2018's Top 5 Best-Performing Cryptocurrencies

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The year 2018 got off to a rocky start for the cryptocurrency market. On February 6, the total market cap plummeted by $93 billion, dropping to a low of $276 billion—far below the all-time high of $834 billion reached in early January.

Bitcoin, the largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization, fell 25% in January amid growing concerns over regulatory scrutiny in the U.S. and Asia—its worst monthly drop in three years. Though it has partially rebounded, Bitcoin still trades about 18% below its 2018 opening price.

Ripple (XRP), the third-largest digital asset, fared even worse, dropping over 55% since New Year’s Day and becoming one of the worst performers of the year so far. This downturn follows a staggering 2017, when Bitcoin surged 1,320% and Ripple skyrocketed by 36,000%.

Despite the broader sell-off, not all cryptocurrencies are bleeding value. In fact, several digital assets have defied the bearish trend and captured the attention of traders and investors looking for strong momentum. Interestingly, none of 2017’s top performers made it onto this list.

To narrow our focus among more than 1,500 cryptocurrencies, we analyzed only those with a market cap exceeding $1 billion—leaving us with 26 qualifying assets.

Core Keywords

1. VeChain (VET)

VeChain kicked off 2018 with explosive momentum. Starting the year at $2.29, it surged to an all-time high of $9.70 on January 22 before settling around $6.43—still representing a year-to-date gain of 160%, making it the top performer so far.

With a current market cap of approximately $3 billion, VeChain ranks as the 16th largest cryptocurrency globally.

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VeChain is a blockchain platform designed to enhance supply chain management. It enables end-to-end tracking—from raw materials and production logs to spare parts replacement—ensuring transparency and authenticity across industries.

The platform offers tailored solutions for luxury goods, retail, cold chain logistics, and general freight. Notably, several Chinese enterprises already use VeChain to verify imported goods. Additionally, PwC (PricewaterhouseCoopers) has integrated VeChain into its third-party verification services, validating its technical credibility.

As blockchain adoption grows in enterprise logistics, VeChain is positioning itself as a key disruptor in supply chain innovation—offering trust, traceability, and efficiency at scale.

2. NEO (NEO/USD)

NEO began 2018 at $75.02 and soared to a record high of $198.20 on January 15, fueled by widespread optimism about its future potential. While it has since pulled back, it still trades around $124.50—up 64% year-to-date.

With a market cap of roughly $8.3 billion, NEO ranks seventh among cryptocurrencies. In 2017 alone, it delivered an astonishing return of over 53,450%.

Often dubbed the “Chinese Ethereum,” NEO is a blockchain platform supporting digital assets and smart contracts. Like Ethereum, it aims to serve as a foundation for decentralized applications (dApps) and initial coin offerings (ICOs).

However, NEO goes further by supporting decentralized identity verification, digital asset tokenization, and enterprise-grade solutions. It also addresses known security flaws in Ethereum’s smart contract system, making it more resilient against hacks.

Originally launched as AntShares by Da Hongfei—CEO of OnChain—NEO was co-founded with Erik Zhang. Understanding OnChain is crucial: while separate from NEO, the two share strategic alignment. OnChain’s Decentralized Network Architecture (DNA) is designed to integrate with Chinese corporations and government institutions.

If successful, this integration could drive massive real-world adoption of NEO—potentially accelerating its growth trajectory in both Asia and global markets.

3. Lisk (LSK/USD)

Lisk started the year at $22.01 and currently trades at $25.50—a 20% increase so far in 2018. It briefly hit an all-time high of $42.00 on January 7.

With a market cap of about $2.6 billion, Lisk ranks as the 17th largest cryptocurrency. In 2017, it delivered an impressive gain of 13,480%.

Lisk is a public blockchain platform that enables developers to build decentralized applications using JavaScript—a major advantage given JavaScript’s widespread use among web developers.

Unlike traditional dApp platforms, Lisk uses a unique sidechain architecture: each application runs on its own isolated sidechain connected to the main Lisk blockchain. This design improves scalability and allows greater customization without affecting network stability.

While similar in vision to Ethereum and NEO—supporting dApps and smart contract-like functionality—Lisk does not rely on smart contracts per se. Instead, it emphasizes modular development through sidechains.

