This guide discusses the most sustainable cryptos to invest in 2024. These are also referred to as green digital assets. They are committed to climate conservation. The majority use energy-efficient consensus mechanisms. Others invest in carbon offsetting.
Some have even partnered with leading green energy producers. Others even encourage the transition to clean energy.
Read on to learn what makes these crypto projects stand out. We also discuss the importance of sustainable crypto.
12 Most Sustainable Cryptos to Buy 2024
Today, thousands of cryptos use energy-efficient consensus mechanisms. These have embraced the popular proof-of-stake consensus mechanism. When searching for the most sustainable cryptos, we vetted hundreds of projects. Ultimately, we settled on these as the 12 best cryptos to buy now:
- Ethereum – Most Sustainable Crypto to Buy and Hold
- Cosmos – Best Future Crypto Promising an Interoperable Blockchain Network
- Chainlink – Sustainable Crypto Bridging On- and Off-Chain Worlds through Oracles
- Polygon – Successful Layer 2 Scaling Protocol with a Green Manifesto
- Solana – Successful Ethereum Competitor with a Large Following
- Ripple – Disruptive Crypto Project with an Energy-Efficient Consensus Mechanism
- Cardano – Highly Secure Ethereum Alternative with a Clear Roadmap
- Aave – Most Sustainable DeFi Platform Dedicated to Crypto Lending
- SolarCoin – Popular Green currency Incentivizing Solar Power
- Binance Coin – Popular Coin for the Binance Exchange and the Binance Smart Chain
- Stellar – Sustainable Crypto Project Revolutionizing Cross-Border Value Transfer
- Fantom – Smart Contract Platform that is More Energy-Efficient than Ethereum
Below, we provide you with an overview of the top altcoins highlighted above. We will start by telling you why they stand out. We will then look at their past price action and their expected future action.
Overview of the Most Sustainable Cryptos to Invest in Today
We considered a number of factors when vetting sustainable cryptos worth buying. First, we checked the energy efficiency of their blockchain network. We then checked its past and expected price action.
Here is an overview of what investors consider the most sustainable cryptos:
1. Ethereum (ETH) – Most Sustainable Crypto to Buy and Hold
Ethereum is our top pick for the best sustainable crypto to buy right now. Before 2022, Ethereum used proof-of-work consensus mechanism. This was energy consuming. In 2021, for example, it used between 45 and 100 terawatt-hours of power.
In September 2022, however, Ethereum switched to the proof-of-stake mechanism. Ethereum now uses 99.95% less energy. This makes it the most energy-efficient large-cap crypto worth buying.
Today, Ethereum uses 99% less energy than Bitcoin. According to Ethereum researcher – Justin Drake, the merge will reduce global power consumption by 0.2%.
ETH also tops this list because it is a profitable crypto asset. It has even been named one of the most lucrative crypto assets of all time. Among the factors making it price up crypto asset is adoption.
Before 2022, however, some investors remained on the sidelines. Their SDG policies won’t let them invest in non-sustainable projects. Today ETH is already attracting lots institutional investors.
This is then expected to trigger its sharpest value gain yet. Other factors affecting ETH price include its resilience. Not forgetting the overall market action. The crypto is nevertheless expected to continue gaining value. By 2030, some analysts believe it will Ethereum price prediction will be the most valuable crypto.
Crypto asset investments are highly volatile and speculative
2. Cosmos (ATOM) – Future Crypto Promising an Interoperable Blockchain Network
Cosmos stands out with its promise of an interoperable blockchain. It intends to ultimately create a connected blockchain ecosystem. This ensures that ATOM will be the most sustainable crypto. This will be made possible by the Cosmos Hub – a shared security model.
It runs a proof-of-stake consensus mechanism. Blockchains connected to the hub won’t need to run their own consensus mechanisms.
This creativity continues to endear ATOM to crypto investors. It has helped spur developer activity on the blockchain. More brands are embracing the Cosmos SDK. They are creating and launching crypto applications and programs.
All these will trigger an upward price correction for ATOM. We like Cosmos because it has maintained an overall value gain. And it is expected to continue rallying in the foreseeable future. These are the reasons why ATOM lists among the best green cryptos to buy and hold.
Crypto asset investments are highly volatile and speculative
3. Chainlink (LINK) – Sustainable Crypto Bridging On- and Off-Chain Worlds through Oracles
Chainlink is one of the most innovative blockchain networks we have today. It was designed to help bridge the gap between the off- and the on-chain worlds. And it seeks to achieve this through its latest oracle technology. The unique tool facilitates data sharing between off- and on-chain programs.
LINK uses the proof of stake consensus mechanism. That is why we list it among the most sustainable cryptos. The makes it as energy-efficient as Ethereum. It also endears it to SDG-focused institutional investors.
