There are more investors in Bitcoin and other altcoins, but fewer have invested in stablecoins, as the coins are not designed for profit. Stablecoins are stable in value as they are pegged to fiat currencies. These fiat-pegged stablecoins do not usually experience market volatility like other cryptocurrencies. That said, this article is not investment advice; rather, it highlights the top 4 altcoins that have gained high revenue in the past 12 months.
Tether (USDT), the king of all
The first stablecoin ever launched! Tether was co-founded by Brock Rice in 2014. The stablecoin was first known as Realcoin and then later rebranded as Tether. The stablecoin company introduced the concept — 1:1 USD-pegged, igniting the way for other stablecoins.
Tether is the highest-earning crypto protocol with approximately $5.257 billion in revenue in the last year.
Circle’s USD Coin (USDC)
USD Coin, issued by Circle, is also not an exception in generating exponential revenue. This stablecoin secures the second rank with nearly $1.68 billion in revenue, earned primarily from reserve income. According to the latest data by Nasdaq, Circle has earned a 700% increase in the stock market.
Sky Protocol (USDS)
A comprehensive Decentralized Finance (DeFi) ecosystem, formerly known as MakerDAO, achieved a record-breaking $22.18 million in revenue last year. This coin was launched in September 2024, and its supply surged to $570 million within a week after rebranding. USDS now shows a staggering $384 million in revenue.
Ethena’s USDe
USDe is not a fiat-backed stablecoin, but a synthetic dollar launched in 2023. This digital asset receives fees from funding-rate arbitrage and staking rewards on futures. This coin is pegged to USD through a delta-neutral strategy and has generated an impressive $332 million in revenue.
Stablecoins are making their way to institutional adoption
Stablecoin adoption has been increasing, particularly due to their non-volatile nature. Holding its stability as the key feature, institutions and governments have reportedly been adopting stablecoins, with some adding to their treasury fund, whereas others are implementing stablecoin acts. Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for U.S. Stablecoins Act (GENIUS), which was recently launched, is designed to regulate stablecoins. Ripple’s RLUSD stablecoin has also gained momentum as banks began adopting it.
