Altseason is upon us! And while everyone's chasing the next 100x, I'm looking at the bigger picture: which coins are actually building a better crypto future, one that's more inclusive and accessible? It’s not only profits they are looking for, it is impact. Forget Lambos, I'm thinking libraries.

DeFi for the People, Not the Few

We’ve all read the stories — new millionaires created overnight in crypto. Where does that leave the single mom who wants to build a nest egg? Or the college on the brink of closing its doors? DeFi needs to be an instrument of empowerment, rather than a more exclusive and intimidating playground for whales. That's why accessibility is key.

The SOL might be the one creating all the buzz – and for good reason. Its resurgence isn’t only due to the recent price increase (prices are hovering at $157.69). It’s about its growing DeFi ecosystem. The speed and lower fees compared to Ethereum are attracting developers and users alike, making DeFi more practical for everyday transactions. Think about it: lower gas fees mean even small investors can participate without getting eaten alive by transaction costs. That's inclusion.

Let’s be frank, Solana’s history of outages is concerning. Will it be safe enough and will people trust it enough to become a mainstream mobility option? Only time will tell, but if things continue on their current trajectory, we have much to be optimistic about.

Meme Coins With a Mission? Really?

Okay, I know what you're thinking: "Meme coins? Seriously?" But hear me out. As always, don’t underestimate the strength of the collective community! As silly as these new meme coins might be, they are a great tool to onboard new users into the crypto space. Let’s be honest, all that technical jargon is pretty scary. A friendly dog or a quirky frog? Much less so.

Dogecoin (DOGE) proves that. It’s fueled by the air of speculation and the fantasy of mainstream adoption. And though I think most of the ETF hype is nonsense, there’s no doubt that Dogecoin brought crypto to the people. That's a gateway.

Imagine if we could use that superpower to make a positive impact. Enter Neo Pepe Protocol ($NEOP). Yes, it's a meme coin. But it’s a meme coin with an environmentalist’s heart. The presale has already secured over $110,000. What strikes me most is its focus on community-run DAO governance.

NEOP isn't just about hoping the price goes up. It's about giving token holders real power to influence the project's direction. We’re not just speaking votes on treasury distributions, protocol developments and collaborations. It’s about making a movement out of a meme.

The 2.5% transaction fee provides liquidity backing the auto-liquidity pool created on Uniswap. Burning the LP tokens like this guarantees long-term liquidity and fragrance of the price… a genius strategy! The transparently open-source and audited smart contracts are a requirement. Transparency is non-negotiable.

Imagine a world where meme coin communities collectively fund projects that address real-world problems. Clean water projects, community based art programs, or even nano-loans for young innovators in developing nations. And that’s how you go from a meme to actual change.

Building Blocks for a Trustless Future

Beyond the hype, we need solid infrastructure. Crypto goes far beyond speculation—it’s about creating a more open and secure world.

Meanwhile, Cardano (ADA) continues to make waves under the radar, as growing smart contract deployments continue to fuel the fire. With a current price of just $0.646 it has more than 1.3 million staking addresses to its credit. The bigger story – both in terms of tech advancement and enterprise-focused use case – is the Originate blockchain tool. That's real-world application.

Chainlink (LINK), the quiet achiever of the DeFi space. As the leading oracle provider, Chainlink plays an important role in connecting real-world data to the blockchain. Current spot price is over $14.06 and analysts are predicting prices hitting $25 to $30 by the end of 2025. That’s the connection between the past and the future.

Think about it: without reliable oracles, DeFi is just a house of cards. As a leader in oracle infrastructure, Chainlink offers the necessary layer for expanding trustless agreements and automated processes. It may not be the most glamorous coin, but it is perhaps the most critical.

Fair warning—I’m not here to provide financial advice. (And neither is CaptainAltcoin, for the record. Always do your own research!). I’m here to warn you not to fall into this trap of thinking about altseason the wrong way. Don't just chase the pumps. Cheer for the projects that are helping us create a more inclusive, purposeful crypto future.

Put your money on the coins that are putting power back in communities’ hands, creating trustless infrastructure, and bringing DeFi to the masses. That's how we change the world. One block at a time.

Invest in the coins that are empowering communities, building trustless infrastructure, and making DeFi accessible to everyone. That's how we change the world. One block at a time.