We have all heard of Bitcoin and Ethereum right now, but there are so many other viable projects in the blockchain space that are rising to prominence. So, which ones should you focus on?

Solana, Binance Coin, and Ripple are just a few of the top blockchain projects that should be on your radar, along with Bitcoin and Ethereum. Keep reading to learn more.

4 Best Blockchains Besides Bitcoin and Ethereum

1. Solana (SOL)

We have been impressed with Solana since the beginning, and although there are some concerns about the centralized nature of the blockchain, it is definitely something to consider as an investment.

Solana is known for its fast processing times, ease of coding, and competition with Ethereum. While it still has a ways to go before it passes the blockchain behemoth, it is well on its way, especially with the expansion of the Solana NFT and metaverse gaming projects.

2. Ripple (XRP)

Next on our list is Ripple, which is another direct Solana and Ethereum competitor. Known for its fast transaction times and widespread decentralization, we wouldn’t be surprised if Solana finds itself neck and neck in the coming years.

The places where Ripple falls short is in the NFT and gaming spaces, which is why it is below Solana on our list (but not in market capacity). While we believe Solana and Ripple will both be critical blockchain projects of the future, we think one with a wider use than Ripple will go further, especially because the average user will feel more comfortable with a little centralization than with full decentralization. However, this may change in the future, so definitely keep an eye on both of these projects.

3. Binance Coin (BNB)

Binance Coin has long been one of the top projects in the cryptocurrency space, often taking position 5 or 6 on charts. Therefore, we had to include it in this list.

That being said, the reason for Binance’s popularity has something to do with the law of primacy (people liking the platform they find first the most), which means we aren’t sure of its long-term success. But, on the other hand, we think Bitcoin is the best store of value for this same reason, so take that with a grain of salt.

While Binance Coin is extremely useful for transactions on the Binance exchange, it doesn’t have the same capabilities and widespread uses as both Ripple and Solana, which is another reason we don’t recommend an investment in the token. But if you use the platform, it wouldn’t hurt to pick up a little BNB.

4. Cardano (ADA)

A bit further down the list in terms of market capacity is Cardano. This project is unique in that it is a direct competitor to Ethereum, just like Solana and Ripple, but it doesn’t have the same massive growth as its two competitors.

Not that it hasn’t experienced any growth—because it has, but it is more of the slow and steady type, which is actually why we like it so much. Unlike some of the other top currencies, which seem to experience waves of popularity, Cardano appears to be amassing true value and fans, a trend that it has now maintained for years.

As such, we find Cardano a decent and less risky investment than some of the others on this list. While any cryptocurrency investment carries risk, we really trust the team behind Cardano and have found the price swings more palatable than some of the larger tokens.

Although it hasn’t yet reached its previous high of $2.85 per token, it is steadily growing in price and market capacity as many others discover the benefits of the blockchain platform.

Don’t Be Fooled by High Market Capacity Cryptos

If you are familiar with the top cryptocurrency charts, then you likely noticed we skipped several high market-capacity tokens. It’s important to remember that market capacity is only the number of tokens in circulation, and it has nothing to do with actual inherent value.

For example, Tether is the third coin in terms of market capitalization, but Tether is a stablecoin—meaning it is designed to always hold the same value. Not only that, but there has been some controversy in recent years as it was revealed that Tether doesn’t back up its assets at a 100% rate (they claim they do, but it can’t be proven). As such, though this project has a lot of tokens, we worry about its viability in the future and don’t consider it a top blockchain.

We also skipped USDC, another stablecoin. Additionally, we don’t consider Dogecoin (DOGE) to be a top cryptocurrency. While there are a lot of tokens in circulation, DOGE is a memecoin only, and its value is tied almost solely to hype. Although it is popular, we don’t think it is stable enough for an investment, nor do we think it will play a huge part in the future of cryptocurrency; thus, it is not a top blockchain project.

The last token we skipped in the top 10 was TRON, and this was because while it is a direct Ethereum competitor, we aren’t sure its applicability is wide enough to truly complete. TRON’s mission is to provide DRM (digital rights management) to the original owners of content, and to encourage content creation in this manner.

While this is something we believe the world truly needs, we think the competition with centralized platforms like Meta and TikTok is simply too fierce. We don’t think that TRON will be able to garner enough users to stay open long term, or to continue the growth trajectory they are currently on. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing; it’s just the reason we don’t consider them a top blockchain project right now.

Overall, there are many amazing blockchains out there, and it can be difficult to choose one to invest in if you don’t want to invest in Bitcoin or Ethereum. We hope this list has helped you to narrow down your options, maybe even if it’s just a little!