Top Crypto Picks Under $1 for 2025: Qubetics, Solana, and Astra

The Theta ecosystem is witnessing significant advancements as it gains traction across various sectors, including sports, media, academia, and AI startups. In May 2025, FC Seoul made headlines by becoming the first professional sports team in South Korea to adopt Theta's EdgeCloud technology. This move is expected to enhance their digital capabilities and fan engagement through innovative applications of blockchain technology. In academia, the adoption of Theta EdgeCloud is expanding, with notable institutions like Brandeis University and Sungkyunkwan University integrating the platform into their AI research initiatives. The Liu Lab at Brandeis, under the leadership of Professor Hongfu Liu, is utilizing EdgeCloud to advance machine learning and AI research, focusing on areas such as data-centric learning and clustering analysis. Similarly, the AI & Media Lab at Sungkyunkwan University, led by Professor Sungeun Hong, is leveraging EdgeCloud for cutting-edge research in multimodal learning and human-AI alignment. Moreover, the esports sector is also embracing Theta's technology, with Cloud9 announcing a collaboration to launch an AI-powered esports chatbot. Theta has been recognized as a leader in the crypto AI space, as highlighted in Grayscale’s Artificial Intelligence Crypto Sector index. The ecosystem continues to grow with new technical developments and partnerships, including a research collaboration with Cornell University and the addition of Xangle as the latest Enterprise Validator Node on the Theta blockchain. The community is eager for further developments, especially with the upcoming evolution of Theta EdgeCloud in June.

CUDIS, a wellness startup based on the Solana blockchain, has officially launched its $CUDIS token, marking a significant step in its journey towards becoming the first comprehensive longevity protocol. This token launch is not merely speculative; it is grounded in real-world applications, having already sold over 20,000 smart rings and onboarded more than 200,000 users since its inception in May 2024. The platform has processed billions of biometric signals, providing users with actionable insights to enhance their health and longevity. The $CUDIS token aims to serve as a connective layer within this ecosystem, facilitating access, incentives, and governance for users engaged in health data utilization. The CUDIS platform began with a simple concept: empowering users through their health data. Users are issued a unique Longevity Decentralized ID (LDID) that allows them to mint health records as NFTs and receive AI-driven insights. The $CUDIS token now plays a crucial role in this evolving ecosystem, supporting app access, rewards, and community governance. Unlike traditional tokens, $CUDIS is designed for utility, ensuring that rewards are linked to verified health activities, thus creating a sustainable token economy focused on user engagement and real-world impact. Looking ahead, CUDIS plans to expand its Longevity Hub, a platform for wellness innovation that will enable developers to create applications and services using health data and insights. Confirmed projects launching through this hub include dLife and Stadium Science, among others. To celebrate the token launch, CUDIS will also initiate a multi-tiered airdrop campaign aimed at rewarding early supporters and contributors. With a total supply of 1 billion tokens, CUDIS is set to be listed on major exchanges, further solidifying its position in the health and wellness blockchain space.

IoTeX is revolutionizing the way everyday machines, such as solar panels and GPS trackers, can generate passive income by turning them into valuable assets. Co-founder Jing Sun emphasizes that their platform is at the forefront of a new machine economy, where real-world devices connect to Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Networks (DePINs) to yield real financial returns. The vision for IoTeX was inspired by the Ethereum whitepaper, leading to the creation of a Layer 1 blockchain that links device data with AI models and traditional businesses. This innovative approach allows communities to contribute data from devices and earn rewards from AI firms, effectively merging the physical and digital worlds. The concept of DePIN, which stands for Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Networks, is emerging as a promising real-world application of cryptocurrency. Sun describes it as "MachineFi," which refers to the financialization of machine data and resources. DePIN projects aim to crowdsource infrastructure that has traditionally been managed by governments or large corporations, providing coverage to underserved regions. Existing projects on IoTeX, such as GEODNET for GPS, Glow for solar energy, and Wingbits for flight tracking, are already operational and generating revenue, demonstrating the societal benefits of this model. IoTeX's machine economy is accessible to everyone, allowing individuals to purchase and operate devices that collect data and sell it to networks in exchange for tokens. This model offers a form of basic income, empowering users to become operators of a diverse machine network. Traditional investors are also taking note, as DePIN's clear business model and revenue structures make it an attractive opportunity. With over 100 DePIN projects and a total locked value of $2.7 billion, IoTeX is poised to attract traditional investment into the crypto space. Looking ahead, the company aims to support the next generation of AI agents and smart devices, positioning itself as a leader in the integration of blockchain technology with everyday machines.

