Cardano (ADA) has gained the status of a third-generation blockchain that enables peer-reviewed development, real-world utility, and energy efficiency. In 2025 the altcoin continues to push boundaries through its academically and methodical approach to smart contract innovation and decentralization. But Cadano isn’t alone in the crypto space, several other projects provide similar features and the blockchain space evolves at an unprecedented pace, enabling the creation of new altcoins - so Cardano faces serious competition.
This article takes a closer look at the biggest contenders Cardano faces in 2025 to help investors identify the altcoins they should keep an eye on when building their portfolios.
Ethereum 2.0: The Upgraded Titan Still Dominates
Ethereum is the largest altcoin by market cap and has been around the longest, but it’s far from outdated. It’s one of the strongest digital currencies in the sector and after the successful completion of Ethereum 2.0 that addresses one of the several issues that plagued the platform (slow scalability and high transaction fees) it has cemented its position in the sector. With the introduction of sharding and full proof-of-stake implementation, Ethereum has maintained its lead in terms of decentralized applications, DeFi activity, and developer adoption.
No other altcoin can match Ethereum’s momentum in the sector thanks to its highly active ecosystem, vast developer network, and infrastructure maturity. Projects from diverse sectors - from gaming to finance - continue to be built on Ethereum, and institutional players continue to pick it as the main solution for large-scale integration. While Cardano prioritizes a more cautious approach, Ethereum continues to sprint ahead by sheer volume and entrenched trust.
Solana: Fast, Scalable, and Back in the Race
If someone thought Solana is heading to its downfall has been severely wrong because even if the blockchain dealt with major turbulence in its early days, like scalability issues and outages, it has made a strong comeback due to its high-performance technology. With recent upgrades aimed at improving stability and reducing latency, Solana now consistently handles tens of thousands of transactions per second with minimal fees.
Solana’s main appeal lies in its focus on real-world adoption through Solana Mobile and Solana Pay, low transaction costs, and unmatched speed. Both big tech companies and Web3 start-ups find Solana useful, which makes it a serious threat for Cardano, especially in the non-fungible token sectors and decentralized finance. Solana’s ability to attract both developers and users is a clear advantage in an increasingly competitive market.
Polkadot: The Champion of Interoperability
While Cardano focuses on improving its ecosystem, Polkadot takes a different approach and focuses on enabling blockchains to operate and communicate together. This vision of an interconnected multi-chain future has resonated strongly in 2025, especially with the rise of modular blockchain design.Polkadot’s parachain model allows each project to customize its own blockchain while still benefiting from shared security. As blockchain ecosystems become more complex, this kind of interoperability becomes invaluable. Polkadot’s recent 2.0 upgrade has significantly enhanced flexibility for developers, further encouraging innovation across DeFi, gaming, and identity solutions. It’s a smart contract contender with a unique and valuable angle.
Avalanche: Custom Chains for Custom Needs
avalanche has gained the public’s attention as the go-to platform when they want to customize scalable blockchain solutions. It features subnet technology that allows developers to create their own blockchains and tailor them to their own needs. With finality times of under two seconds and a high transaction throughput, Avalanche appeals to institutions looking for speed and flexibility. In 2025, it's seeing strong adoption among enterprises launching tokenized real-world assets, such as stocks and commodities. Cardano has similar ambitions in this space, but Avalanche’s faster deployment and more adaptable environment give it a leading edge.
Near Protocol: Where Developer Experience Comes First
The Web2 developers who want to transition to Web3, use Near protocol first because it provides them with a highly accessible environment. Near is one of crypto enthusiasts' favorites thanks to its focus on intuitive user experience and easy-to-use smart contract language. New blockchain builders also love it because it guarantees scalability while maintaining high performance and low fees. In 2025, Near continues to stand out as a platform that makes blockchain feel less intimidating and more practical—an area where Cardano still has room to improve.
Algorand: The Eco-Conscious Enterprise Chain
Algorand is a blockchain in full expansion that continues to build its reputation as a secure and sustainable ecosystem that is one of the primary choices for large-scale financial projects and government-level projects. Its pure proof-of-stake mechanism delivers strong performance while maintaining an extremely low carbon footprint, which aligns with the growing global emphasis on green technology. In 2025, Algorand is hosting digital currencies and tokenized assets for several governments, and it’s involved in major initiatives tied to sustainability, identity, and digital finance. While Cardano also promotes eco-friendliness, Algorand has gained faster traction among institutional clients, positioning itself as a powerful competitor in sectors Cardano aims to penetrate.
Cosmos: The Internet of Blockchains Takes Shape
Cosmos has grown into becoming a well-known platform for modular blockchain development and interoperability. Its Inter-Blockchain Communication (IBC) protocol allows different blockchains to transfer data and assets between them, creating a highly dynamic multi-chain environment. This year Cosmos-based chains are powering NFt marketplaces, DeFi applications, and even cross-chain gaming. Its use of the Cosmos SDK means developers can launch optimized blockchains quickly and easily. While Cardano focuses on a unified and secure chain, Cosmos offers a decentralized web of blockchains working together—an approach that is gaining increasing relevance.
Toncoin (TON): A Surprise Challenger from the Social Sphere
Toncoin is blacked by Telegram, and focuses on redefining what mass adoption looks like in the crypto sector. In 2025, Telegram’s integration of TON directly into its messaging platform unlocked unprecedented growth in users, transactions, and real-world utility. Users can now send tips, make payments, and access decentralized applications—all within Telegram. Toncoin’s scalability and instant global reach put it in a different category altogether: one that blends social media, fintech, and Web3. While Cardano is building slowly and steadily, TON is moving at lightning speed thanks to the backing of a major tech platform with hundreds of millions of users.
Final words
As expected, Cardano remains a major force in the blockchain world, but it’s not the only one. Projects like Ethereum, Solana, Near, and Toncoin promote mainly the same vision, but they offer different solutions to the same range of problems,