Have you ever noticed how much the crypto world is like high school? Everyone is obsessed with the popular crowd – Ethereum, Solana, Bitcoin – while the real action happens at the quieter tables. Sure, these big players get all the attention, but there are smaller Layer 1 platforms that address challenges that established platforms struggle to solve.
Layer 1 blockchains are the foundation of decentralized networks. Unlike layer 2 solutions or applications built on Ethereum, they do not rely on existing infrastructure, they are infrastructure. This independence allows them to innovate directly at the protocol level, addressing scalability, security, and accessibility in a way that Layer 2s simply cannot. From integrating revolutionary consensus models to opening unique developer ecosystems, Layer 1 sets the stage for the next wave of Web3 evolution.
Think about it. Reducing cross-chain transfer times from 16 minutes to 2 minutes, connecting millions of JavaScript developers to the blockchain, and securing confidential health data for Fortune 500 companies. All of this is happening under the radar. And even if the market capitalization of these platforms is still relatively low, their real use and their technology could make them stars in 2025.
So let’s take a deeper look at these five layer 1 tokens that could soon make waves, even if most in the crypto world haven’t figured it out yet.
1. Algorande (ALGO)
Blockchain scalability is a tough problem to solve: everyone wants speed, security, and decentralization, but getting all three right has been a challenge. Algorand found its answer with Pure Proof-of-Stake, proposed by Turing Award winner Silvio Micali. The result is a platform that processes millions of transactions daily without a hitch.
In January 2024, Algorand processed 43 million transactions in a single day, ranking third in blockchain transaction volume that quarter. With transactions finalized in seconds and no forks, it’s a solid option for financial applications that need speed and certainty.
Concrete use cases are already arriving. ZTLment, a European fintech, moved its entire payments infrastructure to Algorand, reducing development time by 85%. King’s College London and financial giant abrdn have also chosen Algorand to secure their data and launch money market funds. Yet despite these achievements, ALGO is trading at just $0.33, indicating that the market may be missing something. As financial institutions and large enterprises turn to blockchain, Algorand’s enterprise-grade infrastructure prepares it for long-term growth in 2025 and beyond.
2. Agoric (BLD)
The development of blockchain today is a headache. Multiple programming languages, complex cross-chain transactions, and operations requiring dozens of steps. Agoric simplifies all of this by integrating JavaScript, the programming language that millions of developers already know, into the blockchain. By leveraging a developer pool nearly 1,000 times larger than Solidity’s, Agoric is building a more inclusive Web3 ecosystem.
The platform’s Orchestration API, launched in Q3 2024, reduced cross-chain USDC transfer times from 16 minutes to 2 minutes. By leveraging Interchain Accounts (ICA) and the Inter-Blockchain Communication (IBC) protocol, this advancement solved one of Web3’s biggest problems: making cross-chain interactions transparent for developers and users.
In October 2024, Agoric partnered with Native to bring native Bitcoin to Cosmos, enabling trustless transactions without packaging or intermediaries. A month later, the platform partnered with Union to facilitate trustless bridging between Cosmos and major EVM chains like Ethereum and Arbitrum. These collaborations reflect Agoric’s commitment to frictionless interoperability.
Agoric’s dual token system ensures the stability of its innovative ecosystem. With 667 million tokens in circulation out of a maximum of 1.06 billion, BLD secures the network through staking and governance. Complementing this, IST, an over-collateralized stablecoin pegged to the US dollar, provides a stable medium of exchange across the ecosystem, facilitating transparent liquidity and predictable transaction fees. Despite its technical strengths, BLD is currently trading at $0.05, with a market capitalization of approximately $32.77 million. This positions Agoric as an undervalued player in the growing Cosmos ecosystem. As Agoric’s Orchestration API and partnerships, like those with Native and Union, continue to drive adoption, BLD is poised for growth. Its unique ability to integrate the expertise of traditional developers and its constant focus on usability and interoperability make it one to watch in 2025.