Streamr is set to make a significant impact at the upcoming IEEE ICBC 2025 conference in Pisa, scheduled for June 6th. During the event, a lightning talk will be featured in the "DePIN Madness" session, introducing a workshop titled "The fusion of DePIN and AI for an intelligent future." This initiative aligns with Streamr's mission to establish a decentralized infrastructure for real-time data, aiming to replace traditional centralized messaging systems with a global peer-to-peer network. The project promises users secure access to real-time data streams, the ability to leverage immediate data through a marketplace, and a comprehensive toolkit called Core for managing these data streams effectively. The Streamr Network operates as a decentralized system that collects and disseminates real-time data from various sources, including IoT sensors and smart devices. This layer zero protocol enhances the functionality of decentralized Web3 projects by utilizing a topic-based publish-subscribe model. Each data stream creates its own P2P overlay network, managed by BitTorrent-like trackers, ensuring efficient data flow. Additionally, the Data Union framework allows for innovative data crowdsourcing and crowdselling, integrating with platforms like Streamr, Ethereum, and xDai to incentivize users for sharing valuable data. At the heart of the Streamr ecosystem is the DATA token, which follows the ERC-20 standard. This token serves multiple purposes, acting as the primary payment method within the Data Marketplace and functioning as the main incentive mechanism within the Streamr Network. By streamlining transactions and fostering active participation, the DATA token plays a crucial role in the overall success and sustainability of the Streamr project, further promoting a decentralized approach to real-time data management.

On June 2nd, 2025, No Limit Holdings (NLH) and ClearVue Partners (CVP) announced the final close of the CVP NoLimit Fund II, which aims to invest in native crypto projects within a rapidly growing digital asset industry projected to reach nearly $15 trillion by 2030. NLH, led by Gin Chao, an influential figure in the blockchain space, emphasizes accelerating value creation through blockchain technology. The firm previously launched Fund I in 2022, which successfully invested in over 40 projects, outperforming Bitcoin with impressive metrics such as distributed to paid-in capital (DPI) and multiple on invested capital (MOIC). Fund I notably backed Wynd Labs, a key contributor to the successful DePIN project, Grass Protocol. NLH's optimistic outlook for the blockchain industry is bolstered by expectations of increased institutional adoption and a stabilizing regulatory environment. Gin Chao, who has made accurate predictions regarding Bitcoin's price movements in the past, anticipates a Bitcoin high of $400-500k in the upcoming cycle. He emphasizes that NLH is not merely investing in technical protocols but is committed to supporting systems that will shape the future of global finance, governance, and transactions. Fund II is set to focus on early-stage investments in mission-driven founders and aims to explore significant opportunities in B2C applications. The CVP NoLimit funds have established a strong institutional presence in just three years, with Fund II surpassing its $100 million target within nine months. Investments have already been made in various portfolio projects, including Altius and Aro Network. The collaboration between NLH and CVP is expected to drive innovation and adoption in the blockchain space, positioning them as key players in the evolving landscape of digital assets. As the industry matures, both firms are poised to leverage their expertise and networks to foster the next generation of blockchain solutions.

As the cryptocurrency market gears up for the anticipated 2025 bull run, investors are increasingly looking for projects that offer more than just speculative gains. The focus is shifting towards cryptocurrencies that demonstrate long-term utility and technological innovation. Among the frontrunners in this space are Unstaked, Bittensor, NEAR Protocol, and Filecoin, each showcasing unique strengths that contribute to their potential for significant growth. These projects are not only gaining traction but are also designed to deliver real-world value through their advanced functionalities. Unstaked stands out with its innovative approach to integrating AI into social platforms. By developing AI agents capable of operating across platforms like Telegram and X, Unstaked aims to enhance user engagement and support. Currently in its presale phase, Unstaked has raised $8.2 million, with a presale price of $0.01043 and a projected launch price of $0.1819, indicating a potential return of 2700%. This focus on AI automation positions Unstaked as a strong contender for the upcoming bull run. Bittensor, on the other hand, is redefining the AI landscape by creating an open network that rewards users for contributing computing power and AI models. With its token TAO experiencing notable price movements, Bittensor's model fosters collaboration rather than competition. NEAR Protocol simplifies Web3 development, making it accessible for developers to create user-friendly applications, while Filecoin addresses the growing demand for decentralized storage solutions. Together, these projects represent a shift towards cryptocurrencies that prioritize functionality and real-world applications, making them worthy of attention as the market evolves towards 2025.