The LINK token makes it here because of its solid future. For starters, the coin has performed well in the past. It has also proved its obedience to market trends. When the market starts recovering, Chainlink is expected to rebound. Note that today, LINK trades at a subsidized price – 85% below ATH. This makes it one of the best altcoins to buy at a discount today.
Crypto asset investments are highly volatile and speculative
4. Polygon (MATIC) – Most Successful Layer 2 Scaling Protocol with a Green Manifesto
Unlike most of the cryptos discussed here, Polygon does not have a blockchain main-net. It is a layer 2 scaling solution for Ethereum. It, too, uses the PoS consensus mechanism. But unlike Ethereum, Polygon has launched a green manifesto.
Polygon has also committed to become carbon-negative before the end of 2024. It has a lofty goal of becoming the first climate-positive blockchain. These make Polygon one of most sustainable cryptos to invest in today.
The layer 2 protocol also makes it here because of its promising future. First is the fact that it is a multi-chain project. Polygon intends to ultimately launch more EVM-compatible blockchains. These and a recovering market are expected to help it escape the dip. So will further adoption and community support.
Crypto asset investments are highly volatile and speculative
5. Solana (SOL) – Successful Ethereum Competitor with a Large Following
Before the merge, Solana was 90% more energy-efficient than Ethereum. Today, a BTC transaction consumes 27X more energy than a SOL transaction. We attribute this to the use of proof-of-history consensus mechanism on Solana.
Solana is committed to becoming a carbon-neutral blockchain. It even shares transparent reports on its energy consumption. This explains why it is one of the best sustainable crypto to invest in today.
But Solana is also popular because of its reliability. It maintains ultra-fast processing speeds and low fees. Plus, SOL tokens have performed well in the past. At its peak in 2021, for example, SOL was one of the most profitable cryptos.
Today, the crypto trades 90%+ below its all-time high. It, however, is expected to rebound and rush to a new record. We, for instance, expect Solana price prediction to recapture its 2021 highs during the next bull market. This makes it the best future crypto to buy right away.
Crypto asset investments are highly volatile and speculative
6. Ripple (XRP) – Disruptive Crypto Project with an Energy-Efficient Consensus Mechanism
Ripple uses the green Ripple Protocol Consensus Algorithm. This is as energy-efficient as the Ethereum’s PoS or Solana’s PoH. And like these two, an XRP transaction uses 27X less energy than BTC. This informed our decision to list it among the most sustainable cryptos to invest in.
But Ripple’s appeal to investors goes beyond energy-efficiency. The crypto is popular because it is fast, low-cost, and is highly secure. You probably know that Ripple recently won a case against the SEC-US.
Before the win, Ripple had expanded its network. For starters, it had increased partnership with finance industry players. It was also been in talks with eight governments. These intend to develop their CBDCs using the XRP Ledger platform.
But look at XRP’s price, you will notice that none of these developments are priced in. The popular crypto still trades at a discounted price well below its 2018 highs. We expect the next market rally to change this by triggering a positive price correction for Ripple price prediction. This is why some investors consider it the next crypto to explode.
Crypto asset investments are highly volatile and speculative
7. Cardano (ADA) – Secure Ethereum Alternative with a Clear Roadmap
Cardano is the most successful Ethereum alternative. Like Ethereum, cardano uses the PoS consensus mechanism. Unlike Ethereum, though Cardano is faster in processing transactions. It also maintains lower gas fees and is more secure.
Like Polygon, Cardano has a green manifesto. It was even named the “Green Blockchain” due to its commitment to energy efficiency.
We feature ADA among the best green cryptos because it is lucrative. Note that it lags behind Solana in embracing crypto technologies. But Cardano continues to maintain an up-trending price action.
You may have noticed that it has been rather aggressive in playing catch up. This started with multiple partnerships with different brands. It then added crypto technologies to this network during the bear market. We expect ADA to price in these developments during the next bull market. This makes ADA the best undervalued crypto to buy right now.
Crypto asset investments are highly volatile and speculative
8. Aave (AAVE) – Most Sustainable DeFi Platform Dedicated to Crypto Lending
Aave is a DeFi protocol on the Ethereum network. Launched in late 2017, it has grown into the most valuable crypto lending platform. At the time of writing, Aave had the largest TVL of more than $4 Billion. This has endeared it to investors who wish to escape the regular finance industry. It draws these investors in with its flexible with its crypto loans.
They also appreciate its competitive interest rate on investments. Further, Aave is less bureaucratic when it comes to crypto loans.