Notable endorsements include advisory roles from Charles Hoskinson (former Ethereum CEO) and Steven Nerayoff (former Ethereum advisor), both joining in 2016 to support product development.

Moreover, Lisk has partnered with Microsoft Azure, allowing developers worldwide to build, test, and deploy blockchain apps using Microsoft’s cloud infrastructure—an important step toward mainstream developer adoption.

4. Binance Coin (BNB/USD)

Binance Coin rose 19% in the first six weeks of 2018—from $8.53 to $9.88—despite pulling back from its January peak of $24.64.

With a market cap near $1.1 billion, BNB ranks 28th globally.

BNB is the native cryptocurrency of Binance—the popular crypto exchange founded in China and now operating internationally. Binance supports around 100 cryptocurrencies and ranks among the world’s top platforms for Bitcoin and Ethereum trading volume.

Launched in July 2017, BNB was initially built on the Ethereum network as an ERC-20 token. It was designed to offer users discounted trading and withdrawal fees—up to 50% off during the first year.

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Beyond fee reductions, BNB provides access to exclusive features and will play a central role in powering Binance’s planned decentralized exchange (DEX). This utility-driven model creates ongoing demand for the token as exchange activity grows.

As Binance expands its global footprint and product suite—including futures, staking, and launchpad offerings—the long-term value proposition of BNB continues to strengthen.

5. Ethereum (ETH/USD)

Ethereum closed 2017 at $736.77 and currently trades at $885—an increase of about 17% year-to-date. It briefly reached an intraday high of $1,423 on January 13.

With a market cap of approximately $94 billion, Ethereum remains the second-largest cryptocurrency after Bitcoin—and the only “mainstream” coin on this list.

Launched in 2015 based on Vitalik Buterin’s 2013 whitepaper, Ethereum is an open-source blockchain platform enabling developers to build decentralized applications powered by smart contracts.

Its growth has been driven by rising institutional interest and broader recognition of blockchain’s potential beyond digital money.

The Enterprise Ethereum Alliance (EEA)—founded recently—includes major players like Intel, Microsoft, JPMorgan Chase, and Credit Suisse. This coalition accelerates enterprise adoption of Ethereum-based solutions across finance, supply chain, healthcare, and more.

These developments reinforce Ethereum’s position not just as a speculative asset but as foundational infrastructure for next-generation decentralized systems.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Why did most top-performing cryptos in 2018 come from lesser-known projects?
A: After massive gains in 2017—especially for Bitcoin and Ripple—many investors shifted focus to undervalued or emerging projects with higher growth potential. This rotation fueled interest in platforms like VeChain and Lisk.

Q: Is past performance a reliable indicator for future crypto returns?
A: Not necessarily. Cryptocurrency markets are highly volatile and influenced by technology updates, regulation, adoption rates, and speculation. Always conduct independent research before investing.

Q: What makes VeChain stand out from other supply chain blockchains?
A: VeChain combines real-world enterprise partnerships (like PwC and Chinese importers) with a robust technical framework focused on product authentication and logistics transparency—giving it tangible use cases early on.

Q: Can NEO realistically compete with Ethereum globally?
A: While NEO has strong backing in China and technical advantages in identity and asset digitization, global adoption depends on expanding developer communities outside Asia—a challenge it’s actively working to overcome.

Q: How does Binance Coin derive its value?
A: BNB gains value through utility—fee discounts on one of the world’s largest exchanges—and planned integration into a decentralized exchange ecosystem, creating consistent demand.

Q: Why is Ethereum still relevant despite newer competitors?
A: Ethereum has the largest developer community, most deployed dApps, and strongest institutional support via the EEA—making it the benchmark for smart contract platforms despite scalability challenges.

The crypto landscape in 2018 has been marked by extreme volatility—but also surprising opportunities. While giants like Bitcoin struggle with corrections, emerging platforms like VeChain, NEO, Lisk, Binance Coin, and even Ethereum show that innovation continues to drive momentum.

👉 Stay ahead of the curve—track high-potential digital assets before they go mainstream.

As investor appetite shifts toward utility-focused blockchains and scalable ecosystems, these five cryptocurrencies exemplify how real-world application—not just speculation—can fuel sustainable growth in uncertain markets.