Ethereum (ETH) remains the backbone of the blockchain world thanks to its vast ecosystem, but the current high price has made it less appealing to investors seeking significant profits. As the next growth cycle begins, several low-priced coins are poised for rapid development. Little Pepe (LILPEPE), Ripple (XRP), Cardano (ADA), and NEAR Protocol (NEAR) are four projects with solid foundations and upcoming catalysts that could help them outpace Ethereum in terms of growth rate.

Little Pepe (LILPEPE): Meme Coin Exceeding Expectations

LILPEPE is riding the wave of meme coins to move forward. With an early sale phase at $0.0020, and increasing to $0.0021 thereafter, it has raised over $21.8 million in new capital before being listed on any centralized exchange. The coin has attracted 34,840 owners and 27,000 members on Telegram, creating a viral spread similar to what propelled Dogecoin and Shiba Inu to the moon. The tokenomics of LILPEPE is designed for the long term. 26.5% of the total supply was distributed in the early sale phase, generating strong initial liquidity and locking funds for future development. Another 10% is placed in a liquidity pool to help smooth transactions. The project team has allocated 30% for chain reserves, and 10% for DEX allocation to ensure easy purchases after launch. The project has passed CertiK audits and is listed on CoinMarketCap. Both of these milestones create a layer of trust and keep it in the public eye. Analysts are paying attention. If following the charts of previous wins, a price target from $0.50 to $2.50 in the next growth cycle seems reasonable, providing early participants with a potential profit of 33x to 100x.

Ripple (XRP): Legal Victory Opens Up the Future

Ripple has attracted investor attention for many years, primarily because of the ongoing legal battle with the SEC. The conclusion of the lawsuit with the SEC has removed a significant pressure for Ripple and XRP. This regulatory clarity is expected to attract more institutional investors who were previously hesitant to engage with this asset. Immediately after the decision, XRP rose above $3, then stabilized at $2.97. The token currently has a market capitalization of $175 billion and a circulating supply of approximately 59 billion XRP, keeping Ripple in third place behind Bitcoin and Ethereum. Analysts currently see an opportunity for the coin to reach $4.80 in the coming months. The most optimistic forecasts suggest that XRP could surpass between $7 and $15 at the peak of the next market cycle. With the legal clouds finally cleared and a strong relationship with banks and financial companies, XRP appears to be one of the cheap large-cap tokens. Many believe it could advance faster than Ethereum when the next growth cycle begins.

Cardano (ADA): Solid Foundation and Expanding Applications

ADA continues to fulfill its mission as primarily research, and the network continues to grow steadily. A recent highlight is the release of Midnight, where 24 billion NIGHT tokens were distributed to ADA holders. This move helps many users of the network and creates new use cases for the coin. ADA is currently priced at around $0.93, bringing a market capitalization of $33.7 billion and a circulating supply of approximately 36.3 billion tokens. On-chain numbers show that over 15 billion ADA have not moved in over a year, a sign that long-term holders believe in the project and short-term selling pressure is low. Opinions on future pricing vary, but an increase to the $1.50 to $2.30 range by 2025 seems reasonable if the market holds firm. With a committed community and an increasingly mature ecosystem, ADA presents a cost-effective opportunity for investors looking to buy into Ethereum during its early days.

NEAR Protocol (NEAR): Combining Blockchain and Artificial Intelligence

NEAR Protocol is moving forward by exploring ways to integrate Artificial Intelligence into DeFi. A recent deal with IQ AI, a network of intelligent AI agents, aims to enhance safety, speed, and trading intelligence within the NEAR ecosystem. This combination of AI and blockchain could open the door to more efficient asset management and even newer financial products. NEAR is trading at around $2.51, standing at a market capitalization of $3.1 billion and has a circulating supply of approximately 1.25 billion tokens. Analysts estimate a price target of $7.60 by 2025. Analysts are envisioning an increase to $7.60 by 2025, driven by strengths in blockchain scalability and AI vision.

Conclusion

Although Ethereum remains the top choice for smart contracts, low-cost chains often deliver the largest percentage gains during growth cycles. The success in the early sale phase of LILPEPE, Ripple's regulatory benefits, the increased adoption of Cardano, and NEAR's AI push all mark these coins as strong contenders for 2025. Investors seeking larger returns faster than ETH should consider these four options.

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