Ranked by reported 2024 year-to-date return—not by suitability for any investor—the five highest-returning coins in WisdomTree’s selected six-asset comparison were XRP, Bitcoin, Solana, Ethereum and Cardano. The figures are a historical snapshot dated December 31, 2024; they are not current returns, a ranking of all cryptocurrencies, or a forecast. Past performance does not indicate future results.
How this December 2024 ranking is defined
“Best” depends on the yardstick. This retrospective orders the six large-cap crypto assets in WisdomTree’s comparison by their reported year-to-date return through December 31, 2024. The top five by that measure appear below. This is a bounded historical screen, not a risk-adjusted ranking or a recommendation for any investor. The report is labeled “For Financial Professional Use Only”; its figures are used here as a historical comparison, not as a retail portfolio recommendation.
WisdomTree’s table identifies WisdomTree, Artemis Terminal and Glassnode as source inputs. Its volatility figures are based on three-month daily U.S.-dollar returns, annualized, as of December 31, 2024. WisdomTree’s December 2024 report cautions that historical performance does not indicate future performance and that investments can fall in value.
Top five by reported 2024 return
| Rank by return | Crypto asset | 2024 year-to-date return | Annualized three-month volatility |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | XRP | 237% | 121% |
| 2 | Bitcoin | 124% | 45% |
| 3 | Solana | 92% | 71% |
| 4 | Ethereum | 48% | 61% |
| 5 | Cardano | 44% | 143% |
Every return and volatility value in the table is reported by WisdomTree for its comparison dated December 31, 2024. Volatility is not a forecast or a measure of possible maximum loss; it is a distinct historical risk indicator, calculated from the report’s three-month daily USD returns and annualized. Polkadot, the sixth asset in the comparison, recorded a reported 2024 year-to-date return of -19% and annualized volatility of 125%.
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What the return ranking does—and does not—show
The ordering captures only reported return among these six selected assets over the stated period. It does not identify the most appropriate coin for a particular person, account for risk-adjusted performance, or include every cryptocurrency. The volatility figures show why the return column alone is incomplete: within this group, Bitcoin had the lowest reported annualized volatility at 45%, while Cardano had the highest at 143%; XRP’s reported volatility was 121%. These are all historical report figures, not live metrics.
Returns and volatility describe different things. A high past return does not establish that an asset will repeat it, and a volatility figure does not say whether a future price will rise or fall. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s Office of Investor Education and Advocacy said in its September 2024 bulletin that “Investors should understand that bitcoin and ether are highly speculative investments.” That guidance concerns Bitcoin and Ether; it should not be read as a coin-by-coin assessment of all six assets.
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Direct coin ownership versus a Bitcoin or Ether ETP
Historical return rankings do not determine how to gain exposure. Direct ownership and an exchange-traded product (ETP) have different operational and product risks. The SEC’s September 2024 bulletin addresses Bitcoin and Ether ETPs, not every crypto-linked product or every asset in the table.
| Consideration | Direct ownership | Bitcoin or Ether ETP covered by the SEC bulletin |
|---|---|---|
| Custody and keys | The holder must use a trading platform and manage wallet access and public/private keys, or rely on another custodian. | The investor holds ETP shares rather than handling the underlying crypto asset directly; the product’s structure and custody arrangements still matter. |
| Fees and tracking | Trading and custody arrangements can have costs; no specific fee level is established here. | Sponsor fees and differences between share performance and the underlying crypto asset can affect returns. Check the product’s prospectus and reports. |
| Market exposure and risks | Crypto prices remain volatile, and trading platforms may be exposed to fraud or manipulation risks. | Exposure to the underlying asset’s market risks remains, alongside product structure, tracking, fee and market risks. |
| Product structure described by the SEC | Not applicable to direct ownership. | The bulletin says spot Bitcoin and Ether ETPs hold the crypto asset and are exchange-traded commodity trusts, not investment companies registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940. Futures ETPs generally hold futures contracts. |
The SEC notes that spot Bitcoin and Ether ETPs register offerings and securities under the Securities Act of 1933 and Securities Exchange Act of 1934, but are not subject to Investment Company Act requirements—such as certain valuation and custody requirements—that apply to ETFs and mutual funds. This description is specific to the products covered in the bulletin; do not generalize it to every crypto-linked product. The SEC also states, “All investments in ETPs involve risk of financial loss.” Read the relevant prospectus and periodic reports before considering an ETP.
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- Tap once to manage your entire crypto wallet across 90 blockchains - no USB cables or Bluetooth, no batteries, no setup. Access 14,100+ coins & tokens, DeFi, NFTs, and staking instantly from your phone
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- Engineered to last up to 25 years: Waterproof (IP69K), shockproof and tested for extreme temperatures from −25°C to 50°C. A durable cold wallet with long‑term protection and independently audited security.
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Questions to ask before considering any crypto exposure
- What is the time period behind the performance figure? The ranking above covers reported 2024 year-to-date returns through December 31, 2024, not present-day performance.
- What risk measure accompanies the return? Compare the report’s annualized three-month volatility with the return, while recognizing that historical volatility is not a guarantee of future price movement or a maximum-loss estimate.
- How would custody work? For direct ownership, understand the trading platform, wallet and key-handling arrangements. A custody tool does not remove the risk that the asset’s price can fall.
- If considering an ETP, what does its documentation say? Review the prospectus for fees, structure, custody and risk factors, and consider how closely its shares have tracked the underlying asset.
- Is the decision appropriate for your circumstances? A return ranking cannot account for an individual’s goals, time horizon, financial situation or ability to bear losses.
The SEC’s September 2024 investor bulletin on crypto asset investment products explains the risks it identifies for Bitcoin and Ether ETPs. The SEC’s broader crypto-assets resource distinguishes categories of crypto assets; its taxonomy alone does not establish the legal classification of any individual token.
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