The crypto market has shifted dramatically in late 2024. After months of Bitcoin dominance and stagnant altcoin performance, a powerful alt season has emerged—catching many investors off guard. As Bitcoin’s market dominance dropped below 52% in November, the total market cap of altcoins nearly doubled, signaling a significant rotation of capital into non-Bitcoin assets.
With this shift, a new wave of optimism is spreading across decentralized finance (DeFi), Layer 1 blockchains, and emerging narratives like SocialFi and AI-driven networks. Bankless, a leading voice in the crypto space, has identified 10 tokens poised for strong performance over the next three months. These selections are based on fundamental developments, protocol innovations, and macro-level market sentiment.
This article dives into each of these tokens, exploring their growth catalysts, recent performance, and long-term potential—helping you navigate the evolving landscape with clarity and confidence.
📊 Altcoin Prediction Accuracy: A Reality Check
Before diving into future opportunities, it's important to assess past performance. Between late November and early December 2024, Bankless analysts made short-term predictions on 10 altcoins. The results? A mixed bag.
The overall prediction accuracy stood at just 40%, highlighting how volatile and unpredictable altcoin markets can be—even for seasoned analysts.
Key takeaways:
- Blur (BLUR) and 1inch (1INCH) defied bearish forecasts, surging over 80%.
- Kamino (KMNO) skyrocketed by more than 200%, becoming one of the top outperformers.
- Conversely, Euler (EUL) dropped 27% despite being predicted to rise.
While not all calls hit their mark, the data underscores an important truth: in alt seasons, momentum often overrides fundamentals in the short term. However, for sustainable gains, focusing on protocols with real utility and growing adoption remains essential.
👉 Discover how market momentum shifts can create high-potential entry points.
🔍 Top 10 Altcoins to Watch: Fundamentals & Outlook
Aave (AAVE) – The Resilient DeFi Powerhouse
Sector: DeFi
Prediction Period: Dec 2, 2024 – Mar 2, 2025
Price at Prediction: $238.91
Current Performance: +2.88%
Aave continues to strengthen its position as a leader in decentralized lending. Over the past 30 days:
- Total active loans reached $12.51 billion, up 46%
- Net deposits grew to $31.37 billion, a 49% year-over-year increase
- USDT borrowing rates spiked to 37%, boosting protocol revenue by 63%
Despite this growth, AAVE’s price has only risen about 16%, lagging behind revenue expansion. This disconnect suggests undervaluation—making it a compelling opportunity as leverage demand rises in bull markets.
Bankless remains bullish, citing ongoing protocol upgrades and increasing institutional interest in Aave’s safety modules.
Instadapp (INST) – Innovation Driving Volume
Sector: DeFi
Prediction Period: Nov 26, 2024 – Feb 26, 2025
Price at Prediction: $5.47
Current Performance: +36.01%
Instadapp’s new product, Fluid, is redefining capital efficiency in DeFi. As a hybrid between a money market and a DEX:
- Total trading volume exceeded $1 billion since launch
- Ranks 5th on Ethereum by 24-hour volume
- Offers yield from both lending and trading fees
Unique features like smart collateral and debt positions that earn trading fees make Fluid highly attractive for power users. This innovation has driven strong adoption and revenue growth.
Bankless sees continued upside as Fluid becomes a go-to platform for advanced DeFi strategies.
👉 See how next-gen DeFi platforms are reshaping yield generation.
anoncast (ANON) – SocialFi Experiment Backed by Vitalik
Sector: SocialFi
Prediction Period: Nov 21, 2024 – Feb 21, 2025
Price at Prediction: $0.04
Current Performance: -37.29%
ANON powers anoncast, a zero-knowledge proof-based social experiment allowing anonymous posting via Farcaster. The project gained instant attention when Vitalik Buterin purchased $253 worth of ANON tokens.
While fundamentals remain speculative, the social narrative is strong:
- Users need ANON to interact
- High-tier holders can promote or delete posts
- Potential for viral growth if adopted by crypto influencers
Bankless acknowledges the risk but believes that with Vitalik’s endorsement and rising interest in privacy-preserving social layers, ANON could experience explosive growth if engagement surges.
Near Protocol (NEAR) – Bridging Blockchain and AI
Sector: Layer 1
Prediction Period: Nov 14, 2024 – Feb 14, 2025
Price at Prediction: $5.20
Current Performance: +42.88%
NEAR is positioning itself at the intersection of blockchain and artificial intelligence. Co-founder Illia Polosukhin announced plans to build an open-source AI model with 1.4 trillion parameters—3.5x larger than Meta’s Llama.
Key points:
- Development funded through NEAR token sales
- Model will run on a decentralized compute network
- Combines NEAR’s tech strengths with real-world AI applications
This bold move captures investor imagination and aligns perfectly with the growing AI narrative in tech and crypto.
Bankless is optimistic that NEAR’s unique blend of scalability, developer tools, and AI vision will attract significant capital and developer attention.
