The cryptocurrency landscape witnessed a remarkable transformation in 2024, with several coins attracting traders' attention due to their meteoric gains.
While the market broadly reaped the benefits of Bitcoin's (CRYPTO: BTC) record-breaking run past $100,000, the returns on many assets far surpassed the leading cryptocurrency
What happened: VIRTUAL, the native cryptocurrency of Virtuals Protocol, left all other coins in the dust with an eye-popping 26198% gain since the beginning of the year
The token hit an all-time high of $3.72 on Sunday and logged gains of 127% over the month, pointing to an excellent year-end.
Virtuals Protocol is a decentralized platform that aids in virtual interactions through its AI and Metaverse products.
Next on the list were meme coins. Solana (CRYPTO: SOL)-based parody coin SPX6900, that calls for the creation of a new stock market index called SPX6900, exploded 10795% year-to-date.
Feline-themed cryptocurrency Popcat emerged as the market's third-biggest gainer, netting massive returns of 9473% to its holders over the year.
| Cryptocurrency | YTD Gains +/- | Price (At 10:30 p.m. ET) |
| Virtuals Protocol (VIRTUAL) | +26198.45% | $3.51 |
| SPX6900 (SPX) | +10795% | $0.9049 |
| Popcat (POPCAT) | +9473.60% | $0.7761 |
Frog-themed Pepe (CRYPTO: PEPE) also multiplied its investors' wealth, surging 1291% since 2024 began.
Among the large-cap cryptocurrencies, Dogecoin (CRYPTO: DOGE) and XRP (CRYPTO: XRP) stole the limelight, pumping 255% and 241%, respectively.
See Also: Crypto Analyst Foresees Dogecoin Price Rebound As Whales Increase Holdings
Bitcoin surged 121% in 2024, thanks to a flurry of important bullish catalysts, including spot exchange-traded funds listing and cryptocurrency-friendly Donald Trump's presidential victory.
On the other hand, Ethereum (CRYPTO: ETH) failed to match up, rising only 49%, despite triggers like spot ETFs approval.
The total cryptocurrency market capitalization nearly doubled from $1.65 trillion to $3.28 trillion in 2024, reflecting the resurgence following a challenging period in 2022 and 2023.
Why It Matters: This was not the first time that Martinez made a bullish prediction for Dogecoin.
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