Cryptocurrency investing isn’t just about owning Bitcoin or Ethereum. Many investors are now looking for the best cheap crypto to buy—low-cost digital assets with high potential upside. These affordable cryptocurrencies often fly under the radar, offering opportunities for exponential growth if they gain traction.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore the most promising undervalued cryptocurrencies, highlight their features, and explain why they’re worth watching in 2025. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned investor, understanding these cheap altcoins can diversify your portfolio and increase your chances of outsized returns.
Why Invest in Cheap Cryptocurrencies?
1. Affordability for New Investors
Many investors are priced out of Bitcoin or Ethereum due to their high cost per coin. Cheap cryptocurrencies allow new investors to enter the market with a smaller budget while still gaining exposure to potentially explosive projects.
2. Higher Growth Potential
Low market cap and low-cost crypto with potential often have more room to grow. Early-stage tokens can deliver 10x to 100x returns if the project succeeds.
3. Diversification
Including affordable cryptocurrencies in your portfolio spreads risk. Instead of betting on one or two large-cap coins, you can invest in several promising altcoins.
4. Undervalued Technology
Some cheap altcoins offer innovative technology and real-world utility but are still underappreciated in the market. These are often the hidden gems with the highest upside.
What Makes a Cheap Crypto Worth Buying?
Not all low-priced cryptocurrencies are good investments. Here’s what to look for:
- Strong Use Case: Solves a real-world problem or introduces a unique feature.
- Active Development Team: Regular updates, roadmap transparency, and community engagement.
- Growing Ecosystem: Adoption in DeFi, gaming, NFTs, or enterprise.
- Tokenomics: Limited supply and deflationary mechanisms.
- Market Sentiment: Positive momentum and social media buzz.
10 Best Cheap Cryptos to Buy in 2025
1. Shiba Inu (SHIB)
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Price: <$0.00001
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Market Cap: $6B+
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Category: Meme Coin / Ecosystem Token
Why Buy: SHIB is more than a meme—it’s building Shibarium (a layer-2 blockchain), integrating DeFi, NFTs, and a growing ecosystem. Its low price and massive community support make it a popular cheap altcoin with potential.
2. XRP (Ripple)
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Price: ~$0.50
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Market Cap: $25B+
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Category: Payments / Remittance
Why Buy: Despite legal battles, XRP remains a dominant player in cross-border payments. Its utility in global finance and potential regulatory clarity could drive prices upward. It’s a top pick for undervalued cryptocurrencies.
3. VeChain (VET)
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Price: ~$0.03
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Market Cap: $2B+
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Category: Supply Chain Blockchain
Why Buy: VET is used by major corporations to track and verify supply chains. As blockchain adoption grows in logistics and manufacturing, VeChain is poised for a comeback. It’s an affordable cryptocurrency with strong fundamentals.
4. Harmony (ONE)
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Price: ~$0.01
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Market Cap: $150M+
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Category: Layer-1 Blockchain
Why Buy: Harmony offers fast, low-cost transactions and has a scalable sharding architecture. Although it suffered from past security issues, development has resumed and the low price makes it one of the best cheap cryptos to buy in 2025.
5. Stellar Lumens (XLM)
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Price: ~$0.10
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Market Cap: $3B+
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Category: Financial Transfers
Why Buy: XLM is used to facilitate low-cost, instant cross-border payments, especially in developing economies. With partnerships including IBM and MoneyGram, Stellar remains an undervalued crypto with real-world impact.
6. BitTorrent (BTT)
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Price: <$0.000001
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Market Cap: $950M+
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Category: File Sharing / Web3
Why Buy: BitTorrent’s integration with the TRON ecosystem aims to decentralize file sharing and storage. Its extremely low unit price makes it attractive for those seeking cheap crypto with 100x potential.
7. Dogecoin (DOGE)
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Price: ~$0.12
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Market Cap: $17B+
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Category: Meme Coin
Why Buy: Endorsed by Elon Musk and widely recognized, Dogecoin is a fun yet functional payment coin. With possible integration into X (formerly Twitter), DOGE has renewed speculative value among cheap altcoins.