More importantly, AAVE coin is a profitable crypto asset. It has an overall positive ROI and a promising future. Not forgetting that it is selling at a discounted price. So far, the DeFi coin has dipped close to 90% below its early 2021 highs.
It, however, is a resilient crypto asset. It is expected to rebound when the market starts recovering. This makes it one of the best altcoins to buy right now.
We, however, don’t list it among the most sustainable cryptos to buy today only because of its high yields. We list it here primarily because of its energy efficiency. Like Ethereum, Aave uses the proof-of-stake consensus mechanism.
Aave has also partnered with the Green Bitcoin Initiative. It uses the brand to offset its carbon emissions. Plus, Aave has invested in a solar-powered BTC mining operation. Not forgetting that it is developing a lending market for carbon credits.
Crypto asset investments are highly volatile and speculative
9. SolarCoin (SLR) – Popular Green Virtual Currency Incentivizing Solar Power
SolarCoin is arguably the most sustainable crypto on this list. Launched in 2014, its whole existence is tied to green energy. Its sole mission of incentivizing the transition to solar energy. To achieve this, the crypto projects adopt three approaches. First, it incentivizes the production of renewable energy. And it achieves this by rewarding solar energy producers.
Secondly, SolarCoin incentivizes installation of solar power. In developing countries, it has supported erection of solar panels. Key benefits of this program are schools, hospitals, and other public buildings. Lastly, SolarCoin is raising solar energy awareness globally.
Crypto asset investments are highly volatile and speculative
10. Binance Coin (BNB) – Popular Coin for the Binance Exchange and Binance Smart Chain
Binance Coin is the Utility coin for the Binance exchange. It is also the governance token for the Binance Smart Chain. The two reasons help it feature among the most sustainable cryptocurrencies to invest in. First, BSC uses the Proof-of-Staked-Authority consensus mechanism.
This is as energy-efficient as Ethereum’s Pos. Second, Binance is involved with multiple green energy campaigns.
For starters, Binance has pledged to be carbon-neutral by 2030. It has even launched a $100 Million Green Energy Bond Fund. The exchange has proceeded to invest in a 100 MW solar farm in China. Further, Binance has committed to invest $1 Billion in clean energy.
Binance coin is more than just the best sustainable crypto worth buying. It also makes it here because it is one of the hottest cryptos out here. We say this because even with a promising future, BNB trades at a discount.
Crypto asset investments are highly volatile and speculative
11. Stellar (XLM) – Sustainable Crypto Project Revolutionizing Cross-Border Value Transfer
The Stellar Network is one of the most energy-efficient blockchains out there. It uses the energy-efficient Stellar Consensus Mechanism. This consumes 90% less energy than Bitcoin. Like most cryptos, it is involved with several green energy projects. For starters, Stellar is involved with programs that promote climate conservation.
The network operates the Stellar Solar Energy Project. And they have installed solar panels on the roofs of Stellar offices worldwide. The Stellar Green Fund has also invested millions in clean energy. In partnership with the Rainforest Alliance, Stellar supports sustainable agriculture.
Crypto asset investments are highly volatile and speculative
12. Fantom (FTM) – Smart Contract Platform that is More Energy-Efficient than Ethereum
Fantom participates in climate conservation in a number of ways. For starters, it uses the Lachesis consensus mechanism. This is way more energy-efficient than Bitcoin’s proof of work. Unlike Bitcoin, it doesn’t require copious amounts of energy. And this makes it one of the most sustainable cryptos out there.
In addition to Lachesis, Fantom partners with several green energy projects. Fan, for starters, it is a member of the Climate Bond Initiative. Fantom has even partnered with the Green Bitcoin Initiative. It then joins the list of crypto projects offsetting their carbon emissions.
Fantom’s commitment to green energy makes it sustainable. It is the lucrative price action that makes FTM worth buying.
Even with a promising future, FTM trades at a huge discount. This is not to say that it isn’t resilient or hasn’t performed well in the past. On the contrary, FTM trades at a discount because of the bear market. For these reasons, we featured it among the best beginner cryptos to buy today.
Crypto asset investments are highly volatile and speculative
What makes a Crypto Project Sustainable?
The topic of sustainable cryptos revolves around energy use. If a network uses less power, it is termed sustainable. But you can’t discuss sustainable crypto without mentioning Bitcoin.
In 2022, Bitcoin used between 100 and 150 terawatt-hours of power. This is equivalent to the annual power needs of the Netherlands. Bitcoin CO2 emissions during the year were between 20 and 70 megatons.
This implies that the Bitcoin doesn’t just strain the global power grid. It also accelerates global warming. Sustainable cryptos are blockchain networks that don’t strain electric grids. They also don’t hasten global warming. Most cryptos have taken three approaches to becoming sustainable. These are:
Avoiding the PoW mechanism.
