To conduct an in-depth analysis of which altcoins could be used globally as a 24/7 currency to purchase basic human needs (such as food, water, medicine, basic housing, etc.), we must evaluate several key criteria that determine the viability of a cryptocurrency for this purpose. These include stability of value, scalability, transaction speed, global adoption, ease of use, transaction costs, and resistance to censorship or disruption. Below, I develop a step-by-step analysis and propose several candidate altcoins based on their technical characteristics, current adoption, and future potential.
Criteria for an altcoin as a global currency for everyday use
Stability of value: Essential items require predictable prices. A volatile altcoin like many speculative cryptocurrencies would be impractical for everyday purchases.
Transaction speed: Transactions must be fast (ideally seconds or a few minutes) to compete with traditional payment methods such as cash or cards.
Low transaction costs: High fees would make it unfeasible to use crypto for small purchases, such as a liter of milk or a prescription.
Scalability: The network must support millions of daily transactions without collapsing or increasing costs.
Adoption and accessibility: It should be easy to obtain, use, and accept by merchants worldwide, including in regions with limited technological infrastructure.
Decentralization and resilience: For global use, it must be resistant to censorship, local internet outages, or government intervention.
Existing infrastructure: The altcoin must have accessible wallets, exchanges, and point-of-sale (POS) systems.
Analysis of candidate altcoins
I'm going to evaluate some notable altcoins that could meet these criteria, based on their technical characteristics and current state as of March 18, 2025.
1. XRP (Ripple)
Stability: It is not a stablecoin, but its volatility is lower than that of many speculative altcoins due to its focus on institutional payments.
Speed: Transactions are confirmed in 3-5 seconds, ideal for quick purchases.
Costs: Extremely low fees (fractions of a cent per transaction).
Scalability: The XRP Ledger can handle 1,500 transactions per second (TPS), with potential for improvement.
Adoption: Used by financial institutions and in partnerships like MoneyGram. However, its adoption by retail merchants is limited.
Advantages: Designed specifically for cross-border payments, making it efficient for global use.
Challenges: Perceived centralization (Ripple Labs controls much of the supply) and past legal battles (resolved in 2023 in the US) could lead to distrust.
Viability: XRP could function as a global currency if massively adopted by retail traders,
but its institutional focus limits its penetration in daily purchases.
2. Stellar (XLM)
Stability: Similar to XRP, it is not a stablecoin, but its payment design makes it less volatile than speculative altcoins.
Speed: Transactions in 3-5 seconds.
Costs: Minimal fees (0.00001 XLM, almost negligible).
Scalability: Supports thousands of TPS, suitable for mass use.
Adoption: Focused on remittances and payments in developing countries. Partnerships with IBM and humanitarian projects (such as in Ukraine) show potential.
Advantages: Decentralized compared to XRP, with a focus on financial inclusion for the unbanked.
Challenges: Less well-known than Bitcoin or Ethereum, which limits its current adoption by merchants.
Viability: Stellar has great potential for essential purchases in underdeveloped regions, but needs more commercial infrastructure.
3. Solana (SUN)
Stability: Very volatile, as it is an altcoin focused on DeFi and speculation.
Speed: Transactions in less than 1 second thanks to its Proof of History mechanism.
Costs: Low fees (around $0.00025 per transaction).
Scalability: It can handle up to 65,000 TPS, one of the highest among public blockchains.
Adoption: Growing in DeFi and NFTs, but not so much in retail payments.
Advantages: Robust and fast technical infrastructure.
Challenges: History of network outages (although improved in 2024-2025) and lack of focus on value stability.
Viability: Solana excels at speed and scalability, but its volatility and focus on DeFi make it less practical for basic needs without a native stablecoin.
4. Stablecoins (USDT, USDC, DAI)
Stability: Designed to maintain a fixed value (1:1 with the dollar or other assets), perfect for everyday purchases.
Speed: Depends on the underlying blockchain (Ethereum, Tron, etc.), but they are usually fast (seconds to minutes).
Fees: These vary by network; they're very low on Tron or Polygon, but can be high on Ethereum.
Scalability: Limited by the base blockchain (Ethereum supports ~15 TPS without rollups, Tron and Polygon much more).
Adoption: USDT and USDC are widely accepted on exchanges and some merchants, especially in unstable economies like Venezuela or Argentina.
Advantages: Stability guarantees confidence for essential purchases.
Challenges: Dependence on centralized issuers (Tether, Circle) in the case of USDT and USDC; DAI is more decentralized but less well-known.
Viability: Stablecoins are the most practical for everyday purchases today, especially in regions with weak local currencies, but their centralization poses long-term risks.
5. Cardano (ADA)
Stability: Volatile, like most non-stable altcoins.
Speed: With Hydra (layer-2), it promises millions of TPS, but it is not yet fully implemented in 2025.
Costs: Low fees (~0.17 ADA per transaction).
Scalability: Under development, with great theoretical potential.
Adoption: Strong in Africa (identity and payments projects in Ethiopia), but limited globally.
Advantages: Focus on sustainability and underdeveloped communities.
Challenges: Slow implementation and lack of current mass adoption.
Viability: Cardano has a long-term vision, but is not yet ready for 24/7 global use.
Conclusion and recommendation
For an altcoin to be used globally 24/7 as a currency for everyday necessities, stablecoins like USDT, USDC, or DAI are the most viable today due to their stability and existing adoption. Among them, USDC stands out for its transparency and regulated backing, while DAI offers a decentralized, censorship-resistant option, ideal for a more autonomous future.
However, if we're looking for a non-stablecoin altcoin with long-term potential, Stellar (XLM) is the best candidate due to its focus on fast payments, low costs, and global accessibility, especially in unbanked regions. Its speed (3-5 seconds), minimal fees, and design for financial inclusion position it as a practical option if it achieves greater commercial adoption.
Ideal scenario: A combination of stablecoins (for immediate stability) and networks like Stellar or Solana (for scalable infrastructure) could evolve into a 24/7 global payment system. For example, a native stablecoin on Stellar or Solana could be the ultimate solution.
DYOR
