Bitcoin and Ethereum dominate headlines, but short-term return potential often lies with undervalued, purposeful small caps. Think of them like hidden gems: cheaper entry, faster movers, greater upside. Here are four tokens, including one exciting presale, that could outperform BTC and ETH in the next surge.
Little Pepe ($LILPEPE): The meme coin that’s building its own blockchain
Little Pepe (LILPEPE) is rewriting the playbook for meme coins. With its presale in Stage 4 at $0.0013, it has already raised over $2.5 million, and more than 60% of the tokens have been sold. That means true early-stage entry, well below the confirmed listing price of $0.003, providing investors with an immediate 2.3 times gain before the token even hits the market.
But LILPEPE is more than just hype. It’s launching as its own EVM-compatible Layer 2 blockchain, built from the ground up to serve meme culture. Expect ultra-low fees, instant transaction finality, zero trade taxes, and built-in protection against sniper bots. These are exactly the features meme coin traders care about.
Central to the ecosystem is Pepe’s Pump Pad, an on-chain launchpad that offers automatic liquidity locks and rug-pull prevention for new meme tokens. This means a steady pipeline of meme-based projects and continuous demand for $LILPEPE as the native gas and staking token.
This isn’t vaporware either. LILPEPE has undergone a third-party audit, scoring 81.75/100, signaling a real commitment to security. The marketing engine is roaring as well. The team announced a $777,000 giveaway, where ten participants each win $77,000 in tokens. This has generated serious FOMO and social layer velocity.
Additionally, it’s confirmed to list on two top-tier centralized exchanges immediately following the presale, with ambitions to target the world’s largest exchange next. That not only validates the project but sets up automatic liquidity and a fast-tracked listing catalyst.
Conservative projections put post-launch prices around $0.10, which is already a whopping 77× return. But with meme momentum and ecosystem growth, hitting $1 isn’t out of the question. That would reinvest your initial stake 770×—a life-changing move that few tokens can promise. For investors seeking asymmetric upside with a rational foundation, Little Pepe stands out. It’s priced like a traditional meme presale but backed by real tech, launch security, and tokenomics built for speed.
Virtuals Protocol (VIRTUAL): AI meets metaverse in a high-volatility comeback play
Virtuals Protocol (VIRTUAL) blends AI and the metaverse, aiming to tokenize digital identities and experiences. In January 2025, it hit an all-time high of $5.15, driven by fervor in the AI agent narrative. After a steep 85% correction to the $1.30–$1.40 range, it rebounded by 23% in 24 hours as a major Brooklyn AI event sparked renewed interest.
VIRTUALS/USD 1D Price Chart|Source: TradingView
Despite recent weakness, down 46% from early May highs, VIRTUAL remains a speculative growth vehicle. Traders looking for short-term rebounds should watch the $1.30–$1.50 range for bounce plays. With AI and metaverse momentum building, a return above $2+ could be possible if hype cycles ignite again. Like it did last year, it could yet rally sharply to $5.
Sei (SEI): High-speed layer-1 surging on real utility and user growth
Sei has emerged as one of the fastest-growing Layer-1 blockchains. June saw daily transactions triple to 1.6 million as ecosystem projects, such as World of Dypians and Dragon Slither, launched. That activity drove a fee surge of 1,840%, clearing $19,000 in daily on-chain fees.
SEI/USD 1D Price Chart|Source: TradingView
Price action followed: SEI surged over 50% in one week. It now trades at $0.3. Technical indicators remain bullish, supported by the 20-day and 200-day EMAs. Growing activity, developer adoption, and token momentum could push SEI toward $0.50–$1. This is especially likely if new dApps continue to launch. It’s a rare blend of strong fundamentals and short-term breakout potential.
Ripple (XRP): Legal clarity and Euro Pilot could trigger a breakout
Ripple’s XRP is finally nearing the end of a long-running US legal saga. In late June 2025, Ripple announced it would drop its cross-appeal against the SEC, signaling a likely resolution in its favor. Regulatory clarity has already supported an 8.9% single-day gain, bringing XRP back to $2.18.
XRP/USD 1D Price Chart|Source: TradingView
Additionally, the European Central Bank selected the XRP Ledger for a 12-month Digital Euro pilot. It intends to leverage its low latency and high throughput for regulated cross-border settlement. Institutional confidence is also building, with projections suggesting $5 by year-end, and some even targeting $ 5 or more.
An ETF approval could validate a 5+ target if the platform sees a massive surge in institutional investment. Combined with strong regulatory wins, XRP could deliver remarkable returns.
Conclusion
Bitcoin and Ethereum remain pillars of the cryptocurrency industry. However, short-term return potential often comes from smaller, lesser-known plays. These four cryptos provide you with tools to outperform without overexposing yourself to BTC and ETH. Meanwhile, LILPEPE could offer the biggest upside as it brings something new to the crypto space. Delivering a meme-only Layer 2 to the meme space, Little Pepe could outperform its successors and deliver higher returns on investment post-launch.
Visit littlepepe.com to join the presale today.
For more information about Little Pepe (LILPEPE) visit the links below:
Website: https://littlepepe.com
Whitepaper: https://littlepepe.com/whitepaper.pdf
Telegram: https://t.me/littlepepetoken
Twitter/X: https://x.com/littlepepetoken
Disclaimer: This is a sponsored article. The views and opinions presented in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of CoinCheckup. The content of this article should not be considered as investment advice. Always do your own research before deciding to buy, sell or transfer any crypto assets.