Searching for crypto gems doesn’t have to involve trawling dubious memecoin launchpads for illiquid tokens with a half-life of about three seconds. If you set your sights a little higher and move into the field of established crypto assets, you’ll find there’s still plenty of opportunities to be had with much less risk. Mid-cap tokens still have ample room to grow, particularly if you back a category winner, be it in GameFi or liquid staking.
With market caps under $1 billion, the following projects offer significant upside, combining strong fundamentals with passionate communities and unique features that distinguish them from the rest of the chasing pack. Keep these six on your mid-cap radar.
1. Fuse (FUSE)
Fuse aims to power a decentralized network for low-cost, high-frequency payments. By focusing on seamless integration with real-world commerce, Fuse’s blockchain enables businesses and developers to launch payment systems easily, reducing both the friction and cost often associated with traditional rails. A string of partnerships with key industry players underscore Fuse’s commitment to democratizing global payments. For investors, this presents the possibility of a truly borderless and efficient financial ecosystem, with the FUSE token at its core.
2. My Neighbor Alice (ALICE)
My Neighbor Alice (MNA) merges gaming, NFTs, and social finance to create a captivating onchain world set on the Lummelunda Archipelago. Frequent updates and a thriving in-game economy ensure MNA stands out in a crowded GameFi arena. With an ambitious roadmap, including a decentralization blueprint leveraging the network effects of the ALICE token, MNA is going places – and so are crypto investors shrewd enough to pick up a bag and stick around for the ride.
3. Gala Games (GALA)
Gala Games is building an ever-expanding ecosystem of blockchain-based titles that put ownership and reward mechanisms front and center. Having partnered with a mixture of established and indie developers, Gala’s platform has quickly become a haven for gamers seeking transparent, player-focused economies. Based on the size of its gaming ecosystem and the quality of the titles being routinely released on its platform, there’s a strong case for asserting that the GALA token is undervalued.
4. exSat (XSAT)
exSat’s Bitcoin scaling solution revolves around a docking layer that enables BTC to expand to other chains. By leveraging Bitcoin’s robust security, exSat provides a complementary framework designed to support scalable, high-performance applications without compromising the decentralization and trust that Bitcoin is renowned for. With a focus on maintaining Bitcoin’s core principles while addressing its scalability limitations, exSat represents a critical step toward expanding Bitcoin’s reach and functionality, with the XSAT token rewarding stakers and unlocking new use cases on Bitcoin Layer 2.
5. Illuvium (ILV)
Illuvium seeks to bridge the gap between AAA-caliber gaming and decentralized finance to create the world’s first IBG: Interoperable Blockchain Game. With visually stunning art, sophisticated gameplay, and integrated DeFi mechanics, Illuvium is designed to appeal to hardcore gamers as well as crypto enthusiasts. As immersive metaverse experiences gain momentum, Illuvium has early-mover advantage and an impressive player base, making its ILV token one to accumulate. If GameFi achieves even a fraction of its potential, ILV will be worth multiples more than it is today.
6. Injective Protocol (INJ)
Injective Protocol is a decentralized finance platform optimized for derivatives and perpetual trading. By offering a seamless, interoperable environment, Injective aims to unlock new markets and trading strategies for DeFi users. With trustless cross-chain interoperability and a growing roster of supported assets, Injective and its INJ token cater to traders looking for advanced products and more efficient ways to deploy capital onchain through its auto-executing smart contracts that can power an array of advanced dapps.
Watch Your Six
The six projects featured here – Fuse, My Neighbor Alice, Gala Games, exSat, Illuvium, and Injective Protocol – are ripe with potential to go higher and grow larger. Despite the market cap of most still being under $1 billion – and multiples lower in some cases – they’re rising stars in such verticals as payments, gaming, virtual economies, and DeFi. If you’re looking for projects that straddle the line between established utility and untapped potential, these mid-cap gems warrant closer attention.
