The Ethereum blockchain attracted investors and developers altogether through its impressive variety of technologies. Decentralized finance (DeFi) applications, smart contracts, and non-fungible tokens (NFTs) allow users to create and share innovative solutions with the emerging cryptocurrency market.
The ERC-20 token is another noteworthy feature of the blockchain. It is a standard for fungible tokens, meaning it has the exchangeable feature, while NFTs don’t. Developers use ERC-20 to create new tokens on the Ethereum network that receive a set of rules that smart contracts will follow. This makes it easier to create a new crypto project.
Many reputable cryptocurrencies are ERC-20 tokens, such as Shiba Inu, a meme coin. Cryptocurrency exchanges started listing it after the Shiba Inu coin price skyrocketed, boosting its notoriety as a meme coin.
The ERC-20 standard can bring more to the market, so we present the best tokens of 2025.
Shiba Inu (SHIBA)
Shiba Inu is part of the meme dog community, where Shiba Inu dogs inspire developers to create cryptocurrencies for fun. Shiba Inu was one of the ERC-20 tokens that received heavy demand on the market, as the massive community wanted SHIB for themselves.
It’s compatible with the Ethereum ecosystem, including the blockchain’s wallets and DeFi applications. Shiba Inu benefits from a maximum supply of 999.98T SHIB, but the ecosystem consists of more tokens, such as Leash, which rewards supporters, or Bone, which has multiple purposes.
The Shiba Inu ecosystem also includes:
- The DeFi platform ShibaSwap, where users buy and sell SHIB and LEASH most;
- The Shiba Eternity collectible card game where players duel with cards;
- The Shiboshis NFT collection has 10,000 Shiba Inu-generated assets;
There’s also a blockchain called Shibarium, a layer-two solution that reduces network congestion, introduces staking into the ecosystem, and lowers gas fees.
Tether (USDT)
Tether is a stablecoin, meaning its value is pegged to the US dollar. The Ethereum-based token is one of the fastest-growing in the industry and one of the largest cryptocurrencies with impressive market capitalization.
Stablecoins are less volatile than regular cryptocurrencies because their value is backed 1:1 with the respective fiat currency. While they ensure safety, their profit is not considerable, but investors choose them for additional diversification.
This stability allowed Tether to spread across industries, as companies and exchanges accepted it as a form of payment. Due to Ethereum’s efficient blockchain, Tether also facilitates fast and low-cost transactions. Finally, Tether USDT benefits protocols by ensuring liquidity. An increasing number of users rely on Tether for lending or borrowing, so it has become an essential part of the ecosystem.
Binance Coin (BNB)
Binance Coin is an ERC-20 token of the Binance Exchange. It was first a utility token, but as its popularity grew, use cases expanded, and now users can leverage BNB to pay transaction fees, make travel bookings, and use online services.
BNB has a maximum of 200 million BNB coins, but it has a unique burning system in which one-fifth of profits go into repurchasing and destroying BNB. This ensures the cryptocurrency benefits from long-term value.
BNB is part of a growing decentralized infrastructure of:
- BNB Smart Chain is responsible for creating and executing smart contracts;
- opBNB is one layer-2 solution working on faster transactions and lower user fees;
- zkBNB is a second layer-2 solution leveraging zero-knowledge proofs for the same advantages;
- BNB Greenfield offers storage to users who want to control their data;
Hex (HEX)
Hex is another ETC-20 token whose creator envisioned a new concept of a Certificate of Deposit (CD) on blockchains. This technology allows users to earn rewards by staking their HEX for specific periods. If they hold tokens for longer, the rewards are also more significant.
HEX uses a staking mechanism that burns tokens and generates “T-shares,” or interest. With capped annual inflation and a proof-of-wait consensus mechanism, HEX is more environmentally friendly than many other cryptocurrencies.
Hex also prioritizes safety. In addition to the Ethereum safety layers, the team’s token conducts frequent audits to ensure the network’s integrity. In addition, the integration with Ethereum’s ecosystem allows HEX to eliminate the need for intermediaries in DeFi protocols. Hex is firstly a store of value, similar to Bitcoin, but it has other use cases, such as for online payments and as a transaction layer.
Dai (DAI)
DAI is a stablecoin created as an ERC-20 token. The Maker Protocol and the MakerDAO entities manage the stablecoin, and its uniqueness comes from a mix of pegged instruments. Besides the US dollar, several cryptocurrencies collateralize it through smart contract technologies that operate every time users mint a new Dai.
Dai’s management consists of decentralized autonomous organizations that value governing in a democratic way, meaning participating in the community will vote for important updates and changes. This also means the DAO records all changes through Ethereum smart contracts and ensures complete transparency.
Dai has multiple functions, such as:
- A store of value since it won’t depreciate significantly over time;
- A medium of exchange, as it facilitates transactions of sales or purchases;
- A unit of account, since users leverage it for pricing goods and services;
- A standard of deferred payment because holders use it to pay stability fees on the protocol;
Will ERC-20 tokens continue to benefit the market?
Developers using the ERC-20 token standard to create new cryptocurrencies benefit from a simplified token integration process within the market. Since the protocol behind it ensures interoperability and compatibility with the Ethereum blockchain, it also offers access to multiple wallets and dApps. Therefore, using it can help reduce the risk of vulnerabilities in the fast-paced crypto ecosystem. With hundreds of ERCs implemented in the past years, we’re positive their popularity will grow.
What do you think about these ERC-20 cryptocurrencies?
Ethereum is an advanced blockchain with unique features, like smart contracts, that developers can use to create almost any decentralized application imaginable. The ERC-20 standard is a technology that allows easy and efficient token deployment, and it was the start of several successful tokens, such as Shiba Inu, Tether USDT, and the Binance Coin. These tokens benefit from Ethereum’s security layer and technological developments.
