Penny cryptocurrencies—digital assets priced at $0.01 or less—have captured the imagination of investors seeking high-growth potential in the volatile crypto market. While their low price tags may seem insignificant, many of these tokens are built on robust blockchains, backed by passionate communities, and designed with real-world utility or cultural relevance. With thousands of options available, identifying the most promising penny cryptos requires careful analysis of technology, adoption, and long-term vision.
This guide explores 13 standout penny cryptos under 1 cent that could deliver substantial returns in 2025. From meme-driven phenomena to blockchain-powered innovations in IoT, NFTs, and decentralized ecosystems, these projects represent a diverse cross-section of the crypto landscape.
What Are Penny Cryptocurrencies?
"Penny crypto" is a colloquial term for cryptocurrencies trading below $0.01. These tokens often feature large circulating supplies, which naturally depress their per-unit price. While some are speculative meme coins, others are serious projects aiming to solve real-world problems in data ownership, file sharing, digital art, and financial inclusion.
Investing in low-priced cryptos can yield massive returns—sometimes 10x, 100x, or more—if the project gains traction. However, such investments carry significant risk due to market volatility, lack of regulation, and uncertain development timelines.
👉 Discover how to identify high-potential penny cryptos before they surge.
Top 13 Penny Cryptos Under 1 Cent to Watch in 2025
1. Shiba Inu – From Meme Coin to Full-Stack Ecosystem
Originally launched in 2020 as a decentralized community experiment inspired by Dogecoin, Shiba Inu (SHIB) has evolved into one of the most comprehensive ecosystems in crypto. Far beyond its meme origins, SHIB now powers a decentralized exchange (ShibaSwap), an NFT marketplace, a metaverse project (Shiboshis), and the Shibarium Layer-2 scaling solution.
With a current price around $0.000033 and a market cap exceeding $13 billion, SHIB remains one of the most valuable cryptocurrencies under 1 cent. Its strong community, continuous development, and expanding utility make it a top contender for long-term growth.
Even a modest price increase could result in exponential gains due to its massive supply. While reaching $1 is highly unlikely, even a move to $0.001 would represent a 30x return.
2. Pepe Coin – The Viral Meme Token with Cultural Roots
Pepe Coin (PEPE) emerged in April 2023 as an ERC-20 token on Ethereum, capitalizing on the iconic "Pepe the Frog" internet meme. Despite having no intrinsic utility or roadmap, PEPE quickly rose to become the third-largest meme coin by market cap—trailing only Dogecoin and Shiba Inu.
The project’s website openly states that PEPE is “completely useless and for entertainment purposes only,” emphasizing its reliance on viral culture rather than technology. However, its success underscores the power of community-driven momentum in crypto markets.
Backed by anonymous developers and fueled by social media trends, PEPE remains a speculative but high-visibility asset in the meme coin space.
3. Bonk – Solana’s Community-Driven Meme Coin
Launched in late 2022, Bonk (BONK) was airdropped to Solana users as a gesture of goodwill following the FTX collapse. Positioned as “the people’s coin,” Bonk aims to redistribute power from venture capitalists back to everyday users within the Solana ecosystem.
Today, Bonk is integrated into over 130 applications across gaming, DeFi, NFTs, and gambling platforms. Users can earn yield by staking BONK, participate in no-loss lotteries, and play Bonk-powered games.
Solana’s resurgence in 2023 and 2024—marked by increased transaction volume and developer activity—has significantly boosted Bonk’s visibility. With a market cap of over $2 billion, it stands out as Solana’s leading meme coin.
👉 Learn how to track emerging Solana-based tokens before they gain traction.
4. Jasmy – Empowering Data Ownership Through IoT
Jasmy (JASMY) is a blockchain project focused on data sovereignty in the Internet of Things (IoT) era. Founded by former Sony executives, Jasmy enables individuals to securely store, manage, and monetize their personal data—challenging the dominance of big tech companies.
