As blockchain technology expands and matures, more cryptocurrencies flood the market. But why are there so many cryptocurrencies out there and how can this affect investors searching for a new winner?
Cryptocurrency is not a closed environment. Due to the open-source nature of blockchain technology, almost anyone with a knowledge of programming and access to the internet can create and release their coin or token. This has resulted in a growth in cryptocurrencies by orders of magnitude. In early 2025, CoinMarketCap indicated more than 26,000 cryptocurrencies were currently in circulation, a figure growing by the month.
This expansion has been fueled not by a singular intention but by various motivations—developers are looking to innovate, others are looking to turn a profit, while others are merely testing concepts within a sandbox environment. Here, there’s a perpetual search for the Next 1000x Crypto, a descriptor predominantly used by traders looking for assets they deem to be undervalued and having moonshot potential. The platforms and instruments at everyone’s disposal make creating a token more accessible than ever, feeding into the continued influx of digital assets onto exchanges.
Speculation, Hype and the Psychology of Rapid Gains
Behind the tech aspect of crypto exists a strong psychological motivator—speculation. Most investors are tempted by tales of instant millionaires who invested in Bitcoin or Ethereum early on and saw them grow exponentially. The illusion of becoming an early mover remains a driving force behind the hype for new coins, particularly those with low market caps and volatility.
Tokens such as Shiba Inu and Dogecoin were never meant to be of real value. Still, because they became trending phenomena due to social media trends, influencer popularity and community memes, they became multi-billion-dollar assets. These rags-to-riches stories inspire other projects to be launched with hopes of recreating similar rapid growth. Even without concrete foundations, investors buy tokens, hungry for quick returns. In a FOMO- and virality-driven environment, hype can sometimes overwhelm reason, fueling demand for more crypto projects.
New Use Cases and Real-world Integration
While hype certainly exists, numerous cryptocurrencies are born out of a genuine effort to solve real-world problems or advance current systems. Blockchain technology is being applied across multiple sectors, resulting in sector-specific cryptocurrencies. Some sectors where distinct tokens have found utility include financial services, logistics, gaming, healthcare, digital identity and cloud computing.
Innovative contract platforms like Ethereum have made decentralised applications possible, with each new app potentially creating its native token for rewards or governance. Inside games, economies are composed of tokens to trade or stake. Some platforms even give tokens to users to provide resources or interact with content. With blockchain advancing and entering more sectors, more specialised cryptocurrencies and the overall quantity of coins available are required.
Forks, Airdrops and Copycat Coins
Blockchain’s design also facilitates forking current projects. If developers or communities are unhappy with a project’s trajectory, they can fork away and create a new blockchain variant, usually keeping the original codebase. This is how Bitcoin Cash and Ethereum Classic were formed, creating brand-new coins from previous successes.
Airdrops are one contribution to the proliferation of cryptocurrencies. Programmers commonly provide free tokens to raise awareness or reward users. Even where the project behind the airdrop fails, tokens remain listed on aggregators and are occasionally bought and sold. Similarly, imitators mimic popular tokens’ appearance or branding to dupe unwitting buyers. The lack of a barrier to entry means dozens are spawned behind each serious project with little innovation or utility.
Tokenisation and the Rise of Niche Communities
Outside of mainstream use, tokenisation drives the development of niche cryptocurrencies focused on particular interests or communities. Anything can be tokenised, from real estate and luxury goods to art, music and intellectual property. This makes fractional ownership possible and creates unique digital assets for particular markets.
Content creators also create tokens to create communities and reward interaction. Musicians, celebrities and even athletes have started using blockchain technology to provide direct access and incentives to fans. Each community can utilise its coin, even a very niche one. The existence of micro-economies, though not spoken about much, is a contributing factor in the ongoing growth of cryptocurrencies. The more people and communities use this technology to create digital value systems, the more coins will be made.
The Search for the Next Big Thing—and What It Means for Investors
At one level, all crypto investors are pursuing the next breakout hit. With so many tokens hitting the markets, distinguishing signal from noise has never been more challenging. Research indicates that more than 60% of cryptocurrencies minted within the last five years are currently inactive, abandoned or outright scams. Despite this, new projects keep sprouting up and dreams of finding the Next Bitcoin continue to be a driving force.
Due diligence applies to those who are serious about this space. The importance of a project’s whitepaper, development team, utility and community involvement cannot be overstated. With the potential for outsize returns comes the risk of complete loss. The flooded market means opportunity and uncertainty. For long-term investors, attention should be paid to sustainable projects with solid foundations, yet the market will forever be brimming with new tokens looking for attention.
