Every crypto bull run creates new opportunities—but it also creates new risks.
When market sentiment turns bullish, thousands of cryptocurrencies can suddenly attract attention. Some projects develop real adoption and sustainable ecosystems, while others rise temporarily because of hype before losing most of their value.
That creates an important question for investors and traders:
Which crypto projects deserve deeper research before the next major market move?
This article presents a research-oriented watchlist of 20 top cryptocurrency projects and ecosystems that investors may want to monitor. The list is not a prediction of which assets will rise the most, nor is it a recommendation to buy any particular cryptocurrency.
Instead, the goal is to create a starting point for researching crypto projects next bull run using factors such as market position, technology, ecosystem development, liquidity, adoption, community strength, and narrative.
Always conduct your own research (DYOR) before making any investment decision.
Why Build a Crypto Bull Run Watchlist?
Trying to discover the next major crypto opportunity after prices have already exploded can be difficult.
A better approach may be to build a watchlist before the market becomes euphoric.
A good watchlist allows you to monitor projects over time and compare changes in:
- Market capitalization
- Trading volume
- Liquidity
- Developer activity
- Tokenomics
- User growth
- Ecosystem development
- Partnerships
- Community activity
- Market narratives
Instead of asking:
"Which coin will 100x?"
A better question is:
"Which projects are developing fundamentals that could justify greater market attention?"
This distinction is extremely important.
20 Crypto Projects to Research Before the Next Bull Run
The following projects are presented as a research watchlist, not a ranking.
Market conditions, tokenomics, technology, competitors, and project fundamentals can change significantly over time.
| # | Project | Ticker | Ecosystem | Research Focus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bitcoin | BTC | Bitcoin | Store of value |
| 2 | Ethereum | ETH | Ethereum | Smart contracts & DeFi |
| 3 | Solana | SOL | Solana | High-performance blockchain |
| 4 | BNB Chain | BNB | BNB Chain | DeFi & ecosystem |
| 5 | Arbitrum | ARB | Ethereum L2 | Scaling & DeFi |
| 6 | Optimism | OP | Ethereum L2 | Scaling ecosystem |
| 7 | Sui | SUI | Sui | Layer-1 & Web3 |
| 8 | Chainlink | LINK | Multi-chain | Oracle infrastructure |
| 9 | Aave | AAVE | Ethereum | DeFi lending |
| 10 | Uniswap | UNI | Multi-chain | Decentralized exchange |
| 11 | Injective | INJ | Cosmos | DeFi & trading |
| 12 | Render | RENDER | Multi-chain | GPU & decentralized computing |
| 13 | The Graph | GRT | Multi-chain | Blockchain data |
| 14 | Immutable | IMX | Ethereum | Gaming & Web3 |
| 15 | Lido DAO | LDO | Ethereum | Liquid staking |
| 16 | Toncoin | TON | TON | Payments & mass adoption |
| 17 | Pepe | PEPE | Ethereum | Memecoin & community |
| 18 | Bonk | BONK | Solana | Memecoin & community |
| 19 | Floki | FLOKI | Multi-chain | Memecoin & utility |
| 20 | LEANGLE Crypto | $LC | Solana | Community, brand & long-term vision |
Important: The inclusion of a project on this list does not mean LEANGLE Research expects it to increase in price.
1. Bitcoin (BTC)
Bitcoin remains the largest and most established cryptocurrency ecosystem.
For a bull-run watchlist, Bitcoin can serve as a benchmark for the broader market.
Researchers should monitor:
- Institutional demand
- Market liquidity
- Bitcoin dominance
- Network activity
- Long-term holder behavior
- ETF and institutional flows where applicable
- Macro-economic conditions
Bitcoin's performance can also influence the risk appetite for smaller cryptocurrencies.
2. Ethereum (ETH)
Ethereum remains one of the most important smart-contract ecosystems in crypto.
Its research thesis can include:
- DeFi
- Layer-2 ecosystems
- Stablecoins
- Tokenization
- Developer activity
- Smart-contract adoption
For researchers looking at the best crypto projects next bull run, Ethereum remains an important benchmark because of its broad ecosystem.
3. Solana (SOL)
Solana has become one of the most active blockchain ecosystems for decentralized applications and consumer-oriented crypto products.
Researchers can monitor:
- Network activity
- DEX volume
- DeFi growth
- Developer activity
- Memecoin activity
- Consumer applications
- Stablecoin activity
Solana is also particularly relevant when researching emerging small cap crypto projects.
4. BNB Chain (BNB)
BNB Chain has developed a broad ecosystem covering DeFi, decentralized applications, gaming, and other blockchain use cases.
