The crypto market experienced significant financial turbulence throughout 2019. Below, we analyze the year’s best-performing cryptocurrencies, ranked by ROI, adoption, and technical milestones.
Market Overview: 2019 Volatility
- January 2019: Total crypto market cap hovered around $130 billion.
- July 2019: Bullish momentum surged, pushing the cap to $373 billion.
- Year-End: The market stabilized below $200 billion.
Despite fluctuations, several assets outperformed Bitcoin. Here’s a breakdown:
1. Chainlink (LINK)
Role: Bridges smart contracts with real-world data.
2019 Performance:
- Price: Started at $0.31**, peaked at **$3.74 (July), settled at $1.90.
- ROI: 500%+ (USD), 300%+ (BTC).
👉 Why Chainlink dominated 2019
2. Binance Coin (BNB)
Utility: Fee discounts on Binance Exchange.
2019 Highlights:
- Price: Rose from $6** to **$35.20 (May), later stabilized at $14.
- ROI: 140%.
3. Tezos (XTZ)
Tech: Proof-of-Stake governance.
Growth:
- Price: $0.47** → **$1.88 (May) → $1.51 (Dec).
- ROI: 190%.
4. Synthetix Network Token (SNX)
Use Case: Backs synthetic assets ("Synths").
2019 Surge: 200%+, trading at $1.33 by December.
5. Bitcoin Cash (BCH)
BTC Fork: Ranked top-10 by market cap.
Performance: 30%+ growth, peaking at $479.96 (June).
6. Cosmos (ATOM)
Interoperability: Gained traction mid-2019.
Price: $0.001** → **$4.20+.
7. Litecoin (LTC)
BTC Alternative: Peaked at $141.73 (June), ended +40%.
8. Basic Attention Token (BAT)
Ad Rewards: Integrated with Brave browser.
ROI: 35%.
9. Ethereum (ETH)
Smart Contracts: 20% growth, peaking at $334.66.
10. EOS
DApp Platform: 10% annual gain despite volatility.
Bitcoin (BTC): Context
- Price: $3,500** → **$13,800 → $7,500.
- ROI: 100%+, buoyed by halving anticipation.
FAQs
Q: Why did Chainlink outperform Bitcoin?
A: Demand for decentralized oracles surged in DeFi projects.
Q: Is BNB’s growth tied to Binance’s success?
A: Yes, BNB benefits from exchange adoption and burn mechanisms.
Q: What drove Tezos’ adoption?
A: Its self-amending blockchain attracted institutional stakers.
Q: Will Ethereum rebound in 2020?
A: ETH 2.0 upgrades could catalyze growth.
Final Note: While Bitcoin remained a store of value, altcoins like LINK and BNB offered higher returns. Diversification proved key in 2019’s volatile market.