Top 25 Stickiest Cryptos: Survival Rankings & Trends (2013-2024)

I analyze the long-term stickiness of top cryptos & trends

My aim in writing this was to analyze the survivability (or stickiness) of the Top 25 cryptocurrencies over the years to determine: (1) how many have sticking power; (2) whether this is changing over time; and (3) which are the stickiest cryptos.

This was mostly done out of curiosity. I think stickiness (macro trends & for specific cryptos) is just one variable to consider when thinking about altcoins.

Crypto Stickiness: Considering Long-Term Survivability

Understanding the "stickiness" of cryptocurrencies—the ability of a digital asset to maintain its position among the top-ranked cryptocurrencies over time—is helpful for minimizing potential long-term downside risk of crypto investments.

Obviously stickiness isn’t the only factor crypto investors should consider – but examining historical trends showcases that many cryptos “come-and-go” but only few maintain dominance in the top 5-10.

1. Bitcoin & Ethereum: Elite Stickiness

• Bitcoin (BTC)

  • Consistency: Maintained the #1 position from 2013 to 2024.

  • Market Cap Growth: From $1.49 billion in April 2013 to $860.95 billion in January 2024. (As of Nov 2024 it’s nearing $2T).

  • Significance: Serves as a store of value and is widely adopted by institutions and retail investors alike.

• Ethereum (ETH)

  • Consistency: Held a Top 5 position every year since its launch in 2015.

  • Technological Innovation: Introduced smart contracts, enabling decentralized applications (dApps), DeFi, and NFTs.

  • Investor Implication: Bitcoin and Ethereum's stickiness reflects their foundational role in the crypto ecosystem, making them cornerstone assets for a crypto portfolio.

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2. Factors Contributing to Stickiness

A. Technological Innovation and Utility

• Continuous Development: Cryptocurrencies that evolve with technological advancements tend to maintain or improve their rankings.

  • Example: Ethereum's transition to Ethereum 2.0 enhances scalability and energy efficiency.

• Real-World Use Cases: Assets solving real problems are more likely to stay relevant.

  • Example: Binance Coin (BNB) offers utility within the Binance Exchange ecosystem.

B. Network Effects & Community Support

• Strong Communities: Active user bases contribute to adoption and development.

  • Example: Dogecoin (DOGE) maintains stickiness partly due to a passionate community.

• Ecosystem Growth: Platforms that foster a broad ecosystem of applications and services enhance their network effects.

  • Example: Ethereum supports thousands of dApps and tokens.

C. Institutional Adoption

• Credibility and Stability: Institutional investments provide legitimacy and can stabilize prices.

  • Bitcoin: Increasingly held by corporations and used in financial instruments like ETFs.

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3. Emerging Cryptocurrencies Showing Increasing Stickiness

• Binance Coin (BNB)

  • Growth: Rapid ascent to the Top 5 due to its utility in trading fee discounts and participation in token offerings.

  • Stickiness: Consistent presence in the Top 25 since its launch in 2017.

• Cardano (ADA)

  • Development Focus: Emphasizes research-driven development and scalability.

  • Stickiness: Maintained a Top 10 position since 2018.

• Solana (SOL)

  • Technological Edge: High transaction speeds and low fees attract developers and users.

  • Growth: Entered the Top 10 by 2024, indicating increasing stickiness.

• Investor Implication: Identifying cryptocurrencies that are climbing the ranks due to innovation and utility can present growth opportunities.

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4. The Impact of Market Cycles on Stickiness

• Bull Markets

  • Effect: May introduce volatility in rankings as new projects gain attention.

  • Investor Consideration: Exercise caution with sudden entrants to the top rankings during bull runs.

• Bear Markets

  • Effect: Often lead to consolidation around established, sticky cryptocurrencies.

  • Investor Consideration: Established assets may offer relative stability during downturns.

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5. Risks Factors & Stickiness

A. Regulatory Changes

• Impact: Legal challenges can affect a cryptocurrency's market position.

  • Example: XRP faced declines due to regulatory issues.

• Investor Consideration: Stay informed about the regulatory environment affecting cryptocurrencies of interest.

B. Technological Obsolescence

• Risk: Failure to adapt can lead to a loss of relevance.

  • Example: Early coins like Peercoin and Namecoin dropped out of top rankings due to lack of innovation.

• Investor Consideration: Invest in projects with active development and roadmaps addressing future challenges.

C. Competition & Market Saturation

• Impact: Newer, more advanced projects can displace older ones.

  • Example: Smart contract platforms competing with Ethereum.

• Investor Consideration: Evaluate a cryptocurrency's competitive edge and ability to maintain its market share.

6. Specific Takeaways for Investors

• Prioritize Established Cryptocurrencies: Bitcoin and Ethereum's proven track records make them foundational investments.

• Look for Utility and Innovation: Projects offering unique solutions or technological advancements are more likely to sustain their market positions.

• Assess Community and Network Strength: A strong, active community and widespread network adoption enhance stickiness.

• Be Cautious with Hype-Driven Assets: Cryptocurrencies that rise rapidly due to hype may not maintain their positions long-term.

• Consider Long-Term Horizons: Stickiness often correlates with long-term viability; investing with a long-term perspective can mitigate short-term volatility.

Insights on Top 25 Cryptocurrency Stickiness (2013-2024)

I compiled and analyzed the Top 25 cryptocurrencies by market cap each year from 2013-2024 and ran the data through multiple AIs to generate insights under my guidance.

My goal here was to understand the sticking power or survivability of cryptos in general and specific cryptos over various time periods (year-to-year, 5-year chunks, 10-year chunks, etc.).

Keep in mind that past stickiness trends may not align with future stickiness for various reasons (e.g. maturing of the industry, stronger network effects, mainstream acceptance, ETFs, VC money, retail use, regulatory clarity, etc.).

Top Cryptos vs. Retention Rates vs. Time Periods

The crypto market shows cyclical patterns of retention across all categories, with periods of both high stability and significant turnover.

While recent years (2022-2024) show improved retention rates, historical data suggests this could be part of a cycle rather than a permanent trend toward stability.

Year-to-Year (Retention Rates)

Avg Top 5 Retention: ~67.27%

·      2013-2014: 3/5 (60%)

·      2014-2015: 3/5 (60%)

·      2015-2016: 3/5 (60%)

·      2016-2017: 4/5 (80%)

·      2017-2018: 3/5 (60%)

·      2018-2019: 4/5 (80%)

·      2019-2020: 4/5 (80%)

·      2020-2021: 4/5 (80%)

·      2021-2022: 2/5 (40%)

·      2022-2023: 3/5 (60%)

·      2023-2024: 4/5 (80%)

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Avg Top 10 Retention: ~65%

·      2014-2015: 5/10 (50%)

·      2015-2016: 7/10 (70%)

·      2016-2017: 6/10 (60%)

·      2017-2018: 5/10 (50%)

·      2018-2019: 7/10 (70%)

·      2019-2020: 8/10 (80%)

·      2020-2021: 7/10 (70%)

·      2021-2022: 6/10 (60%)

·      2022-2023: 6/10 (60%)

·      2023-2024: 8/10 (80%)