The proof-of-work mechanism consumes a lot of energy. It also contributes to higher CO2 emissions. Sustainable cryptos have turned to energy-efficient consensus mechanisms. Chief among them is the proof-of-stake protocol.
Carbon offsetting
A growing number of cryptos are involved in carbon offsetting. This means funding companies and institutions that capture greenhouse gases.
Partnering with green energy producers
Crypto projects have invested in green energy producers. Binance has, for example, invested in solar and wind farms in China. The Ethereum Foundation has invested in a Nevada Solar farm. This farm promises to create enough to power the Ethereum for a year.
Where to Buy the Most Sustainable Cryptos Today?
You now know the most sustainable cryptos to invest in today. Next, you need to learn where to buy these digital assets.
We recommend buying cryptos on eToro. It is among the best crypto exchanges, appealing to beginners and experts. eToro is user-friendly. It supports most sustainable cryptos and is cost-friendly.
The crypto trading platform also integrates multiple tools and resources. These range from a free demo account to customizable charts and copy trading. It then extends to a free crypto wallet app for iOS and Android. And you only need $10 to start buying cryptos on the regulated brokerage. Not forgetting that it supports copy trading.
Crypto asset investments are highly volatile and speculative
Why is Sustainability in Cryptos Important?
Sustainability in crypto lessens the negative impacts that carbon emissions have on climate. It is also important because it endears cryptos to investors.
Below, we look at the top advantages of sustainable cryptos
Helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions
By reducing their energy use, cryptos reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Further, cryptos are playing a critical role in slowing down global warming. They even help avert climate change through carbon offsetting.
It makes crypto attractive to SDG-conscious investors and regulators
Most institutional investors are bound by SDG guidelines. Therefore, they won’t invest in non-sustainable cryptos. Regulators have also said energy consumption hampers regulation. Through sustainability, cryptos do more than attract brand investors. They soften the regulator’s stance towards the novel technology.
It helps ensure fair distribution of energy resource
Before the merge, Ethereum used between 45 and 100 terawatt-hours of power – annually. This is equal to the annual energy requirements for Portugal. In 2024, Ethereum is expected to consume 99%+ less power – thanks to the switch to PoS. This frees up power for use by critical institutions. It also reduces our reliance on fossil fuels to generate power.
How to Find Sustainable Crypto Projects
According to the CoinMarketCap.com, there are more than 1.8 million cryptos and tokens. Most of these don’t use the PoW consensus mechanism. This makes them more energy-efficient than Bitcoin.
In this section, we go over common ways of finding sustainable cryptos.
Seek out blockchains that don’t use proof of work consensus mechanism
Start by searching for cryptos based on their consensus mechanism. Identify cryptos that have performed well historically. These tend to have a promising future. Identify the sustainability measures their networks have adopted. Only invest in the most sustainable crypto.
Look for networks that offset their carbon emissions
Search online for crypto projects committed to carbon offsetting. Compare the amount of carbon emitted and offset by different cryptos. Then invest in the most sustainable project.
Look for projects committed to carbon neutrality
Every crypto should commit to energy-efficiency. And this commitment needs to go past using the PoS consensus mechanism. It should also engage in carbon offsetting. It should take a proactive step towards achieving carbon neutrality.
Use social media
Find sustainable cryptos to invest in today via social media. Investors and influencers are quick to identify energy efficient cryptos. They share these findings on social media. Ethereum has, for example, received so much praise online after the merge.
Conclusion – Most Sustainable Cryptos to Invest in Today
In this guide, we have discussed the most sustainable cryptos to invest in today. For each crypto, we have told you why it stands out.
We examined why it is worth buying. The post then addressed what makes crypto sustainable. It then touched the importance of anchoring digital assets on sustainable technologies. We concluded by sharing tips on how to find the best green cryptos to invest in today.
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FAQs
Are cryptos sustainable?
Yes, most cryptos available today are considered sustainable. They embrace energy-efficient consensus mechanisms. They have also invested in carbon offsetting.
What is the most sustainable crypto?
Ethereum is the most sustainable crypto project on this list. Made possible by the merge. By switching to PoS consensus mechanism, Ethereum cut energy use by 99.95%. Through the Ethereum Foundation, it is investing in green energy projects. It, for instance, has invested in a solar farm in Nevada.
How do you find the most sustainable crypto to buy?
For starters, don't invest in cryptos that use the PoW consensus mechanism. Further, check what other investors are saying about cryptos on social media.
What makes a crypto project sustainable?
A crypto is sustainable if its consensus mechanism is energy-efficient. It is also sustainable if it invests in carbon offsetting. Or if it partners with green-energy-producing companies.