Built on Ethereum, Jasmy offers tools like the Secure Knowledge Communicator (SKC) and Smart Guardian (SG) for encrypted device-to-device communication. The platform has established partnerships with major Japanese corporations, signaling real-world adoption.
With a relatively low market cap and clear use case, JASMY is a speculative but promising play on the future convergence of Web3 and IoT.
5. Pudgy Penguins – From NFT Collection to Web3 IP Empire
Originally launched in 2021 as a collection of 8,888 penguin NFTs on Ethereum, Pudgy Penguins has transformed into a full-fledged Web3 brand under new leadership. CEO Luca Netz has spearheaded initiatives including physical toys, merchandise licensing, and Pudgy World, a zkSync-powered digital experience linking physical collectibles to on-chain assets.
Unlike many NFT projects focused solely on trading volume, Pudgy Penguins emphasizes brand building and community engagement. This strategy has helped it maintain relevance even during bear markets.
As one of the few NFT projects expanding into mainstream consumer products, Pudgy Penguins represents a rare blend of digital innovation and tangible value.
6. Notcoin – Gamified Entry into the TON Ecosystem
Notcoin (NOT) began as a simple Telegram clicker game where users tapped a coin to earn points. Its viral success led to the launch of a token on The Open Network (TON) blockchain.
Now positioned as a gateway to Web3 on Telegram, Notcoin rewards users for exploring decentralized apps (dApps), playing games, and contributing to ecosystem growth through its “Explore” feature.
The upcoming Not Games initiative will introduce squad-based gameplay and reputation systems, further deepening user engagement. Given Telegram’s massive global user base—over 800 million monthly active users—Notcoin has immense potential for mass adoption.
7. BitTorrent – Decentralized File Sharing Reinvented
Once synonymous with peer-to-peer file sharing, BitTorrent (BTT) transitioned into blockchain after its acquisition by TRON founder Justin Sun in 2018. Today, millions of nodes support the BitTorrent File System (BTFS), a decentralized storage network powered by BTT tokens.
Users earn BTT for sharing bandwidth and storage space, creating a self-sustaining economy around content distribution. As demand for censorship-resistant data storage grows, BTTF could see increased utility across streaming, cloud services, and content delivery networks.
With integration into popular torrent clients and growing adoption on TRON’s ecosystem, BTT remains one of the most widely used utility tokens under $0.01.
8. eCash – High-Speed Blockchain for Global Payments
Formerly known as Bitcoin Cash ABC, eCash (XEC) is designed to be sound digital money optimized for fast, low-cost transactions. Inspired by economist Milton Friedman’s monetary theories, eCash aims to scale to 5 million transactions per second—a benchmark it calls “mankind scale.”
Using Avalanche consensus enhancements and advanced sharding techniques, XEC seeks to outperform traditional blockchains in speed and efficiency. If successful, eCash could become a foundational layer for global micropayments and remittances.
Despite its ambitious goals, XEC maintains a low price point due to its large supply split during a token rebase—making it accessible for retail investors.
9. Holo – Decentralizing App Hosting with Peer-to-Peer Networks
Holo (HOT) is the native token of the Holochain platform, an open-source framework for building decentralized applications (hApps) without relying on centralized servers.
Unlike traditional blockchains, Holochain uses agent-centric architecture—each user runs their own chain—enabling scalable and energy-efficient dApp hosting. Users who host hApps on their devices earn HOT tokens as compensation.
This model creates natural economic incentives for network expansion. As more people adopt hApps for communication, identity management, and social networking, demand for HOT could rise significantly.
10. Zilliqa – Scalable dApp Platform Using Sharding
Zilliqa (ZIL) is a public blockchain that leverages sharding—dividing the network into smaller segments that process transactions in parallel—to achieve high throughput without sacrificing security.
With recent strategic developments—including a partnership with Google Cloud and the relaunch of its metaverse arm as MetaMinds—Zilliqa is regaining momentum after years of relative quiet.
