Delphi CEO Reveals Top 20 Must-Watch Crypto Projects for 2024!

Author: Anil Lulla, Founding Partner and CEO of Delphi Digital

Compiled by: Luffy, Foresight News

You’ve heard the naysayers claim that crypto projects are floundering without proper Product-Market Fit (PMF). But I think that skepticism stems from an unwillingness to dive into the innovative applications that developers are tirelessly crafting around the globe. It’s time to shift that narrative!

This year, I’ve discovered some exceptional crypto applications that I’m eager to share with you. These teams are pouring their hearts into creating not just products, but solutions that enhance our lives. So why not take a moment to experience the fruits of their hard work?

First, a quick note: I do have financial ties to some of these tokens, denoted by a * symbol. Remember, though—this isn’t financial advice; it’s merely my personal reflections on the projects that caught my attention this year.

HyperLiquid

HyperLiquid has been making waves—you might have seen the 1,000+ tweets about it lately! Those who have tried it rave about their experience, a refreshing change from the usual complaints about other platforms.

Now, I’m not usually one to dabble in leverage trading, but when I dipped my toes in with HyperLiquid to buy HYPE *, I instantly understood the buzz. Its user interface feels like a Centralized Exchange (CEX)—and while it boasts only four validators currently, the team’s rapid response to user feedback is commendable.

Since its inception in 2023, HyperLiquid has garnered a dedicated user base of over 200,000, with trading volumes soaring close to $450 billion! Not to mention, it currently holds over $2.5 billion in open contracts, dominating more than 60% of all USDC trading on Arbitrum. The hype isn’t just a flash in the pan; it’s a testament to the robust ecosystem that’s already forming around this platform.

Polymarket

When I first jumped into crypto in 2017, I was captivated by the potential of prediction markets, and let me tell you, Polymarket is leading the charge. It performed brilliantly during the recent elections, handling a staggering $3.6 billion in bets and forecasting Trump’s victory a full six hours ahead of the Associated Press.

Polymarket has not only revolutionized the way we think about media but has also become a significant data source for predicting future events. Some doubted its longevity post-election, but the platform has remained resilient, with an active sports market contributing to its success.

Moreover, Fun.xyz has rolled out a Checkout product for Polymarket that allows deposits using tokens from any chain or major exchanges like Binance and Coinbase, making the crypto user experience smoother than ever!

Farcaster

I must admit, while I was immersed in Warpcast daily earlier this year, my engagement has waned. But I have big plans to change that! At FarCon in Los Angeles, it was invigorating to connect with so many builders in the Farcaster community, showcasing the potential for some truly unique developments in the near future.

With focused innovation, the Farcaster team, led by Dan Romero, is enhancing features designed to empower core users and expand their social networks. New tools like channels and DEGEN tips are already redefining social interactions, and games like Clankermon and Stokefire are paving the way for creative engagement, despite a dip in interest.

Ethena *

Delphi has high hopes for Ethena, and it’s not letting us down! Ethena’s synthetic dollar, USDe, has ballooned to nearly $6 billion, making it the third-largest stablecoin in the market, trailing only Tether and USDC.

What particularly impresses me is its collaboration with BlackRock to introduce USDtb, a new dollar stablecoin backed by BlackRock’s BUIDL fund. As Ethena skillfully redirects treasury yields, it effectively establishes a competitive APY “floor,” setting the stage for expansive growth.

With stablecoins valued at around $200 billion, I predict this will surpass $300 billion—if not $400 billion—next year. Ethena is positioned to attract substantial on-chain capital, making it a player to watch as it integrates seamlessly into existing DeFi structures.

Gunzilla *

Our excitement for the crypto gaming sector is well-known, and Gunzilla Games is at the forefront of this revolution. Their game, “Off the Grid,” is a cyberpunk-themed battle royale that has captivated over 12 million wallets and facilitated 230 million transactions.

With an impressive 4 million hours of gameplay streamed, it’s ranked among the top three live games multiple times! This seamless integration of crypto into gaming speaks volumes about enhanced player engagement through digital ownership.

For insights into their journey, check out the Delphi Podcast featuring a conversation between Piers Kicks and the Gunzilla founders. The team’s meticulous attention to player feedback is evident as they prepare to elevate crypto gaming to unprecedented heights.

Lighthouse . One

Delphi has explored various portfolio trackers over the years, but Lighthouse . One has captured my attention like no other. Will Price’s casual mention led me to discover this comprehensive portfolio tracker, which seamlessly integrates with EVM, Solana, Cosmos, Aptos, and more.

The Lighthouse . One team’s commitment to privacy is commendable, and as I’ve experimented with their app, I’m beyond impressed. While many may be hearing of it for the first time, I can vouch for its effectiveness—it’s been a game-changer in my crypto management toolkit!

Pump . Fun *

This year, Pump . Fun has mastered the art of converting attention into liquidity. Their approach is both straightforward and essential, lowering barriers to entry while ensuring fair distribution and minimizing rug pulls.

With over $300 million in fee revenue generated and 5 million tokens issued, their innovative live streaming feature caught me off guard—though it may need better moderation. Regardless, it positions Pump . Fun as a key player in the evolving landscape of crypto social applications.