8. Chiliz (CHZ)
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Price: ~$0.10
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Market Cap: $800M+
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Category: Sports / Fan Tokens
Why Buy: Chiliz powers fan tokens for major sports teams like FC Barcelona and Juventus. As fan engagement via Web3 grows, CHZ could benefit from mainstream adoption, making it a compelling low-cost cryptocurrency with utility.
9. The Graph (GRT)
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Price: ~$0.25
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Market Cap: $2.3B+
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Category: Indexing / Data Layer
Why Buy: GRT is essential for querying blockchain data, especially in DeFi and dApps. Its foundational role in Web3 infrastructure makes it an undervalued altcoin with long-term upside.
10. AllianceBlock Nexera (NXRA)
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Price: ~$0.03
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Market Cap: <$200M
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Category: DeFi / TradFi Integration
Why Buy: NXRA is building tools to connect traditional finance with decentralized finance (DeFi). With growing interest in Real World Assets (RWA), this cheap DeFi token could be a breakout performer in 2025.
How to Buy Cheap Cryptocurrencies
Step 1: Choose a Reliable Exchange
Popular exchanges that list these cheap cryptocurrencies include:
Step 2: Deposit Funds
Most platforms accept:
- Bank transfers
- Debit/credit cards
- Stablecoins like USDT or USDC
Step 3: Trade and Store
Search for the crypto by its ticker (e.g., SHIB, VET), make the purchase, and store it in a secure wallet:
- Hot Wallets (Trust Wallet, MetaMask)
- Cold Wallets (Ledger, Trezor) for long-term storage
Tips for Investing in Cheap Crypto
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Avoid Hype-Driven FOMO
Not all viral coins are sustainable. Focus on fundamentals. -
Use Dollar-Cost Averaging (DCA)
Spread purchases over time to reduce volatility risk. -
Set Realistic Targets
Even the best cheap altcoins won’t all reach $1. Set achievable exit points. -
Secure Your Investments
Always use two-factor authentication and consider transferring assets off exchanges. -
Track the Project’s Progress
Follow social media, Discord, GitHub, and official blogs for updates.
Risks of Buying Cheap Cryptos
While the upside potential is significant, cheap cryptos come with higher risk:
- High Volatility: Prices can swing drastically.
- Lack of Regulation: Vulnerability to scams and rug pulls.
- Poor Liquidity: Some low-cap tokens may be hard to sell.
- Speculative Nature: Many low-cost coins are driven by hype rather than utility.
Invest only what you can afford to lose and always perform due diligence.
Final Thoughts
The hunt for the best cheap crypto to buy in 2025 leads to a mix of meme coins, undervalued blockchain projects, and infrastructure tokens. Coins like SHIB, VET, XLM, and GRT present opportunities for long-term growth while remaining accessible to budget-conscious investors.
With increasing institutional interest in crypto, regulatory developments, and growing retail adoption, affordable cryptocurrencies with strong fundamentals are more important than ever. Diversifying into these low-cost cryptos with potential could be a smart move for any investor looking to capture the next wave of digital asset growth.
FAQs
Q: What is the best cheap crypto to buy under $1?
A: Some of the top picks under $1 include VeChain (VET), Shiba Inu (SHIB), and Stellar (XLM), all of which offer solid fundamentals and strong communities.
Q: Can cheap cryptos reach $1?
A: While some low-cost cryptos may reach $1, others with high supply (like SHIB or BTT) would require unrealistic market caps. Focus on percentage gains, not price per token.
Q: Are cheap cryptos a good long-term investment?
A: Yes, if they have a viable use case, strong development team, and community support. Not all will succeed, so research is critical.
Q: Where can I find the next undervalued crypto?
A: Look for early-stage projects on platforms like CoinGecko, CryptoRank, and Twitter threads from reputable analysts.
