Most people, especially independent investors, are well-aware of the promising future of cryptocurrencies. Regardless of public discourse, cryptocurrency remains one of the fastest growing industries; although cryptocurrencies have generally more fluid markets, this can be owed in large part to people’s uncertainty and unqualified fear-mongering caused by misinformed people and even the government. In reality, cryptocurrencies have been shown to be a safe and more effective form of currency in places across Canada and Europe--in Amsterdam, bitcoin is a fully accepted and popular form of payment (there are even Bitcoin ATMs!). The shock and awe surrounding cryptocurrency is to die out in a few years and gain more stability shortly as people become more seriously informed about the economic benefits of cryptocurrency.

A lot of the uncertainty revolving around cryptocurrencies may also simply involve the actual amount of cryptocurrencies to choose from. Bitcoin may be the biggest but that certainly doesn’t make it the best. You should know all the major factors involved before investing seriously. If you are unsure of where to invest, or even where to begin, here is a full list and details of the most promising cryptocurrencies in 2018:

1. Ethereum (ETH)

• Has grown 3000% since last year.

• Second largest cryptocurrency behind Bitcoin.

• Price as of Aug. 2018: $271.51

• Ethereum’s unique platform allows developers to build and manage their own cryptocurrencies.

• Blockchain experts such as Julian Hosp suggest Ethereum’s market cap could reach $200 billion soon.

2. Ripple (XRP)

• Growth rate around 36000% since 2017--an astonishing number!

• Low price of $.908 as of Aug. 2018, a perfect price to accumulate a large number of stocks at in anticipation of likely price increases.

• Ripple is the cryptocurrency with the third largest market cap measuring at about $35 billion.

• Ripple’s apparent popularity may have to do with the fact that it functions as both a digital currency and a payment method.

• Utilizes blockchain technology, rendering international payments faster and more secure.

3. Litecoin (LTC) 

• Growth rate of nearly 8000% in 2017.

• Reached a price high of $358 in Dec. 2017, has since decreased to $55 with expectations of returning to a higher price with more stable growth.

• 5th largest cryptocurrency, market cap of $11 billion.

• Litecoin was originally designed to improve Bitcoin’s technology--indeed, Litecoin is able to complete transactions four times faster than Bitcoin. Litecoin is also the first cryptocurrency to perform a Lightning Network transaction

4. Bitcoin (BTC)

• No cryptocurrency list would be complete without mentioning Bitcoin, which remains the biggest cryptocurrency, occupying 40% of shares in the total market cap.

• Bitcoin Cash is another popular form of Bitcoin that has allowed investors to double their returns.

• Bitcoin has experienced huge growth, skyrocketing from below a hundred dollars to its price high of $20,000. Its current price as of Aug. 2018 is about $6500 and is expected to reach former heights within the next few years.