Solana (SOL) – Riding Political and Market Momentum
Sector: Layer 1
Prediction Period: Nov 13, 2024 – Feb 13, 2025
Price at Prediction: $217.20
Current Performance: +9.12%
Once lagging behind newer L1s like APT and SUI, Solana rebounded strongly after favorable U.S. election results. Trump’s victory boosted optimism around pro-crypto regulation, including potential spot ETF approvals.
Solana’s ecosystem remains robust:
- Strong NFT and DeFi activity
- Growing meme coin scene driving MEV revenue
- High retail engagement
Bankless reversed its earlier bearish stance, now expecting SOL to benefit from both macro tailwinds and sustained FOMO during the bull run.
Helium Network (HNT) – Real-World Adoption Accelerating
Sector: Infrastructure
Prediction Period: Nov 12, 2024 – Feb 12, 2025
Price at Prediction: $5.95
Current Performance: +43.87%
Helium has seen a resurgence in network usage:
- Data credit consumption doubled since July
- Helium Mobile users grew from ~105K to ~120K
- Strategic telecom partnerships expanding reach
Collaborations with companies like Telefonica are validating Helium’s IoT infrastructure model. As more devices connect globally, demand for decentralized wireless networks could surge.
Bankless sees HNT as undervalued given its real-world utility and growing ecosystem integration.
Pendle Finance (PENDLE) – Yield Innovation in Focus
Sector: DeFi
Prediction Period: Nov 8, 2024 – Feb 8, 2025
Price at Prediction: $5.19
Current Performance: +29.09%
After a period of TVL outflows due to maturing yield pools, Pendle has stabilized:
- TVL back in positive territory since October
- Yield swap mechanism remains best-in-class
- Bull market conditions favor structured yield products
Bankless believes Pendle is well-positioned to capture increased demand for fixed-income-like instruments as investors seek predictable returns amid volatility.
Lido (LDO) & Uniswap (UNI) – Regulatory Relief Fuels Optimism
LDO: +56.72% | UNI: +65.12%
Both tokens surged following Trump’s election win. Market sentiment shifted on hopes of lighter SEC enforcement—especially critical for:
- Lido, which faces scrutiny over stETH being labeled a security
- Uniswap, which could benefit from clearer rules on fee-sharing models
While regulatory risks aren’t gone, the perception of a friendlier environment has reignited investor confidence in major Ethereum-based protocols.
Jito (JTO) – Solana’s Liquidity Leader
Sector: Liquid Staking (LST)
Prediction Period: Nov 1, 2024 – Feb 1, 2025
Price at Prediction: $2.29
Current Performance: +60.26%
Jito dominates Solana’s liquid staking space:
- TVL hitting new highs in both USD and SOL terms
- Meme coin boom increases MEV opportunities
- Daily SOL fees at record levels
As Solana’s ecosystem expands, Jito stands to gain disproportionately from increased staking and transaction activity.
Bankless expects JTO to remain a top performer throughout the alt season.
👉 Explore how liquid staking tokens are capturing value across blockchains.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: What defines an "altcoin season"?
An altcoin season occurs when non-Bitcoin cryptocurrencies outperform BTC over a sustained period. It's typically marked by declining Bitcoin dominance (below 50–55%) and broad-based gains across DeFi, Layer 1s, and niche sectors like gaming or AI.
Q: Why did some Bankless predictions fail?
Altcoin markets are highly speculative and influenced by sentiment, news cycles, and whale movements. Even strong fundamentals don’t guarantee short-term price appreciation—especially when meme-driven tokens capture momentum unexpectedly.
Q: Is now a good time to invest in altcoins?
With Bitcoin dominance falling and institutional interest growing, conditions appear favorable. However, due diligence is crucial. Focus on projects with active development, real usage, and clear value accrual mechanisms.
Q: How long might this alt season last?
Historically, alt seasons last between 3 to 6 months, often peaking after Bitcoin reaches new all-time highs. Given current momentum, early-to-mid 2025 could mark the peak.
Q: Should I follow analyst predictions blindly?
No. Use predictions as input—not gospel. Combine them with your own research on tokenomics, team credibility, ecosystem growth, and macro trends.
Q: What risks should I watch for?
Key risks include regulatory crackdowns (especially in the U.S.), overleveraged positions triggering liquidations, and sudden shifts in market sentiment post-election or macroeconomic events.
Final Thoughts: Navigating the Alt Season Smartly
The altcoin season of late 2024 is no longer speculation—it's reality. From DeFi innovators like Aave and Pendle to infrastructure plays like Helium and NEAR, opportunities abound.
But with high rewards come high risks. Success lies not in chasing pumps but in identifying protocols solving real problems with sustainable models.
Stay informed, manage risk wisely—and keep an eye on where innovation meets adoption.
Core Keywords: altcoin season, DeFi tokens, Layer 1 cryptocurrencies, liquid staking, AI blockchain projects, crypto market trends, Solana ecosystem, Ethereum scaling