3. MultiverseX (EGLD)
While many blockchains struggle to scale without sacrificing decentralization, MultiverseX (formerly Elrond) has cracked the code. Its adaptive state sharing divides the network into manageable pieces, achieving 30,000 transactions per second while maintaining decentralization across more than 3,200 validating nodes. The result is reliable and fast performance, even during periods of high demand, and transaction costs that remain stable at $0.001.
In addition to scalability, MultiversX takes sustainability seriously. The platform is carbon neutral, offsetting more CO2 than it produces since 2021, with a relatively low carbon footprint of 5,253 tonnes per year, much lower than most blockchain networks.
Its EGLD token is crucial to securing the network and offers punters an average APR of 7.32%. MultiversX has been chosen by large companies like Google Cloud and Tencent Cloud, demonstrating the growing confidence of enterprise stakeholders. In 2024, the launch of Growth Games, a $1.5 million grant program aimed at accelerating the integration of AI and blockchain, shows that MultiverseX is more than just a promising blockchain: it is building a ecosystem.
Nonetheless, EGLD’s market cap lags far behind its larger competitors, trading at $30.38 at the time of writing, while blockchains with similar or lower transaction speeds surpass it. If more investors recognize MultiversX’s strong infrastructure and eco-friendly approach, EGLD could see its value increase significantly in 2025.
4. Oasis Network (ROSE)
Blockchain transparency is a good thing, but when it comes to sensitive data, it can be a liability. As DeFi, AI, and other applications grow, the need to handle private data securely becomes even more critical. Oasis Network comes in with a dual-layer architecture that integrates confidential computing with blockchain, ensuring data security without compromising the benefits of decentralization.
ROSE, the network token, is used for staking, transaction fees, and governance. With a total supply of 10 billion tokens, it helps facilitate network operations and rewards users. In 2024, Oasis introduced a “subtraction fee” indicator to improve transaction efficiency, which allows users to adjust gas fees, another example of its user-focused improvements.
Although its technology is strong, ROSE is still undervalued at around $0.069. As privacy concerns become increasingly important and industries such as healthcare and finance demand blockchain solutions, Oasis’ ability to provide secure and scalable privacy solutions makes it a platform exciting to watch. The adoption of ROSE for privacy-centric applications could make it a long-term growth project in the coming years.
5. Injective (INJ)
Injective has focused on one area: decentralized finance (DeFi). With its Layer-1 platform, it is designed specifically for DeFi applications, offering high-performance features such as decentralized exchanges (DEX), derivatives, and cross-chain interoperability. Its 0.64 second block times and sub-cent transaction fees make it one of the most efficient platforms in the industry.
Injective’s tokenomics is unique. Instead of traditional fee structures, 60% of protocol fees are funneled into a buy-and-burn auction, removing 6.38 million INJ tokens from circulation. This deflationary approach could increase the value of INJ over time.
Despite its impressive stats, INJ is still undervalued at around $19.1, far from its all-time high of $52.94. As the DeFi sector continues to grow, Injective’s ability to provide scalable and decentralized financial products makes it one of the top projects in the space for 2025. The focus on interoperability and decentralized exchanges could giving it a significant advantage in the rapidly evolving DeFi market.
Conclusion
While the crypto world remains obsessed with Ethereum and Solana, these five underappreciated layer 1 tokens – MultiverseX, Algorand, Agoric, Oasis Network, and Injective – are quietly solving some of Web3’s most pressing problems. From reducing cross-chain transfer times to ensuring privacy of sensitive data to creating scalable ecosystems, these platforms don’t just solve isolated technical problems, they help create a blockchain ecosystem more scalable, interoperable and user-friendly.
As yesterday’s high school stars fade into the background, the steady rise of these layer 1 projects signals that the blockchain world is ready to welcome its secret heroes. If you’re looking for the next stars in 2025, look beyond the headlines. The ability of these platforms to solve real-world problems, backed by strong technology and growing adoption, positions them as strong contenders for long-term success.
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