Which Crypto Will Make the Most Millionaires This Cycle?

Quick Read

• By mid-2025, the number of crypto millionaires rose to over 240,000, a 40% jump in a single year, with Bitcoin alone accounting for over 145,000 of them, driven by ETF adoption and a 70% jump in Bitcoin millionaires year-on-year.

• Standard Chartered’s $28 XRP target by 2030 implies a 20x return from current levels, turning a $50,000 investment into roughly $1 million if the CLARITY Act clears the full Senate

• VanEck’s $3,211 Solana target for 2030 implies nearly 38x upside from current prices. If achieved, a $26,500 investment today could grow to about $1 million, giving Solana the biggest upside potential among major cryptocurrencies.

The 2021 bull run created more than 150,000 crypto millionaires. By mid-2025, that number had risen to 241,700, a 40% jump in a single year, with Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) alone accounting for over 145,000 of them. 

Bitcoin is trading around $73,500 today, Solana (CRYPTO: SOL) hovers near $82, XRP (CRYPTO: XRP) around $1.34, and Ethereum (CRYPTO: ETH) is at roughly $2,012. All four now have ETF products, institutional backing, and growing mainstream adoption.

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With much of the crypto market still under pressure, the question is which of the four has the best shot of minting the most new millionaires this cycle.

Bitcoin Has Created More Millionaires Than Any Other Crypto

No asset in crypto history has created more millionaires faster than Bitcoin. At the peak of the 2021 bull run, Bitcoin minted more than 4,000 new millionaire wallets daily. Even early in the 2024 cycle, that pace held around 2,000 per day before slowing as large holders shifted assets to custodians and ETFs.

At $73,500, Bitcoin would need to climb to roughly $7.35 million for a $10,000 investment today to become $1 million, which is far beyond most realistic 2026 projections. The explosive 100x upside seen in earlier cycles is much harder to achieve at Bitcoin’s current size.

Bitcoin still offers the strongest foundation for preserving wealth once it is created. Around 60% of crypto millionaires and 17 of the 36 crypto billionaires built their fortunes through Bitcoin. With ETFs, pension funds, and sovereign capital now supporting the asset, Bitcoin has increasingly become the crypto investors consider after making outsized gains elsewhere.

XRP Offers the Most Visible Setup for New Millionaires

XRP currently has one of the more visible millionaire-making setups in crypto because its growth catalysts are easy to track, and the first big one is already moving.

The CLARITY Act advanced through the Senate Banking Committee in a 15-9 bipartisan vote on May 14, a key milestone behind Standard Chartered’s long-term $28 XRP projection. From today’s $1.34 price, that would represent roughly a 20x return.

At that level, a $50,000 investment today could approach $1 million. Unlike Bitcoin, XRP does not require extreme market-cap expansion for the numbers to work. Even at $28, XRP’s valuation would still fit within a major late-cycle crypto bull market.

Institutional positioning adds another layer of support. XRP ETFs recorded 43 consecutive days of inflows in Q1 2026, while other major cryptos saw outflows during the same period.

However, XRP’s roadmap still depends heavily on the CLARITY Act clearing the full Senate. If the bill stalls, the $28 becomes harder to reach, and the chance of minting millionaires this cycle slips with it.

Solana: The Highest-Upside Millionaire Bet

Solana may offer the biggest upside of the four coins. VanEck’s bullish target of $3,211 by 2030 would represent nearly a 38x gain from current levels. At that price, a $26,500 investment today could grow to about $1 million.

Solana is backed by growing network activity. The asset generated $2.85 billion in revenue between October 2024 and September 2025, driven by DeFi, trading, AI applications, and meme coins. Its upcoming Alpenglow upgrade could also make transactions significantly faster, putting Solana on equal footing with the fastest blockchains.

The risk is that Solana remains highly volatile. Some forecasts see the price staying below $100 in a bearish scenario, while others project it above $3,000. If adoption keeps growing, Solana could create more new millionaires than any other major crypto.

Ethereum: The Wealth Builder, Not the Biggest Multiplier

Ethereum is unlikely to create the most new millionaires this cycle, but it offers something the others do not: staking income.

About 30% of all ETH is staked across more than 1 million validators, allowing holders to earn roughly 2.8% to 3.5% annually. The launch of staking-enabled Ethereum ETFs has also made it easier for institutional investors to earn yield while holding ETH.

At $2,012, turning $10,000 into $1 million would require ETH to reach roughly $200,000 per coin. Most institutional forecasts are far below that level. Even bullish targets around $7,500 imply only a 3x to 4x gain from current prices.

That does not make Ethereum a weak investment. If regulatory conditions improve and adoption continues to grow, ETH could reclaim its previous highs and move significantly higher. But compared with XRP and Solana, Ethereum looks less likely to turn a modest investment into a fortune by the end of the year.

Which Crypto Will Make the Most Millionaires This Cycle?

Solana has the strongest chance of creating the most new millionaires this cycle. It offers substantial upside, growing adoption, and major network upgrades that could attract even more users and developers.

XRP is a close second. If the CLARITY Act passes and institutional demand keeps growing, XRP could become one of the best-performing large cryptocurrencies. Bitcoin and Ethereum remain strong long-term assets, but they are less likely to deliver the same level of gains. Bitcoin is increasingly seen as a store of value, while Ethereum offers steady growth supported by staking and broad adoption.

Solana has the best chance of minting the most new millionaires, XRP has the biggest upside if regulation falls into place, Bitcoin remains the leading wealth-preservation asset, and Ethereum continues to be a reliable long-term compounder.

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