Here is a selection of 'Top-5 promising cryptocurrencies for 2025' — formed based on fresh sources and expert assessments: 1. Ethereum (ETH) Why it's promising: retains its leading position as the foundation of Web3 — for DeFi, NFT and smart contracts. In 2025, its progress was particularly noted: upgrades Dencun (with EIP-4844), Pectra, scalability improvements and reduced fees.