When it comes to cryptocurrency investing, most conversations center around giants like Bitcoin and Ethereum. While these top-tier assets dominate market discussions, a growing number of promising projects trade for less than $1 — offering significant upside potential for savvy investors. These low-priced cryptos aren’t just cheap tokens; many are backed by strong technology, real-world use cases, and passionate communities.
In this guide, we’ll explore some of the most compelling cryptocurrencies under $1, including projects with robust developer activity, innovative consensus mechanisms, and growing adoption. We’ll also look at a few standout coins under $5 that were once sub-$1 assets but have since graduated due to their performance.
Remember: this is not financial advice. Cryptocurrencies are highly volatile, and thorough research is essential before investing.
Why Invest in Cryptocurrencies Under $1?
Low price per unit doesn’t mean low value. Many cryptocurrencies trade under $1 simply due to high circulating supplies — not because they lack potential. In fact, some of the most impactful blockchain projects started with token prices well below a dollar.
Investing in undervalued cryptos allows you to get in early on projects with strong fundamentals before broader market recognition drives prices higher. Additionally, many of these tokens offer staking rewards, utility within ecosystems, or play key roles in emerging sectors like DeFi, supply chain tracking, and decentralized advertising.
👉 Discover how to identify high-potential cryptos before they surge in value.
Top Cryptocurrencies Under $1
Stellar (XLM)
Stellar is a decentralized blockchain network designed to facilitate fast, low-cost cross-border payments. Its native token, Lumens (XLM), powers transactions and acts as a bridge currency between different fiat and digital assets.
With transaction speeds of 3–5 seconds and fees as low as $0.00001, Stellar is ideal for micropayments and remittances. Unlike Ripple (XRP), which primarily targets financial institutions, Stellar focuses on individuals and underserved markets — making it more accessible globally.
The network supports inflation pools, offering holders a 1% annual reward to offset inflation. With strong developer engagement and partnerships with payment providers worldwide, Stellar remains one of the most technically sound and scalable blockchains under $1.
Crypto.com Coin (CRO)
As the native token of the Crypto.com ecosystem, CRO offers multiple utility functions across its exchange, wallet, and Visa card services. Despite being ranked among the top 20 cryptocurrencies by market cap, CRO still trades under $1 — presenting potential for growth.
Users who stake at least 10,000 CRO for 180 days receive a 10% annual percentage yield (APY), paid daily. They also gain access to exclusive Syndicate Events, where new crypto assets can be purchased at up to 50% off.
Additionally, the Crypto.com Visa Card offers cashback rewards ranging from 1% to 8% in CRO, depending on the card tier. All trading fees on the platform can be paid in CRO, often at a discount. With aggressive global expansion and increasing adoption, CRO continues to build momentum.
VeChain (VET)
Focused on enterprise solutions, VeChain leverages blockchain technology to enhance supply chain transparency and product authenticity. By combining smart chips and NFC tags with blockchain verification, VeChain enables companies to track goods from origin to consumer.
Founded in 2015 by Sunny Lu, former CIO of Louis Vuitton China, VeChain has partnered with major corporations like Walmart China, BMW, and PwC. The platform uses a Proof-of-Authority (PoA) consensus model, ensuring high efficiency and security.
Holders can stake VET to earn VeThor Tokens (VTHO), which are used to execute operations on the network. With growing institutional adoption and a solid track record of real-world implementation, VeChain stands out as a fundamentally strong project under $1.
Hedera (HBAR)
Hedera Hashgraph sets itself apart with a unique distributed ledger technology (DLT) that isn’t based on traditional blockchain architecture. Instead, it uses a gossip-about-gossip protocol and virtual voting to achieve consensus — resulting in faster transaction finality and greater scalability.
HBAR, the native token of the Hedera network, has a fixed supply of 50 billion and is used for network fees, staking, and governance. Transactions settle in seconds with near-zero fees, making it attractive for enterprise applications.
Security is enhanced through a proof-of-stake model where malicious actors would need to control one-third of the total supply — an impossibility given Hedera’s council-based governance structure. With applications in file storage, smart contracts, and decentralized IDs, Hedera is quietly building critical infrastructure for the future web.
SHIBA INU (SHIB)
While SHIBA INU may lack technical innovation compared to other projects on this list, its strength lies in community power. Created as a meme coin alternative to Dogecoin, SHIB gained fame when half its supply was sent to Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin — who burned 90% of his holdings.
Beyond memes, SHIB has evolved into a full-fledged ecosystem featuring ShibaSwap, a decentralized exchange where users can stake tokens and earn rewards in SHIB, LEASH, and BONE. The project has also launched NFTs and plans for a DAO governance model.
Ranked in the top 15 by market cap despite trading at fractions of a cent, SHIB demonstrates how viral appeal combined with community-driven development can create lasting value.
Honorable Mentions: Promising Cryptos Under $5
If you're open to slightly higher entry points, several powerful projects now trade between $1 and $5 — many of which were under $1 just a year ago.
Basic Attention Token (BAT)
Built around the Brave browser, BAT aims to revolutionize digital advertising by cutting out intermediaries and rewarding users directly for their attention. When users opt into viewing privacy-respecting ads, they earn BAT tokens monthly.
Content creators also benefit by receiving tips and ad revenue shares. With millions of active Brave users and growing advertiser interest, BAT is creating a fairer internet economy — one click at a time.
THETA
THETA incentivizes users to share their unused bandwidth to improve video streaming quality via a peer-to-peer network. By running a Theta node, users earn THETA tokens while helping reduce reliance on centralized CDNs.
With partnerships including Samsung, Google Cloud, and Sony Pictures, Theta is positioning itself as a next-gen content delivery solution — especially relevant in our streaming-dominated world.
👉 Learn how decentralized networks are reshaping digital content delivery.
How Market Cap Influences Value
Market capitalization — calculated by multiplying price per token by circulating supply — gives a better sense of a project’s true size than price alone. For example:
- A coin priced at $0.01 with 100 billion supply has a $1 billion market cap.
- A coin priced at $10 with 10 million supply also has a $1 billion market cap.
Thus, low price ≠ low value. Always evaluate projects based on market cap, use case, team strength, adoption metrics (like Total Value Locked), and developer activity — not just unit cost.
What to Look for in a High-Potential Crypto
To spot undervalued gems:
- Analyze real-world utility and partnerships.
- Check developer engagement on GitHub.
- Compare TVL vs. market cap ratios (especially for DeFi projects).
- Assess community strength and long-term roadmap.
Fantom (FTM), for instance, competes directly with Polygon in DeFi but has significantly lower market cap despite comparable TVL — suggesting possible undervaluation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is it safe to invest in cryptocurrencies under $1?
A: Safety depends on the project’s fundamentals — not its price. Many reputable projects trade under $1 due to high supply. Always research the team, technology, and use case before investing.
Q: Can a cryptocurrency under $1 reach $10 or more?
A: Yes — if adoption grows and supply remains limited. Price appreciation depends on demand relative to available tokens.
Q: Why do some good projects stay under $1?
A: High circulating supply keeps per-unit prices low even if market cap rises. For example, SHIB trades at fractions of a cent but has a multi-billion-dollar valuation.
Q: Should I only buy cryptos under $1?
A: No — focus on value and potential rather than price alone. Some top cryptos started under $1; others never will.
Q: Are meme coins like SHIB worth investing in?
A: They carry higher risk but can yield high returns due to community momentum. Allocate only what you can afford to lose.
👉 Start your journey into high-growth crypto opportunities today.