Based on historical performance and market position, Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), XRP (XRP), and Dogecoin (DOGE) are frequently cited as "millionaire-maker" cryptocurrencies. Bitcoin has a track record of being the top-performing asset in 8 of the last 11 years, while early investments in ETH, XRP, and DOGE generated massive returns, with some early buyers turning modest amounts into millions.
With that in mind, two cryptocurrencies that are often positioned as potential millionaire-makers are XRP (CRYPTO: XRP) and Dogecoin (CRYPTO: DOGE). Both rank among the top 10 cryptocurrencies in the world by market cap, and both have seen brief periods of explosive upside gains during the past few years.
“We don't own any, we're not short any, we'll never have a position in them.” But recent reports show Berkshire Hathaway and some of its investment managers may be getting more lenient in their views on cryptocurrency.
Laszlo Hanyecz, a programmer and early Bitcoin miner, famously traded 10,000 Bitcoin for two Papa John's pizzas on May 22, 2010, marking the first documented commercial transaction for physical goods with cryptocurrency, a day now celebrated as "Bitcoin Pizza Day". At the time, the Bitcoins were worth only about $41, but the value of those coins would later grow to be worth hundreds of millions, even over a billion dollars, making it one of history's most expensive pizzas.
On that note, five years ago, Solana (SOL 1.40%) was a fledgling smart contract network with more ambition than market share. Had you invested $1,000 then, it would be worth roughly $55,000 on August 27, 2025, or around 5,620% more than what you started with.
XRP has outperformed Cardano over the past year and has higher upside potential. Cardano, once viewed as a potential Ethereum rival, has never lived up to the hype. While XRP is trading at a bargain price of $2, it remains a highly risky, speculative investment.
Let's dive into what makes these coins stand out.
Investing $100 in Bitcoin about 10 years ago (around late 2015/early 2016) would have turned that initial amount into tens of thousands of dollars, potentially over $30,000, given Bitcoin's massive growth from roughly $300-$400 per coin to over $100,000 by late 2025/early 2026, though exact value depends on the specific purchase price and current market fluctuations, representing an astronomical return but also highlighting Bitcoin's extreme volatility.
🐶 How Many $DOGE Coins Do You Need to Become a Millionaire at $10? Let's explore what it would take to turn Dogecoin into a $10 asset—and how much DOGE you'd need to hit $1 million in value. So, if DOGE ever reaches $10, you'd need 100,000 DOGE in your wallet to hold $1 million.
Gates has been critical of cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin. According to him, cryptocurrencies provide no "valuable output", contribute nothing to society, and pose a danger especially for smaller investors who could not survive the potentially high losses. Gates also does not own any cryptocurrencies himself.
SpaceX, the space exploration company led by Elon Musk, has reportedly transferred over $133 million in Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC), causing a stir in the cryptocurrency market. The blockchain analytics firm Arkham Intelligence disclosed that SpaceX moved a total of 1,215 Bitcoin to various addresses.
Cardano (ADA) - Third-Generation Blockchain
Cardano has emerged as one of the most undervalued crypto projects despite its rigorous research-driven approach and leadership in proof-of-stake blockchain technology.
Throughout 2025, it was fashionable for crypto market participants and top Silicon Valley insiders to predict that Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) would hit a price of $1 million by the year 2030.