Google now hosts Zilliqa’s core nodes and runs a Staked Seed Node on the network, signaling institutional confidence in its infrastructure.
ZIL powers smart contracts, DeFi protocols, and NFT platforms, making it a versatile choice for developers building scalable Web3 applications.
11. Floki Inu – Meme Coin with Real Utility
Named after Elon Musk’s dog but distinct from Shiba Inu, Floki Inu (FLOKI) combines meme culture with practical utility. The project has launched Valhalla, an NFT-powered metaverse; a decentralized exchange; an NFT marketplace; and CryptoLocker, a security protocol for locking liquidity pools.
One unique feature is its dynamic burn mechanism: as the number of holders increases, so does the proportion of tokens burned—potentially increasing scarcity over time.
Backed by marketing campaigns and community events, FLOKI continues to grow its ecosystem beyond typical meme coin limitations.
12. APENFT – Tokenizing Masterpieces for Web3
Built on TRON and supported by BitTorrent and the TRON Foundation, APENFT aims to bridge fine art and blockchain by digitizing iconic works from artists like Picasso and Andy Warhol as NFTs.
The project allows fractional ownership of high-value art pieces through NFTs, democratizing access to elite art markets. It also supports emerging digital artists via grants and incubation programs.
APENFT operates its own NFT marketplace and offers staking rewards, positioning itself at the intersection of culture, finance, and technology—even as the broader NFT market cools.
13. MEW – The Cat-Themed Challenger on Solana
MEW is a Solana-based meme coin featuring a cat mascot—a playful contrast to dog-themed tokens like DOGE and SHIB. With no roadmap or utility planned, MEW thrives purely on community sentiment and trading volume.
Despite this simplicity, MEW has gained traction quickly: it's listed on major exchanges like KuCoin, Bybit, and OKX and ranks among Solana’s most actively traded meme coins.
With a total supply of 88.8 billion tokens—a number symbolizing prosperity in Chinese culture—MEW leverages cultural resonance and platform momentum for visibility.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: Are penny cryptos safe to invest in?
A: Penny cryptos are considered high-risk investments due to volatility, limited regulation, and uncertain project longevity. Always conduct thorough research before investing.
Q: Can penny cryptos really go up 10x or more?
A: Yes—many early investors in SHIB or PEPE saw returns exceeding 100x. However, such gains are not guaranteed and depend heavily on adoption and market sentiment.
Q: How do I buy low-priced cryptocurrencies?
A: You can purchase penny cryptos on major exchanges like OKX, Bybit, KuCoin, or decentralized platforms like Uniswap and Raydium.
Q: Why are some valuable cryptos priced under $0.01?
A: Low prices often result from high circulating supplies. Market cap—not price—is the better indicator of value.
Q: Should I diversify across multiple penny cryptos?
A: Diversification helps manage risk. Consider allocating small amounts across several projects with strong fundamentals rather than concentrating funds in one asset.
Q: What’s the difference between meme coins and utility tokens?
A: Meme coins rely on community hype and cultural relevance (e.g., DOGE), while utility tokens serve specific functions within ecosystems (e.g., BTT for file sharing).
Final Thoughts: Balancing Risk and Reward
Penny cryptos offer thrilling opportunities for outsized gains—but they demand caution. Projects like Shiba Inu and Zilliqa combine community strength with technological innovation, while others like Pepe Coin thrive on virality alone.
For investors seeking exposure to emerging trends—from Web3 gaming to decentralized data ownership—these sub-one-cent tokens provide affordable entry points into transformative technologies.
👉 Start exploring high-potential penny cryptos with real-time data and secure trading tools.
Always remember: never invest more than you can afford to lose. Conduct independent research, monitor market developments closely, and consider pairing high-risk assets with more stable holdings for balanced portfolio growth.
Disclaimer: This article does not constitute financial or investment advice. Cryptocurrency investments are highly volatile and risky. Perform your own due diligence before making any investment decisions.