By the way, I made an angel investment in Pump . Fun—not through Delphi Ventures. Betting on their founders was a no-brainer, and their performance this year has been nothing short of extraordinary.

Truth Terminal and GOAT *

The fusion of Crypto and AI has sparked a thrilling sandbox for experimentation this year, with projects like GOAT leading the charge. Watching the Turing test unfold live on Crypto Twitter (CT) was captivating, as users deciphered which bots were AI and which were human.

GOAT stands as a pivotal development, providing a tangible vision of how AI and crypto intersect. The surge of AI agents following its launch is a testament to the excitement surrounding this crossover, creating vibrant and quirky online spaces for 2024.

VIRTUAL

I’ll keep this brief, as I’m still researching this intriguing project. VIRTUAL serves as a “pick and shovel” tool for AI agents, boasting over 12,000 agents launched. Many remain underwhelming, but improvements are on the horizon.

A particular standout is aixbt *, which has captured attention with its alpha tweets. Backed by rxbt’s extensive crypto data compilation, aixbt consistently delivers fresh insights, and I’m eager to keep a closer eye on their developments.

MetaDAO and MetaLeX *

Delphi’s journey with DAOs began back in 2019 with Synthetix, fueling our passion for governance in the crypto space. This year, two projects, MetaDAO and MetaLeX, reignited that enthusiasm by tackling governance challenges head-on.

MetaDAO employs market predictions to inform decision-making, moving beyond traditional voting systems. Their innovative approach is garnering interest, and I’m excited to see how they’ll enhance voter engagement as we approach 2025.

On the other hand, MetaLeX, developed by lex_node and Delphi Labs, bridges the gap between DAOs and the real world, offering tools that simplify governance while maintaining crypto integrity. Their BORG framework is designed to foster trust among counterparties and is already in use by prominent teams like Lido and ZKSync.

Sandwich

A friend of mine launched Sandwich, a private trading tool that enhances CEX order execution. It provides institutional-grade algorithms to minimize fees and slippage, unifying multiple tools within a single interface.

While I’m not the target audience for this tool, every trader I know who has tried it has become a fan. A Mac application is on the way, and I recommend giving it a shot if you’re a trader!

9dcc

My friend gmoney is crafting something truly unique with 9dcc. He’s brilliantly merged passion with innovation to bring cryptocurrency into mainstream culture.

By gamifying aspects of life, from fashion to social interactions, gmoney is tapping into a largely untouched market. I’m particularly fond of the bird poop hat (if you know, you know), and I can’t wait to see what’s next!

DeBridge

In my quest for cross-chain bridges, DeBridge has emerged as my go-to platform this year. The experience is seamless, and their team is impressively quick to integrate new chains, making asset transfers effortless.

With over 4 million intents processed and $6 billion in trading volume, DeBridge is truly user-friendly—making it the first cross-chain bridge I confidently recommend to my friends.

Echo and Legion *

2024 is shaping up to be the year ICOs make a grand comeback, thanks in part to Cobie’s Echo, which has seamlessly tapped into the crypto Twitter crowd. With over $55 million raised from nearly 6,000 users, it’s proving to be a game-changer.

Meanwhile, Legion offers a bottom-up approach, empowering community members with project tokens through its innovative Legion Score. This project, incubated by Delphi Labs, has already garnered impressive traction.

As we look forward to 2025, I predict more projects will embrace these platforms to distribute tokens, making it an exciting time to get involved.

Kaito

Kaito has quickly become a favorite tool among crypto enthusiasts this year. In many ways, Kaito and Delphi Research tackle similar challenges—sifting through market noise to discover valuable insights.

Kaito employs smart algorithms to filter through the chatter on crypto Twitter, making it easier to find relevant information. I’ve even used it to identify potential talent for our team, securing new hires through connections found on the platform.

Grass *

Grass revolutionizes how we view internet bandwidth, allowing users to earn rewards by sharing their excess capacity. It’s a simple plugin I’ve been running, and it excites me more than many other projects in the Crypto x AI realm.

With over 2.5 million nodes contributing data for AI training, Grass is enabling a new frontier in model development. Co-founder Andrej shared that the demand for their network is skyrocketing, and I believe they’ll make significant strides in 2025.

Ostium

Our journey with traditional assets and on-chain solutions continues with Ostium. Their kaledora is on a mission to bridge that gap, offering users perpetual contracts on various asset classes.

With a trading volume exceeding $166 million and innovative structured products on Polymarket, Ostium is poised for growth in the evolving crypto landscape. I’m particularly excited about their potential post-2024 under a more crypto-friendly administration.

Moonwalk Fitness *

Moonwalk Fitness is leveraging crypto’s potential to create a unique fitness accountability tool. With its focus on incentivizing daily step counts, it’s fostering a sense of community and motivation.

More than just a running app, its potential applications extend to weightlifting, sleep, and hydration goals. With nearly 100,000 users already registered, I’m thrilled to see its mobile app launch in the near future!

Summary

That wraps up my list of standout crypto products! I’m grateful for the hard work of the teams behind these innovations. Regrettably, I can’t highlight every project that impressed me this year, but others like Morpho, Jito, Cowswap, and wallets such as Phantom or Rabby deserve mention.