Raoul Pal’s Top 3 Altcoin Picks for 2025: These Blockchains Are Breaking Away
Forget the noise—three blockchain ecosystems are pulling ahead of the pack, according to macro investor Raoul Pal. While most traders chase yesterday's pumps, these networks are building the infrastructure for the next cycle.
The Layer-1 Contender: Speed Meets Scale
One chain cuts transaction finality from minutes to seconds while handling ten times the throughput of Ethereum's pre-merge baseline. Its developer activity spiked 40% last quarter—real builders, not speculators.
The Interoperability Powerhouse
This network doesn't just move assets; it moves entire smart contract states across chains. Over $5 billion in value now bridges through its ecosystem weekly, bypassing centralized exchanges entirely. That's liquidity you can't short.
The DeFi Native Chain
Built by traders for traders, its order-book DEX executes large swaps with 90% less slippage than AMM leaders. The chain's revenue—actual protocol fees, not token inflation—hit an ATH last month while BNB chain's declined. Sometimes the 'decentralized' in decentralized finance actually means something.
Pal's thesis boils down to this: infrastructure wins. While VC-backed tokens dump on retail during unlock events, these chains are monetizing real usage. Their tokens aren't just speculation vehicles—they're capturing value from transactions, bridging, and execution. In a sector where most projects are glorified Excel sheets with a token attached, that's revolutionary. Or as Wall Street would call it: 'a sustainable business model'—their ultimate insult.
Real Vision Co-Founder & CEO Raoul Pal says he invests in very few altcoins, even though he has built an entire asset-management business inside the crypto ecosystem. Speaking at Binance Blockchain Week 2025, Pal explained that picking altcoins is harder than most retail traders think, which is why he keeps his choices limited and highly selective.
Pal’s Core Rule: Stick to Majors First
Pal said he places most of his personal crypto portfolio in major assets like Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana. These networks already have DEEP liquidity, strong adoption, and long-term staying power.
He believes retail traders often “destroy capital” by chasing weaker altcoins that fail to outperform the big three. Any token that cannot beat BTC, ETH, or SOL on a weekly or monthly chart, he said, is not worth holding.
Why He Added Sui to His Altcoin List
Despite his conservative approach, Pal confirmed he has taken a big position in Sui, calling it one of the strongest new layer-1 networks of the cycle.
He said two factors pushed him into Sui:
Other Networks That Caught His Attention
Pal named only two other chains showing growth metrics strong enough to catch his eye:
NEAR Protocol and Avalanche.
He said these networks currently rank among the fastest-expanding ecosystems based on user activity and value transferred. However, he did not confirm whether he has invested in them personally.
Why He Avoids Most Other Altcoins
Pal said recent market rotations show the danger of chasing narratives. With little new capital entering crypto, traders often jump between themes like memecoins, DeFi, and privacy tokens. They pump briefly, then collapse as attention moves on.
Because of this cycle, he keeps his altcoin picks limited to a few networks that show real adoption, clear metrics, and multi-year potential.
