Solana (SOL) is trading at $147.51 at the time of writing, down by 2.26% on the day. Its 24-hour trading volume has skyrocketed by 83.19% to $5.38 billion, indicating increased market volatility and activity. With a market cap of $83.97 billion, Solana is undeniably one of the biggest players in crypto. Recent statistics show an explosion in Solana wallets that have a minimum of 0.1 SOL, setting a new all-time high. Three-quarters of that growth can be attributed to the increased popularity of brand-new NFT projects. The Solana ecosystem has an influx of developers coming onboard. This quick pace has been especially evident since the end of June.

Solana's appeal is further enhanced by its attractive staking yield, offering approximately 7.5% APY, significantly higher than Ethereum's 2.5%. SOL’s upcoming key support zones are between $140.00 and $145.00, both representing strong technical support levels and previous historical accumulation zones. On the flip side, we can see resistance levels between $165.00 and $170.00, with tougher resistance fought at the $180.00–$190.00 levels. Now, the possibility of a Solana one is taking center stage. According to Polymarket data, there is currently a 98% chance that the approval comes in 2025, which is just another layer of optimism for investors. The current retest of the $159.65 resistance level is significant as it may decide the future direction of Solana’s price action.

Interestingly, Solana’s trading volume increased by 108.95%. This increase indicates deep and intense institutional interest, probably fueled by anticipation of regulatory change coming soon. Just last week, Robinhood said it will offer Ethereum and Solana staking to its U.S. customers. This latest move further underscores the growing mainstream adoption of these cryptocurrencies. These past network upgrades, including the recent Alpenglow enhancement, have completely changed our platform. They have improved transaction finality and overall performance, increasing the system’s robustness and reliability. Engagement user engagement metrics are through the roof! We have 33.46 million total engagements with 159.57K total mentions and 34.14K unique creators participating in the conversation.

According to ChatGPT's o3 AI model, which analyzed 42 live indicators, Solana surged 2.95% to $157.85, testing the key 200-day EMA resistance. This comprehensive overview provides a snapshot of Solana's current market position, highlighting the factors driving its growth and the key levels to watch for potential future movements.

Top 10 Cryptocurrencies as of July 1, 2025

Predicting the top 10 cryptocurrencies as of July 1, 2025, involves analyzing current market trends, technological advancements, and adoption rates. While the cryptocurrency market is highly volatile and subject to unpredictable changes, certain projects show strong potential for sustained growth and relevance.

1. Cardano (ADA)

Thirdly, Cardano emphasizes peer-reviewed research and a layered architecture. Its aim is to provide a generally more secure and sustainable blockchain environment. It puts an enormous focus on formal verification. With its roadmap emphasizing scalability and governance, it could be a strong contender for long-term relevance.

2. BNB (BNB)

BNB, the native token of Binance, one of the largest cryptocurrency exchanges, it does achieve possibly the biggest bullishness from its usefulness through the Binance ecosystem. The token is used for trading fee discounts, participating in token sales, and powering the Binance Smart Chain, making it a key player in the DeFi space.

3. Bitcoin (BTC)

Bitcoin, the first and most well-known of cryptocurrencies, remains the largest single digital asset. Its dominant brand recognition, robust network effect, and record as a proven store of value fuel its success. While scalability remains an issue, new projects such as the Lightning Network are working to make its transaction capacity stronger, promising to keep it at the forefront.

4. Polkadot (DOT)

Polkadot is designed to facilitate communication between various blockchains, permitting data and assets to be transferred seamlessly between ecosystems. Its unique parachain structure and focus on scalability position it as one of the most popular deployments for decentralized applications, as well as cross-chain communication.

5. Ethereum (ETH)

Ethereum—the most popular platform for decentralized applications (dApps) and smart contracts—is in the process of greatly improving its overall infrastructure with Ethereum 2.0. These upgrades prioritize improving scalability, security, and sustainability. Furthermore, they reinforce its critical role as one of the underpinnings for the decentralized web.

