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Author: Messari, Source: Messari crypto thesis 2025; Compiler: 0xjs@金财经
To celebrate a brilliant year in the cryptocurrency field, we launch the first annual Messari Awards. In this section, we highlight some of the best protocols and personalities in their respective categories, based on their contributions to cryptocurrencies in 2024. All results are voted on by the Messari team.
Rookie of the YearOur Rookie of the Year award honors the most groundbreaking crypto protocols of the year.
Pump.fun was launched in January 2024 and quickly became a sensation in the cryptocurrency world. The launchpad is now the highest-grossing launchpad on Solana, and transaction volume continues to grow. Without pump.fun, we wouldn’t have GOAT, PNUT, FART, ZEREBRO, MOODENG, and many other of our favorite coins this year. It’s safe to say that the app changed the token issuance game forever, and we’re excited to see what pump has in store for us as it enters its second year. Pump.fun is Messari’s 2024 Rookie of the Year.
Annual Layer1The annual L1 is awarded to the best performing L1 in 2024.
2024 is the year of Solana. Driven by a vibrant user and application-led ecosystem, the Solana network delivers lightning-fast performance and low transaction costs under high activity loads in 2024. The emergence of memecoin culture on Solana sparked a booming new crypto space that showcased the network’s inherent strengths. As Solana’s metrics continue to grow exponentially, it sets the standard for what a modern L1 blockchain should look and feel like. Congratulations to Solana for winning Messari’s annual L1 award.
DeFi Protocol of the YearThe DeFi Protocol of the Year award honors the best-performing DeFi application in 2024.
Hyperliquid’s order book redefines the boundaries of on-chain possibility. As trading volume, open interest, and user adoption continue to grow, the protocol is emerging as one of DeFi’s key leaders in the battle for centralized exchange share. Looking ahead to 2025, we are eager to see the continued growth of the L1 ecosystem.
DePIN Protocol of the YearThe DePIN Protocol of the Year award honors the top-performing DePIN protocol of 2024.
Helium Redefines the DePIN Landscape, Proving Cryptocurrency Can DriveReal-world value and utility. Since its launch in December 2023, Helium Mobile has grown to over 120,000 subscribers and offers the most affordable unlimited data plan on the market for just $20 per month. Additionally, Helium's groundbreaking carrier program supports an average of 250,000-300,000 users per day for some of the largest mobile operators in the United States, demonstrating its ability to revolutionize connectivity infrastructure. Helium has been named the 2024 DePIN of the Year for its innovation, impact, and ability to connect cryptocurrencies to the “real world.”
Consumer App of the YearThe Consumer App of the Year award honors the top-performing consumer app of 2024.
Polymarket proved that on-chain prediction markets are here to stay, registering nearly 1 million new accounts in this election year. On the demand side, users are investing billions in the election market, catching up with off-chain prediction markets. At the same time, Polymarket’s real-time probabilities of election results were widely cited by mainstream media and became a major source of objective news. Polymarket is the premier destination for anyone looking to bet on elections or simply stay informed.
Memecoin of the YearThe Memecoin of the Year award is awarded to the best performing memecoin of 2024.
While GOAT is not the biggest memecoin of the year, it is likely the most influential. Its incredible lore, integration with artificial intelligence, and implications for one of the most exciting new metas in cryptocurrency captured everyone’s attention. If AI agents and their respective memecoins continue to dominate people’s attention in 2025, GOAT will forever be cemented as the one who started it all.
Account of the YearOur X Account of the Year award honors the top performing Crypto Twitter (CT) member of 2024.
This is a highly competitive award, but in the end, only the AI agent will stand out. @aixbt_agent grew his account's follower count to over 100,000 followers in less than a month, while consistently ranking high on Kaito's influencer rankings. This agent's tireless analysis, constant replies, and ever-growing alpha pool are quickly becoming a must-see for anyone on CT.
Most Active Fund of the YearThe Most Active Fund of the Year award honors the venture capital fund that closed the most deals in 2024.
Animoca Brands this year with 107Transactions lead. While Animoca typically focuses on consumer and gaming, its portfolio has diversified over time, investing in a variety of categories including DePIN and AI.
Rally Coin of the YearThe Rally Coin of the Year award is given to the coin that experienced the most unexpected price reversal in 2024.
After facing endless FUD in previous years, SOL made a stunning turnaround in 2024, with its token price experiencing one of the most dramatic reversals the market has ever seen. . The coin hit an all-time high at the end of the year and currently ranks among the top 5 most valuable coins in the cryptocurrency space.
Investment Fund Blog of the YearThe Investment Fund Blog of the Year award is awarded to the liquid fund or VC blog that publishes the best content in 2024.
Syncracy Capital’s content this year has been excellent, providing a wealth of knowledge on a variety of topics. We particularly appreciate their blog’s contrarian and forward-thinking perspective, challenging existing perspectives and proposing new frameworks. From driving the market to focus less on infrastructure and more on applications to continuing to define Solana’s narrative, Synracy Capital is driving critical conversations across the industry.
Independent Analyst of the YearThe Independent Analyst of the Year award honors the independent analyst publishing the best content in 2024.
In 2024, Kel's insights as an independent analyst shined. His posts on the memecoin supercycle and recent Substack articles are some of the best free content in the space.
Person of the YearThe Person of the Year award honors the most influential individuals in cryptocurrency in 2024.
Michael Saylor needs no introduction. From doubling down on Bitcoin in partnership with MicroStrategy to dishing out wisecracks we'll be practicing for years to come, Michael Saylor makes sure everyone knows where he stands. His unwavering belief and tireless advocacy for Bitcoin have made him a polarizing but undeniable force in the space. This might be his best year ever and he deserves the victory celebration. There is no second best protagonist.