Bet You Can't Guess the Top 3 Altcoins of the Decade

The Top 5 Altcoins of the Past 10 Years

The crypto market has seen wild cycles and unexpected winners, but when it comes to decade-long performance, five altcoins have separated themselves from the rest. These include Ethereum ($ETH), Dogecoin ($DOGE), Shiba Inu ($SHIB), Binance Coin ($BNB), and GateToken ($GT). All five have posted historic gains — with GT and BNB standing out for their exchange-related utility, while the rest are powered by community, innovation, and meme magic.

However, if we exclude tokens backed by centralized exchanges, the top 3 altcoins based on 10-year returns are:

#1 Shiba Inu ($SHIB): +848,740%

#2 Dogecoin ($DOGE): +123,678%

#3 Ethereum ($ETH): +123,306%

Now let’s dive into what makes these three altcoins the undisputed champions of the past decade.

#1 Shiba Inu (SHIB)

What started as a Dogecoin parody has become a cultural and financial juggernaut. Launched in 2020, SHIB exploded in popularity through community hype, viral memes, and a growing ecosystem including Shibarium. Its jaw-dropping +848,740% return makes it one of the most explosive performers in crypto history.

Should You Buy Now? SHIB is highly volatile, often moving in reaction to social trends or community announcements. While the token has corrected from its all-time highs, it remains active in terms of development. For long-term holders, SHIB offers high risk with equally high upside — but patience is essential. Dollar-cost averaging might be a safer approach.

#2 Dogecoin (DOGE)

The original meme coin, Dogecoin, was created as a joke in 2013 but has since gained massive traction thanks to celebrity endorsements (especially Elon Musk), an enthusiastic community, and surprising staying power. Its +123,678% 10-year return proves that internet culture and humor can sometimes outperform traditional fundamentals.

Is DOGE Still Worth Holding? DOGE has become less volatile recently but remains sensitive to social media sentiment. With no cap on supply and limited utility, traders should monitor price action carefully. It’s a momentum-driven coin, so entries during low hype periods often offer the best return potential.

#3 Ethereum (ETH)

Ethereum is the foundational layer for most of today’s decentralized applications — from DeFi to NFTs. Since its 2015 launch, ETH has fueled an entire industry and achieved a +123,306% gain, solidifying its place as the most successful smart contract platform to date.

Why ETH Still Matters Despite recent dips, Ethereum remains a blue-chip crypto asset. The transition to Proof of Stake (PoS), Layer 2 growth, and institutional adoption keep ETH at the center of the Web3 economy. It’s ideal for long-term portfolios, and dips below key support levels may be viewed as strategic entry points.

The Exchange Token Outliers: GT and BNB

Although not in the top 3 due to their centralized exchange backing, GateToken (GT) and Binance Coin (BNB) deserve an honorary mention. GT delivered a staggering +1,747,900% return and BNB grew by +668,984% — both benefiting from growing platform adoption and token utility.

These tokens tend to track the health and popularity of their respective exchanges. While performance has been impressive, keep an eye on regulatory developments that may impact CEX tokens globally.

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