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Top Crypto Indices in 2025: The Best Ways to Invest in Crypto Without Picking Tokens

Explore the top crypto indices in 2025, including AI-powered strategies, passive HODL indices, and sector-based baskets. Learn how to simplify crypto investing with smart, diversified index portfolios.
Token Metrics Team
Top Crypto Indices in 2025: The Best Ways to Invest in Crypto Without Picking Tokens
MIN

Crypto investors in 2025 face an overwhelming number of choices. With thousands of tokens, rapidly shifting narratives, and constant market volatility, building and managing a profitable portfolio isn’t easy. But one solution is gaining traction among both beginner and seasoned investors alike: crypto indices.

A crypto index is a curated basket of tokens that provides diversified exposure to a specific segment of the crypto market. Instead of researching and buying individual tokens, you invest in a single index that tracks a group of assets—similar to how the S&P 500 or NASDAQ works in traditional finance.

In this article, we’ll cover the top crypto indices in 2025, explain what makes each one stand out, and explore how AI is revolutionizing index investing in the crypto space.

What Is a Crypto Index?

A crypto index is a portfolio of cryptocurrencies selected and weighted using a specific methodology. It can be passive—holding the top 10 tokens by market cap—or active, where an algorithm or AI rebalances the index based on market conditions.

Investing in a crypto index means you’re buying into an entire theme or strategy, not just a single token. This helps reduce risk, smooth out returns, and simplify the investing process.

Why Use Crypto Indices in 2025?

Here’s why crypto indices are more relevant than ever in 2025:

  • Diversification: Spread your capital across multiple tokens, reducing the impact of any single asset's volatility.
  • Automation: Many indices rebalance automatically, saving you time and effort.
  • Trend Exposure: Sector-based indices let you ride major trends like AI, DeFi, or Real World Assets (RWA).
  • Risk Management: AI-powered indices can reduce exposure or shift to stablecoins in bearish conditions.

Top Crypto Indices in 2025

1. Token Metrics AI Indices

  • Type: Actively Managed
  • Technology: AI-driven with over 80 data points per token
  • Themes: Memecoins, RWA, AI Agents, DeFi, Layer 1s
  • Frequency: Rebalanced weekly based on bullish/bearish market signals

Why It’s a Top Pick:
Token Metrics has pioneered a new generation of crypto indices that actively trade based on AI insights. Instead of static rebalancing, the AI identifies when to enter or exit tokens based on current momentum, volatility, sentiment, and technical indicators. These indices offer a smarter, automated approach to outperforming the market—especially in fast-moving sectors like AI tokens or memecoins.

2. Bitwise 10 Crypto Index Fund (BITW)

  • Type: Passive
  • Structure: Traditional investment vehicle (available via brokerage)
  • Assets: Top 10 cryptocurrencies by market cap

Why It’s a Top Pick:
BITW is ideal for investors looking for simple, long-term exposure to the largest and most established cryptos. It tracks the performance of the top 10 digital assets, including Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), and Solana (SOL). It's fully regulated and targets institutions or traditional investors entering crypto.

3. Phuture DeFi Index (PDI)

  • Type: On-chain, Passive
  • Focus: Decentralized Finance (DeFi) tokens
  • Access: Non-custodial, DeFi-native

Why It’s a Top Pick:
Phuture makes index investing seamless within DeFi ecosystems. Its DeFi Index provides exposure to high-utility tokens like AAVE, UNI, and CRV. Ideal for crypto-native users, it’s completely on-chain, composable, and doesn’t require intermediaries.

4. Index Coop – GMI (Bankless DeFi Innovation Index)

  • Type: Community-Governed, Thematic
  • Focus: Experimental and innovative DeFi projects
  • Governance: Managed by Index Coop and Bankless DAO

Why It’s a Top Pick:
GMI stands for “Going Mainstream Index” and aims to capture cutting-edge projects at the bleeding edge of DeFi innovation. It’s great for those bullish on next-gen financial infrastructure and looking for exposure to governance tokens, staking protocols, and experimental finance.

5. Crypto20 (C20)

  • Type: Tokenized Index Fund
  • Composition: Top 20 cryptocurrencies
  • Access: ERC-20 token (C20) represents index share

Why It’s a Top Pick:
Crypto20 was one of the first tokenized crypto index funds. It lets you invest in the top 20 cryptocurrencies through a single token, with auto-rebalancing and transparent weighting. It’s an easy on-ramp for beginners who want broad crypto exposure.

6. Token Metrics Global Market Cap Indices (HODL Series)

  • Type: Passively Managed
  • Available Indices: Top 5, 10, 25, and 100 by market cap
  • Strategy: Buy-and-hold portfolios for long-term investors

Why It’s a Top Pick:
These indices are designed for investors who believe in the long-term growth of the crypto market but don’t want to chase narratives. The HODL series is great for passive wealth accumulation with minimal trading activity.

