7 Best DeFi Coins to Buy in April 2025

Our experts pick the 7 top DeFi tokens to invest in that combine strong foundations, unique tech and the highest upside for the future.
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Updated on Apr 8, 2025
Reading time 2 minutes

With so many different DeFi crypto projects available today, it’s never been more important to invest in the best ones.

Pick wisely and you can make 10x or more on your money, but poor quality projects can flop during crypto’s notorious winters.

We’ve picked out the top 7 DeFi coins with the most potential to help you make the best investment decisions.

Compare the leading lights with the latest projects to find the 7 best DeFi tokens to buy today.

Top 7 DeFi Coins to Buy Now

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  1. CartelFi: Turn idle memes into high-yield powerhouses
  2. Uniswap: Best for discounted trading fees on the world’s largest DEX
  3. Avalanche: Best DeFi blockchain for fast financial transactions
  4. Chainlink: Connecting blockchains to real-world data
  5. Aave: Access borrowing, lending, and loans
  6. 1inch Network: Best DEX aggregator
  7. MakerDao: Invest in the Dai ecosystem

Our Best DeFi Crypto Coins in Detail

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Rank Top altcoin Symbol Price Market cap
1 CartelFi CARTFI $0.03 $0.00
2 Uniswap UNI $5.18 $3,258,532,718.25
3 Avalanche AVAX $19.36 $8,055,240,226.52
4 Chainlink LINK $12.36 $8,124,350,761.48
5 Aave AAVE $134.63 $2,032,956,293.75
6 1inch Network 1INCH $0.17 $231,358,780.67
7 Maker MKR $1,354.83 $1,148,993,083.56

Detailed Reviews of the Top DeFi Coins

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1. CartelFi: Turn idle memes into high-yield powerhouses

CARTFI/USD
  • Symbol: CARTFI
  • Market cap: $0
  • Current price: $0.0251
  • Founded: 2025

Overview

CartelFi is an innovative DeFi protocol that merges the fun and risk of meme coins with the steady income potential of yield farming.

For beginners, think of it as a platform that transforms your idle meme coins into assets that can earn a regular yield.

Instead of having to choose between holding for a massive price surge or staking for reliable returns, CartelFi uniquely offers both: maintaining the explosive upside potential of meme tokens while generating income through well-designed liquidity pools.

Key features

A dual reward structure combines explosive meme coin growth with steady yield returns Deflationary tokenomics automatically reduce token supply, potentially driving up value over time Convert idle meme coins into productive, income-generating assets

Key negatives

Meme coins are inherently volatile, which can lead to significant price swings

Crypto investments are risky and highly volatile. Tax may apply. Understand the risks here https://etoro.tw/3PI44nZ.

2. Uniswap: Best for discounted trading fees on the world's largest DEX

Uniswap
  • Symbol: UNI
  • Market cap: $3.26B
  • Current price: $5.18
  • Founded: 2020
  • Whitepaper

Overview

Uniswap is a decentralized cryptocurrency exchange (DEX) on the Ethereum blockchain, acting as an automated market maker for instant token swaps.

With a daily trading volume five times higher than its nearest competitor, it is the largest decentralized exchange globally.

The UNI token governs the platform, funds development, and offers perks like fee-sharing and airdrops.

Key features

Uniswap is a decentralised and censorship-resistant platform for trading and providing liquidity Uniswap allows anyone to create or use liquidity pools without any permission or approval UNI token holders can stake their coins to earn a pro-rata share of trading fees

Key negatives

There are lots of other DEXs competing for users

Crypto investments are risky and highly volatile. Tax may apply. Understand the risks here https://etoro.tw/3PI44nZ.

3. Avalanche: Best DeFi blockchain for fast financial transactions

Avalanche
  • Symbol: AVAX
  • Market cap: $8.06B
  • Current price: $19.36
  • Founded: 2020
  • Whitepaper

Overview

Avalanche is a fast, scalable blockchain tailored for dApps and DeFi.

Its flexibility allows developers to create private or public networks with custom features. AVAX, its native token, powers transactions, app creation, and fee payments.

Known for low costs and high efficiency, Avalanche has become a leading DeFi protocol, making AVAX a popular investment choice.

Key features

Avalanche offers rapid transaction speeds Supports cross-chain compatibility AVAX is a flexible utility token

Key negatives

Difficult to beat out competition

Crypto investments are risky and highly volatile. Tax may apply. Understand the risks here https://etoro.tw/3PI44nZ.

