In 2024, several cryptocurrencies experienced extraordinary growth, both among major coins and smaller, high-flying tokens. Here are the standouts based on year-to-date (YTD) returns and market impact:
Top Performing Cryptocurrencies by Percentage Growth (2024)
| Rank | Cryptocurrency | YTD Return (%) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Virtuals Protocol | 26,596% | AI agents platform; biggest gainer among top 300 coins. |
| 2 | SPX6900 (memecoin) | 10,194% | Part of the memecoin supercycle. |
| 3 | Popcat (memecoin) | 9,954% | Another memecoin with massive gains. |
| 4 | Mantra (OM) | 5,779% | RWA (Real World Assets) project; driven by tokenization and DeFi narratives. |
| 5 | MOG (memecoin) | 5,132% | Benefited from the memecoin trend. |
| 6 | Aerodrome Finance | 2,663% | Base DeFi protocol. |
| 7 | Turbo | 2,451% | Another significant gainer in the DeFi sector. |
| 8 | Pepe | 1,324% | Popular memecoin. |
| 9 | dogwifhat (WIF) | 1,101% | Memecoin on Solana. |
| 10 | Bitget Token (BGB) | 1,003% | Exchange token with strong growth. |
Major Cryptocurrencies with Notable Growth
- Dogecoin (DOGE): 310% YTD return, the best among large-cap coins, fueled by renewed memecoin interest and high-profile endorsements.
- SHIBA INU (SHIB): 150% YTD return, another memecoin benefitting from the 2024 memecoin cycle.
- Solana (SOL): 134% YTD return, driven by its popularity for DeFi and memecoin launches.
- Bitcoin (BTC): 113% YTD return, reached an all-time high above $107,000, doubling its market cap and leading the overall bull run.
- BNB (Binance Coin): 98% YTD return, continued growth as a leading exchange token.
- XRP: Up to 235% gains, with periods of rapid appreciation tied to regulatory clarity and renewed interest in “dino coins”.
- Sui (SUI): 428% growth, the best performer among major new assets, driven by ecosystem expansion and DeFi adoption.
Key Trends and Catalysts in 2024
- Memecoin Supercycle: Memecoins like Dogecoin, SHIBA INU, and new entrants such as SPX6900 and Popcat saw explosive growth, often outpacing more established projects.
- AI and RWA Narratives: Projects like Virtuals Protocol (AI agents) and Mantra (RWA tokenization) captured significant investor attention, reflecting new use-case trends.
- Market-Wide Rally: The total crypto market nearly doubled, from $1.7 trillion to almost $3.4 trillion, with Bitcoin and Ethereum leading the charge.
- Influential Events: The 2024 U.S. election, ETF approvals for Bitcoin and Ethereum, and technological breakthroughs (e.g., quantum computing) were major catalysts.
Summary Table: Top 10 Cryptos by YTD Return (as of November 2024)
| Rank | Asset | YTD Return (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dogecoin | 310 |
| 2 | SHIBA INU | 150 |
| 3 | Solana | 134 |
| 4 | Bitcoin | 113 |
| 5 | BNB | 98 |
| 6 | UNUS SED LEO | 93 |
| 7 | TRON | 85 |
| 8 | XRP | 72 |
| 9 | Zcash | 65 |
| 10 | Crypto.com | 62 |
Source: Visual Capitalist, PinPoint Macro Analytics
Conclusion
The highest growth in 2024 was seen in smaller, narrative-driven tokens (especially AI and memecoins), with Virtuals Protocol and SPX6900 leading by percentage gains. Among large-cap coins, Dogecoin, Solana, and Bitcoin were the most notable performers, reflecting both speculative trends and renewed institutional interest.