6. Litecoin (LTC)

Litecoin was designed with the premise of the “silver to Bitcoin’s gold” as a quicker peer-to-peer cryptocurrency with faster transaction confirmations. Its underlying simplicity and focus on payments deliver a compelling value proposition when it comes to everyday transactions.

7. Solana (SOL)

Solana is well known for its high transaction speeds and low cost per transactions. As such, it has become wildly popular within DeFi and NFT communities. Its unique proof-of-stake consensus mechanism and expanding ecosystem of applications position it as one of the fiercest competitors to Bitcoin in the blockchain arena.

8. TRON (TRX)

TRON’s stated goal is the establishment of a decentralized entertainment based ecosystem, placing particular emphasis on content sharing and digital media. Combined with its strategic partnerships and acquisitions in the media vertical and a highly engaged community, PLAYLIST continues to be a key player.

9. XRP (XRP)

XRP, which is linked to Ripple Labs, is specifically designed to help banks transfer money across borders and make international payments more efficient. It has built deep relationships with lenders. This emphasis on enterprise solutions puts it on the short list of players in the payments space.

10. Lido Staked ETH (stETH)

Lido Staked ETH is staked Ether on the Lido platform, which lets users earn staked Ether–or staking rewards–without losing access to their liquidity. As Ethereum staking continues to grow, stETH will be a leading option. It will provide millions more people with the chance to engage with the Ethereum network.

Cryptocurrencies to Consider for Investment

If you’re considering investments in crypto coins, first consider the most important criteria. Consider factors like market capitalization, technological innovation, adoption rates, and the potential for long-term growth. To protect their capital, investors need to diversify their portfolios and do careful research before making any investment decisions.

Methodology for Selection

Choosing which cryptocurrencies to invest into requires an in-depth assessment of multiple crucial factors. These criteria are intended to screen in projects with good underlying fundamentals, merit, and the potential for long-term growth.

Market Capitalization

Market capitalization is perhaps the most important developing metric that indicates how valuable a cryptocurrency in total is. It’s simply determined by taking the current price of the crypto and multiplying it by the number of coins that are currently available or in circulation. Greater market capitalization often suggests increased stability and liquidity. Generally, the higher the market cap, the less volatile the crypto, and the more established and potentially safer the investment may be. With that greater liquidity does, in some cases, come lower potential for exponential growth seen in smaller, newer cryptocurrencies.

Market Momentum

Market momentum is just what it sounds like, the pace of a crypto asset’s price movement over a set period. Analyzing price trends, trading volumes, and market sentiment can provide insights into whether a cryptocurrency is gaining or losing momentum. Robust bullish market sentiment, defined by rising asset valuations and accelerating trading activity, indicates robust investor enthusiasm and market appetite. On the flip side, negative momentum might signal a loss of interest or fear for the project’s long term viability. Falling into positive momentum-based investments, investors frequently use this method to identify cryptocurrencies with positive momentum as good investment opportunities.

Investment Thesis

An investment thesis is your high-level reasoning for investing in a given cryptocurrency. It should outline the project's goals, the problem it aims to solve, its competitive advantages, and its potential for future success. A clear, articulated investment thesis should serve as a baseline for determining whether a cryptocurrency project can deliver sustained long-term value and fixing the risk-reward balance. Investors must always pay close attention to the investment thesis and make sure that it makes sense given their individual investment objectives and risk tolerance. Certainly, a good investment thesis is based on rigorous research and solid analysis. Understand the project’s fundamentals, team, and market opportunity in order to successfully support it.

Trustworthiness of the Forbes Advisor Investing Team

The Forbes Advisor Investing Team comprises experienced financial professionals who conduct thorough research and analysis to provide informed investment guidance. The team’s credibility is earned through a deep well of expertise, objectivity, and transparency. They stick to a code of editorial policy and transparency in conflicts of interest that allows them to make unbiased product recommendations. The team’s dedication to delivering fact-based and objective information has established them as one of the most trusted sources for investment intelligence.

