2024 was the year that crypto went from incredible to absolutely mind-blowing. Come to think of it—Bitcoin finally hit $100k, proving the doubters wrong. Memecoins made millionaires out of memes. Then there’s Real-World Assets (RWAs), bringing luxury and real estate into the crypto space. 

Gaming took a whole new turn with Telegram’s tap-to-earn games, and let’s not forget Michael Saylor, who became the biggest crypto winner of the year. These are proof that crypto is more than just a trend—it’s shaping the future. Let’s find out the stories that made 2024 unforgettable for crypto enthusiasts everywhere.

1. The Memecoin Mania: Small Bets, Big Returns

Moon Awards of the top memecoins in 2024. Source: Token Metrics

Who would’ve thought that jokes could make people millionaires? In Q1 2024, memecoins exploded in the crypto market with jaw-dropping average returns of 1,312.6% across the top 10 by market cap. Leading the charge was BRETT, which soared by a mind-blowing 7,727.6%, followed by dogwifhat (WIF) with a 2,721.2% jump. Other rising stars like BOOK OF MEME (BOME), cat in a dogs world (MEW), and Dogecoin20 (DOGE20) showed that even newcomers could make massive waves.

This memecoin boom even outperformed Real-World Assets (RWAs), AI, and DeFi by 4.6 times, proving memes are serious business. The $110 billion memecoin market cap grabbed the attention of Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin, who recognized their ability to create strong communities.

One wild success story came from an investor called stupidmoney.sol, who turned $727 into $2.24 million by trading GOAT. This memecoin, launched with AI-generated goat memes, became a viral hit on social media, boosting its value overnight.

Of course, memecoins are risky—they’re fun but volatile. Still, 2024 proved their power. If you picked the right one, your “joke investment” could’ve turned into life-changing money. Memecoins showed us that anything is possible in crypto.

2. Bitcoin Hits $100k: A Milestone Moment

Bitcoin price chart between November 2024 and December 2024. Source: Binance

On December 4, 2024, Bitcoin finally hit the big leagues, smashing the $100k mark for the first time. This was the moment every BTC holder had been waiting for. Thanks to rising demand after crypto-friendly policies were announced by US President-elect Donald Trump, Bitcoin’s price surged 45% in just one month, climbing from $67k in early November to $107k by mid-December.

The six-figure milestone was a game-changer. For institutions, it signaled Bitcoin’s status as a serious asset. Big players poured in, making Bitcoin ETFs a hit. For regular traders, it was proof that “hodling” pays off—imagine holding even one BTC from the $500 days and watching it cross $100k. Dubai-based investor Saajan Mangrey knows this all too well. His 22 BTC, bought at just $535 each in 2016, skyrocketed in value to over $2.3 million this year.

This was the ultimate “I told you so” moment. If you ever doubted the power of holding BTC, here’s your proof. While crypto remains unpredictable, Bitcoin’s rise to $100k showed the importance of patience and riding the waves to long-term gains.

3. Real-World Assets (RWAs): Bridging Crypto and Reality

Top performing RWAs as of April 2024. Source: Crypto Rank

Imagine owning a slice of a luxury mansion or rare art piece without being a millionaire. That’s what Real-World Assets (RWAs) bring to the table. In simple terms, RWAs are tangible things like real estate, stocks, or even fancy collectibles that get “tokenized” into digital assets on the blockchain. This means you can own a tiny fraction of a significant asset and trade it, just like crypto.

In 2024, RWAs made huge waves in the crypto world. The sector delivered an impressive 285.6% average return in Q1 alone, proving how much people love mixing traditional finance with blockchain. For example, MANTRA (OM) soared over 1,000%, showing how this space is booming. Even TokenFi (TOKEN) jumped by 419.7%, attracting tons of investors.

What’s exciting is that RWAs make investing more accessible. You don’t need huge sums anymore—you can start small and still have a piece of the action. While not every project succeeded (XDC dropped 15%), RWAs overall bridged the gap between real-world value and crypto innovation.

So, if you’ve been looking for a way to combine the real world with blockchain magic, RWAs are the perfect gateway.

4. Telegram’s Tap-to-Earn Games: Play, Earn, Repeat

Top Telegram tap-to-earn games 2024. Source: Avark

Telegram’s tap-to-earn games are the ultimate mix of fun and crypto rewards. These are simple mobile games where you earn digital currencies just by playing. You tap, complete tasks, or level up to collect rewards that can be converted into real crypto.

In 2024, these games went viral, making "play-to-earn" a mainstream trend. Popular ones like Notcoin, Hamster Kombat, and Catizen turned everyday gaming into a money-making adventure. For example, Notcoin lets you tap to collect Notcoins, which you can trade for $NOT tokens. Launched at just $0.01, $NOT hit a market cap of $1.1 billion.

Hamster Kombat became a hit with 300 million players. You earn $HMSTR tokens by managing virtual hamster-run crypto exchanges. Its token airdrop was one of the year’s biggest, offering players rewards for consistent gameplay.

Catizen, on the other hand, is perfect for cat lovers. Raise and merge virtual cats to earn vKITTY, which converts into $CATI tokens. With 34 million players, it was also all a big token launch.

The best part was that these games make earning crypto easy and fun. Whether you're tapping for coins or completing tasks, you’re having a blast while growing your wallet.

5. Michael Saylor: The Ultimate Crypto Comeback

Michael Saylor. Source: PRWeb

Michael Saylor had the comeback of the year in 2024, proving that patience in crypto can pay off big. His net worth skyrocketed to $4.4 billion from just $760 million last year, thanks to his bold Bitcoin strategy.

Saylor’s company, MicroStrategy, isn’t just a software firm anymore—it’s a Bitcoin investment powerhouse. The company owns 193,000 bitcoins, more than any other business in the world. As Bitcoin’s value surged, MicroStrategy’s shares shot up nearly 500%. If you had invested in MicroStrategy a year ago, your money would’ve multiplied fivefold.

And Saylor didn’t stop there. Back in 2021, he revealed that he personally owns 17,732 bitcoins, which he bought at an average price of $9,882 each. With Bitcoin’s price now soaring, this move has made him one of the biggest winners of 2024. On top of that, he cashed out $200 million worth of MicroStrategy stock earlier this year, further boosting his fortune.

Saylor’s long-term faith in Bitcoin has paid off massively. His story shows that thinking ahead, holding firm during market lows, and staying committed can lead to mind-blowing gains. In 2024, he’s the ultimate example of a crypto success story.

Are You Ready for 2025?

2024 proved that crypto isn’t going anywhere. From jaw-dropping gains to new ways of earning, this year showed that the best crypto stories are just getting started.

So, are you ready to create your own success story in 2025? With CoinCROWD, you can instantly turn your digital assets into real-world spending power. Whether you’re a UAE resident or just visiting, CoinCROWD makes using crypto simple, fast, and fee-free.

Don’t wait—be part of the next big crypto success. Start your journey with CoinCROWD today and take control of your digital future.