8 trillion was added to the global crypto market’s aggregate market value in 2024, surging from just below $1.8 trillion to $3.6 trillion as of Dec. 18, according to CoinGecko. Bitcoin holds more than a majority of the market at 56.8% and accounted for roughly two-thirds of the overall market growth.
What Are Meme Coins?
Meme coins are a form of cryptocurrency often tied to a viral internet joke, and their prices are often more volatile than any other token because they react to moments in pop culture. Dogecoin rose in November after Trump an