2024 Crypto Market Winners Overview: How the Top Five Coins Stand Out

2024 is coming to an end, but the performance report of the crypto market has been impressive. Behind the currencies that defy volatility and rise against the trend, there are their own stories—whether driven by fundamentals or market hotspots. These “star coins” have demonstrated what a windfall looks like through their gains. This article reviews the five most outstanding crypto assets of 2024, deeply analyzes the secrets of their success, and considers whether these coins can maintain their momentum in 2025.

MANTRA (OM): The Hotter RWA Narrative

If there’s one narrative that has been the hottest in 2024, it’s RWA (Real World Asset) on-chain. As the flagship token of the Layer-1 chain OM ecosystem, MANTRA has been the biggest beneficiary of this wave of benefits.

Data shows that MANTRA surged by 9,445% in 2024, soaring from $0.040 at the start of the year to a historical high of $4.60 on December 11. Even after a correction, the current price remains around $0.08 (latest data as of January 2026 shows the all-time high was $8.99).

The logic behind this trend is clear—more and more capital believe that RWA can open a new door for global wealth allocation. A series of ecological collaborations and application expansions by MANTRA have continuously reinforced this expectation. From a technical perspective, OM has repeatedly hit new highs each time it breaks through the descending triangle on the daily chart, indicating further upside potential.

However, it’s important to note that all of this depends on whether the RWA hype can be sustained. If the market cools down, OM’s support level will be around $2.50.

MOG and POPCAT: Comparing Solana and Ethereum Meme Coins

The meme coin track in 2024 also has highlights. MOG, a rare explosive coin on Ethereum, gained 5,337% in the year, reaching a new high of $0.0000040 on December 6. But the good times didn’t last—subsequently, it plunged to $0.0000022, nearly a 50% drop. Technical indicators show that the Awesome Oscillator has fallen into the negative zone, indicating that bearish sentiment is dominant.

In contrast, POPCAT’s story is rooted in the Solana ecosystem. This cat coin gained 3,169% in 2024, with a peak reaching $2.05. The current price is $0.11 (latest data shows the all-time high was $2.08), representing a decline of over 95% from its high. Interestingly, the RSI indicator shows POPCAT has entered the oversold zone (RSI at only 32.20), which often signals a potential rebound. If buying interest returns, the $1.28 level could become a rebound target.

The comparison between these two meme coins reflects a phenomenon: the cycle rotation of ecosystem popularity and risk appetite plays a key role in the crypto market.

AERO and AIOZ: Resonance of Fundamentals and Ecosystem Benefits

Aerodrome Finance (AERO), as an important DEX on the Base chain, has achieved a 1,981% annual increase thanks to the landing of Coinbase Layer-2 solutions. Support from major exchanges for its futures market has further enhanced liquidity. From a technical standpoint, the current price of $0.58 (down by 63.42%) still has a support level at $1.05. Holding this support could lead to a rebound breaking through $3; otherwise, risk points to $0.89.

AIOZ Network represents another narrative—AI and DePIN integration. At the start of the year, AIOZ surged by 624.40%, reaching a high of $1.20, but now the price is only $0.11 (down by 87.81%). Although the price has retraced significantly, the fundamentals suggest that AI and decentralized infrastructure networks, as long-term themes, still have room for imagination. If the price can break above the 50-day EMA, it may challenge $2; otherwise, it could bottom out around $0.58.

Highlights for 2025: Narrative Rotation or Market Shakeout

The five major coins share a common trait—they are all riding a certain market hotspot—whether RWA, Meme culture, Layer-2 ecosystems, or AI+DePIN. The key in 2025 is whether these narratives can carry forward the heat from 2024 or if new themes will take over.

From a technical perspective, these coins are all in a correction phase from high levels. Their bottom support levels will directly determine the future trend. Investors should pay attention not only to price rebounds but also to the trading volume during each rebound—this is the key signal to judge whether genuine buying interest is returning.