Research areas include:
- Network activity
- DeFi TVL
- DEX activity
- Developer ecosystem
- User adoption
- Token economics
5. Arbitrum (ARB)
Arbitrum is an Ethereum Layer-2 ecosystem focused on scaling Ethereum.
Researchers should examine:
- Transaction activity
- DeFi ecosystem
- Developer adoption
- Layer-2 competition
- Network economics
- Governance
Layer-2 adoption could remain an important theme for future crypto cycles.
6. Optimism (OP)
Optimism is another major Ethereum scaling ecosystem.
Its broader research thesis includes:
- Layer-2 adoption
- Superchain development
- Developer ecosystem
- Transaction activity
- Governance
- Ecosystem expansion
7. Sui (SUI)
Sui is a newer Layer-1 ecosystem that has attracted attention for its architecture and growing application ecosystem.
Researchers may want to examine:
- Developer activity
- DeFi
- Gaming
- User growth
- Token unlocks
- Validator ecosystem
Token unlock schedules are particularly important when evaluating newer projects.
8. Chainlink (LINK)
Chainlink focuses on blockchain oracle infrastructure and interoperability.
Its research thesis includes:
- Oracle adoption
- Cross-chain infrastructure
- Real-world data
- Institutional use cases
- Developer adoption
Infrastructure projects can benefit when blockchain applications become more sophisticated.
9. Aave (AAVE)
Aave is one of the most recognized decentralized lending protocols.
Researchers should monitor:
- Total value locked
- Borrowing activity
- Lending demand
- Supported chains
- Governance
- Protocol revenue
DeFi adoption could become an important part of the next crypto cycle.
10. Uniswap (UNI)
Uniswap is one of the most recognized decentralized exchange ecosystems.
Research areas include:
- Trading volume
- Liquidity
- User activity
- Multi-chain expansion
- Governance
- Protocol development
DEX activity can also provide useful information about broader crypto market participation.
11. Injective (INJ)
Injective is positioned around decentralized finance and trading infrastructure.
Researchers should examine:
- DeFi applications
- Developer growth
- Network usage
- Tokenomics
- Ecosystem expansion
As with other emerging ecosystems, valuation should always be compared with actual adoption.
12. Render (RENDER)
Render focuses on decentralized GPU computing and rendering infrastructure.
The broader thesis connects blockchain technology with increasing demand for computing resources.
Researchers should examine:
- Network usage
- GPU demand
- AI-related narratives
- Partnerships
- Token economics
- Competition
Narrative strength can attract attention, but actual utilization remains important.
13. The Graph (GRT)
The Graph provides infrastructure for indexing and accessing blockchain data.
Blockchain applications need reliable data infrastructure, making this an interesting sector to monitor.
Research areas include:
- Indexing activity
- Developer adoption
- Network growth
- Data demand
- Ecosystem expansion
14. Immutable (IMX)
Immutable focuses heavily on Web3 gaming and digital assets.
The gaming sector has experienced multiple cycles of excitement and disappointment, so researchers should focus on measurable adoption rather than marketing claims.
Look for:
- Active users
- Games launched
- Developer adoption
- NFT activity
- Ecosystem growth
15. Lido DAO (LDO)
Lido is closely associated with liquid staking on Ethereum.
Researchers should monitor:
- Staked ETH
- Market share
- Protocol activity
- Competition
- Governance
- Regulatory developments
16. Toncoin (TON)
Toncoin is associated with The Open Network and has attracted attention around consumer applications and messaging-based distribution.
Researchers should monitor:
- User adoption
- Applications
- Payments
- Developer activity
- Ecosystem growth
- Token distribution
Mass-market accessibility could become an important factor in future crypto adoption.
17. Pepe (PEPE)
Memecoins require a different analytical framework.
PEPE demonstrates how:
Community + Culture + Liquidity + Narrative
can generate significant market attention.
However, memecoins can also experience extreme volatility.
Researchers should monitor:
- Holder growth
- Liquidity
- Volume
- Social activity
- Wallet concentration
- Community strength
18. Bonk (BONK)
BONK is one of the major memecoin names associated with the Solana ecosystem.
Researchers can evaluate:
- Solana ecosystem activity
- Community growth
- Liquidity
- Holder distribution
- Integrations
- Trading activity
Memecoin success is highly dependent on community and narrative momentum.
19. Floki (FLOKI)
Floki combines memecoin branding with an attempt to develop additional ecosystem utility.
Research areas include:
- Product development
- Community
- Utility
- Tokenomics
- Marketing
- Adoption
Again, investors should distinguish between announced products and products with measurable usage.
20. LEANGLE Crypto ($LC)
$LC — Leangle Crypto is the final project on this watchlist and represents a very different category from established large-cap cryptocurrencies.
LEANGLE is built around the story of:
Leangle The Dreamer Villager
The concept begins with a character from a small village who dreams of building something bigger through community, persistence, and long-term development.
