Ethereum

Ethereum (ETH) is a blockchain designed to facilitate smart contracts, supporting complex applications such as decentralized lending protocols and non-fungible tokens (NFTs). Conceived by Vitalik Buterin, the Ethereum whitepaper was published in late 2013, followed by the blockchain’s launch in July 2015.

Currently, Ethereum has a dynamic decentralized application ecosystem, covering decentralized financial services, NFT markets, publishing platforms, decentralized cryptocurrency exchanges, etc. From our perspective, this diverse landscape makes Ethereum the best cryptocurrency investment currently. ETH, as an intrinsic asset of the Ethereum blockchain, incentivizes users to contribute to network security.

Developers within the Ethereum community plan to launch the Dencun upgrade on a testnet on January 17, 2024, using Goerli epoch 231680. Tim Beiko of the Ethereum Foundation said that a testnet client supporting the update is expected to be released around January 10.

As of now, the Ethereum mainnet Dencun upgrade is tentatively scheduled for late February. However, Ethereum developers have not set a clear deadline. The upgrade will incorporate five Ethereum Improvement Proposals (EIPs) and marks the first major enhancement to the Ethereum mainnet since the Shapella upgrade. Shapella was launched in April this year and allows users to withdraw staked ETH.

Universe (ATOM)

Cosmos is a carefully designed network designed to facilitate seamless interoperability between different blockchain platforms. At the heart of the Cosmos network is the Cosmos Hub, which runs on a proof-of-stake blockchain model. The strategic structure of the Cosmos Hub facilitates connections not only within the Cosmos ecosystem, but also with external blockchains such as Bitcoin and Ethereum.

Communication between blockchains within Cosmos is achieved through a protocol called IBC (Inter-Blockchain Communication). Cosmos has a native asset called ATOM. Users can choose to stake their ATOM tokens, contributing to the security of the network while receiving staking rewards and a portion of the transaction fees collected. The Cosmos community supports a proposal to limit the inflation rate of ATOM tokens to 10%.

Currently, inflation is around 14% and is capped at 20%. Once implemented, the proposal will reduce the influx of new ATOM tokens into circulation. However, it will also result in a decrease in the annual percentage rate (APR) for staking ATOM tokens, from around 19% to around 13.4%.

According to the proposal, the findings suggest that the Cosmos Hub blockchain currently spends too much on security measures. The proposal further argues that reducing the inflation of ATOM could have a positive impact on decentralized financial protocols and money markets within the Cosmos ecosystem. All of these positive developments make ATOM one of the most worthwhile cryptocurrencies to consider investing in.

Binance

Launched by the Binance cryptocurrency exchange in 2017, BNB has a dual role. Token holders enjoy exclusive privileges when using Binance, including reduced trading fees, participation in the exchange’s Launchpad and Launchpool programs, cashback on Binance Visa card transactions, and other benefits.

Additionally, the token serves as a native asset on the BNB Chain blockchain. BNB Chain is a derivative of Ethereum that provides users with significantly lower transaction fees and enables developers to easily deploy EVM-compatible decentralized applications. Formerly known as Binance Coin, BNB has undergone an extensive rebranding.

Since BNB is the only non-stablecoin cryptocurrency eligible for Launchpool staking, the Launchpool announcement has significantly increased demand for BNB. As of the time of writing, BNB has surged 25.07% in the past 30 days. As we approach mid-January, BNB has become one of the most worthwhile cryptocurrencies to consider investing in.

Follow me and don’t get lost~