The 7 Best ERC-20 Cryptos to Buy in 2025

ERC-20 tokens are cryptocurrencies which run on the Ethereum blockchain. Because Ethereum remains by far and away the biggest blockchain in terms of usage and total value locked in, ERC-20 cryptos are the most common kind of virtual currency in the crypto industry, representing tens of billions of dollars in market value.

However, the sheer number of ERC-20 tokens can make it hard for the average investor to pick the best. While the biggest ERC-20 cryptos have become familiar names in the crypto community, the vast majority are smaller and less unknown, with many of them being of very low quality. Fortunately, we’ve exhaustively researched the Ethereum ecosystem to write this list of the best ERC-20 cryptos to buy, with its healthy mix of established ERC-20 tokens and up-and-coming altcoins helping traders pick the most promising investments.

Best ERC-20 Tokens to Buy in 2025

Reviewing the Top ERC-20 Tokens to Buy Now

What are ERC-20 Tokens?

ERC-20 coins are cryptocurrencies which operate on Ethereum, the biggest blockchain in the crypto ecosystem in terms of traffic and total value locked in. ERC-20 is a technical standard which describes how ERC-20 cryptos function, with such coins designed to operate with smart contracts.

ERC-20 coins are also designed to be fungible, meaning that 1 unit of the same ERC-20 token is identical in value to another unit of the same token. This distinguishes them from ERC-21 tokens, which are Ethereum-based tokens designed to be non-fungible (e.g. NFTs and digital collectibles).

What are the Benefits of Investing in ERC-20 Cryptos?

There are a variety of benefits to investing in ERC-20 coins, most of which relate to Ethereum and its status as the leading layer-one smart contract blockchain.

Reliability

As one of the longest-running and biggest blockchain networks, the Ethereum blockchain provides ERC-20 cryptos with the advantage of reliability. Unlike some of its rivals, Ethereum has never experienced significant downtime or outages, meaning that investors can rest assured that their ability to buy, sell or use an ERC-20 will not likely ever be affected by technical issues.

Profitability

The fact that ERC-20 tokens run on Ethereum blockchain arguably provides them with more visibility and accessibility than they’d receive from running on a rival chain. That is, more investors have other ERC-20 coins (such as ETH) that they can use to buy newer ERC-20 assets, which thereby are exposed to a bigger potential market as a result. Likewise, exchanges may be more willing to list ERC-20 tokens.

Are ERC-20 Tokens Safe to Buy?

While ERC-20 tokens are mostly safe to buy from a technical perspective, they carry the same market risks as most other cryptocurrencies. This means they can be subject to volatility, with negative events and developments often having a disproportionate impact on prices.

In addition, using ERC-20 coins on DeFi platforms and decentralized exchanges can occasionally expose traders to the risk of hacks and other exploits. For example, 2022 witnessed thefts from DeFi platforms worth more than $750 million. Traders should therefore use due diligence when picking which DeFi platforms to trade ERC-20 tokens with.

How are ERC-20 Tokens and the Ethereum Blockchain Connected?

ERC-20 tokens are based and operate on the Ethereum blockchain. They are essentially lines of code written in Ethereum blocks, with Ethereum ERC-20 token standard defining how they function and behave.

While ERC-20 cryptos themselves can be used only with the Ethereum blockchain, there are bridges and protocols which can create substitute versions of ERC-20 tokens to be used with other blockchains. An example of this is the stablecoin Tether (USDT), which operates not only as an ERC-20 token on Ethereum blockchain, but also on such other blockchains as Tron, Solana and Avalanche.

How to Buy ERC-20 Cryptos

Buying ERC-20 tokens can usually be done in one of two ways, depending on whether you’re using a centralized exchange (CEX) or a decentralized exchange alternative.

If you’re using a CEX, buying an ERC-20 involves the following simple steps:

1. Open an Account

Sign up for an account with the exchange of your choice, if you haven’t done so already.

2. Verify your Account

Next, verify your account by completing your profile and submitting KYC data like a valid ID and a proof of address document like a utility bill.

3. Make a Deposit

Log into your exchange account and deposit fiat currency into it. This can usually be done by going to the ‘funding’ page.

4. Buy Crypto

Once you have fiat currency, use it to buy your ERC-20 token of choice. If there isn’t a trading pair for the token you’d like and your fiat currency, first buy Ethereum, and then trade the ETH for the desired ERC-20 token.

Where to Buy New Coins

However, if you’re looking to buy an ERC-20 token that isn’t widely listed on centralized exchanges, you will likely need to follow a different process. This is particularly the case if the token in question is holding its presale and you will need a crypto wallet, or if it has only just been listed on a few decentralized trading platforms.

Here’s an example involving the purchase of Chancer (CHANCER), which is currently in the middle of its presale.

Download a software wallet, such as MetaMask, Trust Wallet or WalletConnect. These can be downloaded for your computer’s browser by going to their respective websites.
Buy some ETH on a centralized exchange and then send it to your software wallet.
To buy CHANCER, go to Chancer’s website and connect your software wallet. This can be done by clicking the ‘Connect Your Wallet’ in the top-right corner of the project’s homepage.
Lastly, choose the amount of CHANCER you’d like to buy and click ‘Buy.’

The Latest ERC-20 Token News

Chancer presale raises more than $800,000 in only a few weeks, in a sign of investor appetite for peer-to-peer predictive market platforms.

Ethereum has been outperforming Bitcoin since the Merge, with the altcoin’s circulating supply actually declining since last September.

Shiba Memu presale raises $1 million as investors warm to concept of self-marketed meme token.

Shiba Inu has rallied since the unveiling of Shibacals, which are NFTs tied to real-world physical collectibles.

Final Thoughts on the Best ERC-20 Cryptos

ERC-20 tokens are cryptocurrencies which run on the Ethereum blockchain. There are thousands of such tokens in the market, spanning many different use cases and purposes, with the coins covered in this article being among the best.

Methodology - How We Picked the Best ERC-20 Coins

We picked the best ERC-20 tokens by carefully and comprehensively reviewing the cryptocurrency market. We evaluated established coins in terms of their fundamentals, price histories and user bases, and we also included newer tokens based on their potential for growth and adoption.

As outlined in our ‘how we test’ article, we’ve also used a token’s services and platforms wherever available in order to form a clear idea of how it works in practice. Such research is why you can trust us when we say that the tokens reviewed above are the best ERC-20 cryptos available in the market right now.

FAQs

Which ERC-20 Coins Are Best?

Ethereum remains the biggest ERC-20 coin by market cap, yet there are a growing number of smaller ERC-20 tokens that are increasingly showing potential, including Chancer (CHANCER), Shiba Memu (SHMU), Alt Signals (ASI) and Metacade (MCADE).

What is an ERC-20 Coin?

An ERC-20 coin is a cryptocurrency running on the Ethereum blockchain using the ERC-20 technical standard.

Are ERC-20 Cryptos Worth Buying?

ERC-20 cryptos are definitely worth buying, given the reliability, scalability and popularity of Ethereum as a blockchain platform.

Are ERC-20 Tokens Expensive?

ERC-20 tokens can be expensive, especially well-established coins such as Ethereum, Wrapped Bitcoin and Aave. However, there are a wide variety of smaller cap ERC-20 tokens that aren’t expensive, costing well under $1 or even less.

Is ERC-20 the Same as ETH?

While Ethereum (ETH) is an ERC-20 token, not all ERC-20 tokens are ETH. ERC-20 is a token standard that is used by thousands of cryptocurrencies running on the Ethereum blockchain, and not just ETH.