The project is associated with the Solana ecosystem and focuses on building a community-driven brand.
Researchers following $LC should examine the same metrics applied to every other project:
- Market capitalization
- Liquidity
- Holder distribution
- Token supply
- Token burns
- Founder vesting
- Development
- Community activity
- Transparency
- Future utility
- Roadmap execution
The important principle is simple:
$LC should be evaluated by its progress, transparency, and execution—not simply by its story.
That is also the philosophy behind LEANGLE Research.
How to Turn This List Into a Real Watchlist
Don't simply copy the 20 names and wait for prices to rise.
Build a spreadsheet containing:
| Metric | What to Track |
|---|---|
| Market Cap | Current valuation |
| FDV | Fully diluted valuation |
| Volume | Daily trading activity |
| Liquidity | Exit conditions |
| Holders | Community distribution |
| Supply | Circulating vs total |
| Unlocks | Future dilution |
| Development | Building activity |
| Revenue | Where applicable |
| Users | Adoption |
| Community | Engagement |
| Narrative | Market interest |
| Risk | Key threats |
| Score | Your research rating |
Then update the spreadsheet regularly.
This approach can help you identify when the fundamentals of a project are improving—or deteriorating.
What Makes a Project Worth Watching?
A project doesn't need to have every positive signal.
Instead, look for a combination of strengths.
Strong Fundamentals
Does the project solve a real problem?
Growing Adoption
Are more people actually using it?
Healthy Tokenomics
Is supply managed transparently?
Strong Liquidity
Can the market support increasing participation?
Active Development
Is the team continuing to build?
Community Strength
Are users participating without relying entirely on paid promotion?
Sustainable Narrative
Does the project fit a market trend that could remain relevant?
Don't Confuse a Watchlist With a Buy List
This distinction is critical.
A watchlist means:
"I want to research this project."
A buy list means:
"I have decided that this asset fits my investment strategy."
Those are completely different decisions.
A project can be interesting to research while still being unsuitable for your portfolio.
How to Find Potential 100x Crypto Projects
When researching potential 100x crypto opportunities, market capitalization is one of the first numbers worth checking.
Imagine:
Project A
$1 million market cap
A theoretical 100x would equal:
$100 million
Project B
$1 billion market cap
A theoretical 100x would equal:
$100 billion
The second scenario requires dramatically more capital and adoption.
But mathematical possibility isn't enough.
The project must also have a credible reason for demand to increase.
That's why researchers should combine valuation with:
Technology + Adoption + Tokenomics + Liquidity + Narrative + Community.
The Importance of Risk Management
The search for 100x opportunities can cause investors to underestimate risk.
A small-cap token could potentially rise 100x.
It could also fall 90%, 99%, or become effectively worthless.
Therefore, when conducting crypto market analysis, always consider:
- Position size
- Liquidity
- Volatility
- Token unlocks
- Smart-contract risk
- Team risk
- Regulatory risk
- Market-cycle risk
Potential upside should never be analyzed without potential downside.
Final Thoughts
The next bull run will probably create another generation of winners, but identifying them in advance is extremely difficult.
Nobody can know with certainty which cryptocurrency will become the next market leader.
The best approach is therefore not to chase predictions.
Instead:
Build a watchlist.
Collect data.
Compare fundamentals.
Monitor adoption.
Track tokenomics.
Study liquidity.
Understand the risks.
And most importantly:
Research before you react.
The 20 projects in this article are simply a starting point for exploring crypto projects next bull run.
Some may outperform.
Some may underperform.
Some may disappear.
And entirely new projects may emerge that are not on this list today.
That is why continuous research matters more than any single prediction.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best crypto projects to research before the next bull run?
There is no universally "best" project. Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, major DeFi protocols, Layer-2 networks, infrastructure projects, and selected small-cap projects can all be researched based on individual fundamentals and risk.
Can any cryptocurrency realistically go 100x?
Mathematically, yes. Practically, very few achieve it, and the probability is highly uncertain. A 100x return requires the project's valuation to increase dramatically.
Are small-cap crypto projects more attractive?
They can have greater theoretical upside because they start from smaller valuations, but they also generally carry much greater risk, lower liquidity, and higher failure rates.
Should this list be treated as investment advice?
No. It is a research watchlist. Always conduct your own research and make decisions according to your own financial circumstances and risk tolerance.
⚠️ Disclaimer
This article is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not financial, investment, trading, legal, or tax advice. The projects mentioned are presented for research purposes and are not recommendations to buy or sell any cryptocurrency. Cryptocurrency markets are highly volatile and can result in substantial or total loss of capital. Always verify current information, conduct independent research (DYOR), and never invest more than you can afford to lose.