Understanding Cryptocurrency Mechanics

Cryptocurrencies run on secure, decentralized networks based on blockchain technology, which provides built-in transparency and security. Each transaction is written to a distributed public ledger and cryptographic math and decentralization are applied to validate and protect the entire network. It becomes all the more important to understand the technology behind each cryptocurrency and their different consensus mechanisms in order to gauge their potential.

The Diversity of Cryptocurrencies

The cryptocurrency market is incredibly diverse, with thousands of different cryptocurrencies, each providing different functions and use cases. The digital asset space is packed with opportunities. For example, you could go with payment-focused currencies like Bitcoin and Litecoin or look at platform-based cryptocurrencies like Ethereum and Solana. From Bitcoin’s stability to Ethereum’s innovation potential, knowing these strengths and weaknesses is key to smart investing.

Tips for Choosing the Right Cryptocurrency to Invest In

Here’s what you need to consider when trying to pick the best cryptocurrency to invest in. First and foremost, investors need to do their due diligence onto the fundamental of the project including company’s underlying technology, team, and market opportunity. Then, consider the cryptocurrency’s market cap and trading volume. Think about its liquidity to assess its stability and growth potential. Thirdly, our investors need to be realistic about their own risk tolerance and investment aims. Next, they need to choose cryptocurrencies that fit their specific use cases.

Steps to Invest in Cryptocurrency

Cryptocurrency investing is easy, but you have to know the steps before you begin. After completing their account setup, investors can fund their account and start making trades in cryptocurrencies. That’s why picking a safe exchange with strong protections against hacking and fraud is key. Furthermore, as an extra measure of security, investors should invest in hardware wallets or other storage solutions to protect their cryptocurrency investments.

  1. Choose a Cryptocurrency Exchange: Select a reputable exchange that offers a wide range of cryptocurrencies and robust security features.
  2. Create an Account: Sign up for an account on the chosen exchange and complete the necessary verification steps.
  3. Deposit Funds: Deposit funds into the account using a supported payment method, such as bank transfer or credit card.
  4. Buy Cryptocurrency: Use the deposited funds to purchase the desired cryptocurrency on the exchange.
  5. Secure Your Holdings: Transfer the purchased cryptocurrency to a secure wallet, such as a hardware wallet, for long-term storage.

Costs Associated with Buying Cryptocurrency

Purchasing cryptocurrency comes with their own set of expenses, such as transaction fees, exchange fees, and slippage that we’ll mention below. Ethereum, the blockchain network on which you would have your NFT, charges transaction fees to process your transactions. At the same time, cryptocurrency exchanges charge trading fees to match buyers and sellers. Slippage is the difference between the expected price of a trade and the realized price. It usually occurs at times of greatest volatility. These costs are an important consideration for investors that shouldn’t be ignored in the investment decision.

Overview of Altcoins

Altcoins, or alternative cryptocurrencies, include all cryptocurrencies other than Bitcoin. From enabling complex smart contracts to increasing transaction throughput, they provide a wide range of capabilities. Even though many altcoins set out to provide better alternatives to Bitcoin’s limitations, many others bring new ideas and ecosystems altogether.

The Value Proposition of Bitcoin

Bitcoin’s value proposition completely depends on its decentralized nature, limited supply, and being a store of value. Its scarcity along with ever-growing adoption has led to its accumulating price appreciation over the years. Because Bitcoin is censorship resistant, it is one of the most powerful tools available for individuals to escape financial oppression. Its potential to hedge against inflation really attracts investors.

Availability of Cryptocurrency Exchange-Traded Funds

Cryptocurrency exchange-traded funds (ETFs) offer investors an easy way to invest in cryptocurrencies without having to buy and store them directly. These ETFs track the price of single cryptocurrencies or a basket of them. They allow investors to diversify their portfolios and lower their risk. Cryptocurrency ETFs, on the other hand, have recently exploded onto the market. This tremendous growth has created a clear path for the mainstream investor to enter the burgeoning cryptocurrency space.