Penny Crypto vs Stocks: What’s Best for You?

Penny cryptos and penny stocks are popular high risk investments. Compare the benefits and risks on each, right here
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Updated on Apr 14, 2025
Reading time 4 minutes

Key Takeaways

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  • Penny stocks offer more regulation. This means more protection and a bit less risk, while penny cryptos are largely unregulated, increasing risk.
  • Penny cryptos are more volatile. Typically, things happen faster in the crypto world and there can be more traders for penny cryptos than for stocks.
  • Penny cryptos are best for extremely high risk investors. Penny stocks are better if you’d prefer a regulated market.

Penny Crypto vs Stocks: What’s Best?

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Both penny cryptocurrencies and penny stocks have a low price and high growth prospects, but also have a high level of danger involved. 

So, which one’s a safer bet? 

That’s a matter of your objectives, your appetite to risk, and your willingness to investigate. 

Let’s simplify it for you.

The Quick Answer

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Penny cryptos are more difficult to access but they offer cutting-edge technology, making them attractive to investors who can shoulder high uncertainty. 

Penny stocks expose investors to emerging companies with growth prospects and have more guardrails, as stock markets are far better regulated than crypto.

Which is best really depends on your own circumstances. 

While both are risky investments, stocks are possibly the safer option, mainly because of the regulation. 

The Key Differences

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While both offer similar rewards and come with similar risks, there are a few key differences, some of which are explained below:

Market Regulation

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The stock market is heavily regulated by agencies like the SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission). 

Companies must meet strict reporting requirements, which can provide some level of investor protection. 

In contrast, the crypto market is largely unregulated. 

While this allows for innovation, it also increases the risk of fraud and scams.

Volatility

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Both penny cryptos and stocks are volatile, but cryptos tend to be even more so. 

Penny stock prices often swing based on company performance or industry trends.

Penny cryptos can surge or crash based on social media hype, celebrity endorsements, or market sentiment.

Liquidity

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Penny stocks can have low trading volumes, making it hard to buy or sell large amounts without affecting the price. 

Some penny cryptos, like Dogecoin, have high liquidity due to their popularity, but others may suffer from low trading volumes.

Accessibility

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Investing in penny stocks requires a brokerage account, and some platforms restrict access to OTC markets. 

Penny cryptos, on the other hand, are accessible through crypto exchanges – but the smallest and newest ones can be difficult to access.

The Case for Penny Cryptos

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The attraction for penny cryptos is that they’re affordable and can usher in humongous growth. 

Cheap cryptos can perform expensive ones, jumping tens of thousands of percent in just a few days or weeks. 

Such success, however, is a one-time fluke and a matter of spec and not fundamentals.

The bulk of penny cryptos have little real utility in life and no use cases. 

This makes them high risk investments only suitable for established investors.  

The Case for Penny Stocks 

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The attraction for penny stocks is that they expose investors to small companies with room for growth.

For a life-saving breakthrough in a biotech, say, the price for a stock can go sky high when such a breakthrough is approved.

But most penny stocks stand for failing companies and industries, and even when cheap, they can expose real agony in store for them.

The Best Option

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If you’re drawn to innovation and can handle high risk, penny cryptos might be worth exploring. 

Look for projects with strong fundamentals, real-world use cases, and active communities. 

On the other hand, if you prefer a more regulated environment and are willing to research small companies, penny stocks could be a better fit. 

Focus on companies with solid business models, growth potential, and transparent financials.

FAQs

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01

Which is better for beginners: penny cryptos or penny stocks?


Sources & references

Prash Raval

Prash Raval

Financial Writer

  • Forex
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Prash is a financial writer for Invezz covering FX, the stock market and investing. For over a decade he has traded spot FX full time while running an educational service helping novice traders learn the markets. He has a keen interest in micro and small cap stocks....