4. Chainlink: Connecting blockchains to real-world data

Chainlink
  • Symbol: LINK
  • Market cap: $8.12B
  • Current price: $12.36
  • Founded: 2017
  • Whitepaper

Overview

Chainlink bridges blockchain smart contracts and real-world data, enabling secure, reliable data feeds for DeFi applications.

It powers tokenised finance products and real-world betting markets by providing live price information via its decentralised oracle network.

LINK tokens are essential for paying oracle operators and incentivising accurate data. Chainlink’s adaptability makes it a cornerstone of DeFi innovation.

Key features

Chainlink can connect blockchains to external data sources LINK is the means of payment within Chainlink LINK token holders influence the reputation of data providers

Key negatives

Chainlink's technology has been overtaken by some layer 2 projects

Crypto investments are risky and highly volatile. Tax may apply. Understand the risks here https://etoro.tw/3PI44nZ.

5. Aave: Access borrowing, lending, and loans

Aave
  • Symbol: AAVE
  • Market cap: $2.03B
  • Current price: $134.63
  • Founded: 2020
  • Whitepaper

Overview

Aave is a decentralized lending protocol that lets you borrow, lend, and earn interest on your digital assets.

With over $20 billion in total value locked, it operates like a traditional bank, offering flexible borrowing, dynamic interest rates, and flash loans.

The platform has helped to revolutionize DeFi by providing short-term loans without collateral – giving you easy access to capital without locking up your tokens.

Key features

Dynamic lending and borrowing protocol Algorithms ensure the most competitive rates Aave pioneered the concept of flash loans

Key negatives

Incentives to encourage lenders are lacking

Crypto investments are risky and highly volatile. Tax may apply. Understand the risks here https://etoro.tw/3PI44nZ.

6. 1inch Network: Best DEX aggregator

1inch Network
  • Symbol: 1INCH
  • Market cap: $231.36M
  • Current price: $0.17
  • Founded: 2020
  • Whitepaper

Overview

1inch Network is a DEX aggregator that offers better liquidity, improved rates, and reduced slippage by sourcing liquidity from multiple platforms.

It optimizes transaction fees by routing orders through popular DEXs like Uniswap and PancakeSwap.

1INCH token holders and users can earn rewards and enjoy fee discounts, making it a promising penny crypto with growth potential.

Key features

Aggregates liquidity from multiple decentralised exchanges Automatically finds the cost-effective trading routes & best prices Earn 1INCH tokens as rewards and access fee discounts

Key negatives

Competing with many decentralised exchanges for users

Crypto investments are risky and highly volatile. Tax may apply. Understand the risks here https://etoro.tw/3PI44nZ.

7. MakerDao: Invest in the Dai ecosystem

Maker
  • Symbol: MKR
  • Market cap: $1.15B
  • Current price: $1,354.83
  • Founded: 2017
  • Whitepaper

Overview

MakerDAO is a decentralized autonomous organisation that manages the Dai stablecoin and operates its own cryptocurrency, the MKR token.

Owning the token allows you to invest in the Dai ecosystem and participate in the DAO (with voting rights on the future of the system).

With over 400 apps integrated, Dai is a thriving system that’s backed by real-world assets.

Key features

The Dai system already integrates with 400+ apps Create stablecoins backed by real-world assets Vote on the future of the network

Key negatives

Lots of competition from other stablecoins

Crypto investments are risky and highly volatile. Tax may apply. Understand the risks here https://etoro.tw/3PI44nZ.

What Are DeFi Coins?

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DeFi coins power decentralized finance platforms, including the best stablecoins, lending protocols, and the best DEX coins for trading without middlemen.

Built mostly on Ethereum, these tokens serve key roles—some act as governance tokens, while others provide liquidity, secure networks, or reduce transaction fees.

The DeFi market has exploded, with TVL (total value locked) soaring to $52 billion 1 , proving the sector’s rapid expansion.

As decentralized finance continues to reshape traditional banking, choosing the right DeFi projects could be a game-changer.

How Many DeFi Coins Are There?

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Currently, there are over 600 DeFi tokens, and the number keeps growing.

With the blockchain market projected to reach $44.29 billion by the end of 2025 2 , the demand for DeFi innovation is stronger than ever.

Conclusion

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DeFi makes up a huge percentage of the overall crypto market, offering a variety of ways to spend, store, and swap digital assets and fiat currencies.

The decentralized finance industry is more inclusive and flexible than traditional finance, with DeFi protocols that hold billions in total value locked (TVL), offer higher rates of interest, more lending routes, and cheaper trading than their centralized counterparts.


Sources & references

Prash Raval

Prash Raval

Financial Writer

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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....