Despite the excitement and optimism that permeated the crypto market in January, only a select few major cryptocurrencies have managed to show gains this year. Investors in the cryptocurrency space will need to rely on potential recoveries from a few key players in the upcoming months. My top three candidates poised for significant growth in the latter half of 2025 are Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), and Tron (TRX).
Bitcoin
Bitcoin stands out as a clear frontrunner. It has consistently been one of the top-performing cryptocurrencies of the year and has garnered substantial backing from the Trump administration in recent months. A notable development came in March with the establishment of the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve, which effectively encouraged institutional investors to enhance their Bitcoin strategies moving forward. An intriguing trend this year has been the rapid emergence of Bitcoin treasury companies. These firms are on a mission to acquire as much Bitcoin as possible—quickly and affordably. They are inspired by Strategy (NASDAQ: MSTR), the world’s foremost corporate Bitcoin holder, which rebranded as a Bitcoin treasury company earlier this year. The pressing question remains: how much higher can Bitcoin rise this year given the surge in demand? Although Bitcoin achieved impressive triple-digit returns in both 2023 and 2024, it has only seen a 14% increase so far this year, indicating that a robust year-end rally will be crucial to reaching the anticipated $200,000 milestone.
Ethereum
Although Ethereum has dropped over 25% year-to-date, recent regulations surrounding staking could bring about a positive change. “Staking” refers to a method for earning yield on cryptocurrency holdings and has been a contentious topic since early 2023 when the SEC began investigating staking practices. Consequently, the newly launched spot Ethereum ETFs in July 2024 did not incorporate a staking component, leading to their lackluster performance. However, the pro-crypto stance of the Trump administration has prompted a shakeup at the SEC, leading to speculation that regulators may ease their restrictions on staking. Should spot Ethereum ETFs be permitted to include staking, it could trigger a significant influx of capital into Ethereum. Notably, BlackRock, the firm behind the well-known iShares Ethereum Trust, has been consistently purchasing Ethereum, likely in anticipation of an upcoming SEC decision regarding staking.
Tron
Tron emerges as a surprising contender in the cryptocurrency landscape. Although it ranks among the top ten cryptocurrencies by market capitalization, many U.S. investors may not be familiar with it due to its founder, Justin Sun. Sun is a controversial figure in the crypto industry, often facing scrutiny from U.S. regulatory bodies. As the year progresses, he continues to encounter potential SEC investigations. This situation can complicate the accessibility of Tron on U.S.-based exchanges. However, Justin Sun has recently aligned himself with the expanding Trump crypto enterprise. In mid-2024, he made a notable investment in World Liberty Financial, a crypto venture associated with the Trump family. By January 2025, he purchased $75 million of the new Official Trump meme coin and further invested in it, which afforded him the opportunity to attend a dinner event with the president. Sun has been actively fostering connections with the Trump family, with Eric Trump even referring to him as “a great friend and icon in the crypto space.” In late February 2025, the SEC requested a 60-day stay from the court overseeing its civil fraud case against Sun, signaling potential settlement discussions. Sun is now intensifying efforts to expand his Tron ecosystem, highlighted by a reverse merger with publicly traded SRM Entertainment, which will rebrand as “Tron Inc.” and focus on becoming a Tron treasury company. He is also collaborating with World Liberty Financial on a new stablecoin initiative. While some may view these developments as speculative and perhaps questionable, the aim here is to identify cryptocurrencies that could experience significant growth in the latter half of 2025. Tron presents a unique opportunity for transformation during this period.
And the top pick is…
If I had to select one cryptocurrency among Bitcoin, Ethereum, or Tron, my top choice remains Bitcoin. Its status as the world’s leading cryptocurrency is well-deserved; no other digital currency comes close to its level of mainstream acceptance. Although Bitcoin may not double its value this year, I anticipate a significant surge in the coming months.