Thematic Crypto Indices to Watch

If you’re looking to ride specific crypto narratives in 2025, these thematic indices are worth considering:

🔹 AI Tokens Index

  • Tracks top AI-focused crypto projects like FET, AGIX, and GRT.
  • Surging interest due to the AI boom in both tech and crypto sectors.

🔹 Memecoin Index

  • Includes high-volatility meme tokens like DOGE, PEPE, BONK, and WIF.
  • Great for traders who want to play high-risk, high-reward cycles.

🔹 RWA Index (Real World Assets)

  • Exposure to tokens that represent off-chain value: MKR, ONDO, XDC, etc.
  • Benefiting from institutional crypto adoption and tokenized finance growth.

🔹 Layer 1 Index

  • Tracks the performance of top blockchain platforms: ETH, SOL, AVAX, NEAR, etc.
  • Best for investors bullish on infrastructure plays.

How to Start Investing in Crypto Indices

  1. Choose a Platform – Token Metrics, Bitwise, Index Coop, or Phuture.
  2. Select an Index – Based on your interest: AI, DeFi, Memecoins, or Market Cap.
  3. Connect Wallet or Sign Up – Depending on whether it's on-chain or centralized.
  4. Fund Your Account – Typically via USDC, ETH, or fiat.
  5. Monitor Performance – AI indices may require weekly check-ins; HODL indices can be set and forgotten.

Final Thoughts: Crypto Indices Are the Smartest Way to Invest in 2025

Whether you’re a new investor or an experienced trader, crypto indices in 2025 offer one of the most efficient, diversified, and intelligent ways to grow your crypto portfolio. Platforms like Token Metrics lead the way with cutting-edge AI-powered indices, while more traditional players like Bitwise provide reliable exposure for institutional strategies.

By investing in an index, you’re not just buying a few coins—you’re gaining access to a curated, balanced, and often smarter portfolio that evolves with the market. And as AI and automation take over more of the investing process, index strategies are becoming even more powerful.

If you’re ready to stop guessing and start investing strategically, now is the time to explore the best crypto indices available.

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Token Metrics Team
Token Metrics Team

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Introduction
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Why the Market Page Matters
The Market Page is the heartbeat of Token Metrics' analytics platform. It showcases real-time data on the latest bullish and bearish signals across tokens, providing users with instant access to the platform’s top-rated opportunities. With the recent update, it’s now more powerful and user-friendly than ever.

What’s New in the Market Page?

  1. Top-Performing Signals First – The layout now prioritizes tokens with the highest ROI bold signals. This means the most alpha-generating opportunities are surfaced first — saving users valuable time.
  2. Smarter Filters – Users can sort by return, grade, time frame, and signal type. Want only tokens with a Trader Grade above 80? Just one click away.
  3. Improved Visuals – A cleaner UI now highlights key metrics like entry price, ROI since signal, and latest update date.

How It Helps Traders
This upgrade isn't just cosmetic. It fundamentally changes how traders interact with the platform:

  • Faster decision-making by highlighting the best signals up front
  • Better precision using advanced filters for investor profiles
  • Increased confidence from seeing clear data behind every signal

Case Study: Launch Coin
Launch Coin, the best performing token in 2025 with a 35x return, was identified early thanks to the Market Page’s bold signal tracking. Its signal rose to the top immediately after performance started climbing — helping early users lock in life-changing gains.

How to Use the Market Page Like a Pro

  1. Visit the Market Page daily to track new signal updates
  2. Filter by 24H/7D ROI to catch fast movers
  3. Use Grades to Align with Your Strategy
  4. Follow Narratives: Filter by AI, DeFi, Gaming, and other emerging themes

The Power of Daily Signals
With market conditions changing fast, the daily updates on the Market Page give Token Metrics users an edge — surfacing fresh opportunities before they trend on social media or make headlines.

Conclusion
The new Market Page isn’t just a dashboard — it’s a discovery engine. Designed for both beginner and experienced traders, it brings clarity, speed, and precision to crypto investing.

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Introduction
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What Is Altcoin Season?
Altcoin season is a period in the crypto market where altcoins outperform Bitcoin in terms of price gains. Historically, this shift occurs when Bitcoin stabilizes after a rally, giving room for capital rotation into smaller-cap tokens with higher risk/reward potential.

Bitcoin’s Dominance and the Signs of Rotation
As of May 2025, Bitcoin remains a market anchor, but its dominance is showing signs of plateauing. Ian pointed out that capital is beginning to flow into AI tokens, new infrastructure plays, and community-driven projects like Launchcoin — which has already returned 35x gains. These trends are classic precursors to altcoin season.

Top Performing Altcoins Identified by Token Metrics
Token Metrics’ bold signals have identified several high-performing altcoins, such as:

  • Launchcoin: 35x gain since the signal triggered.
  • AI Infrastructure Tokens: Benefiting from the broader AI narrative in crypto.
  • DeFi 2.0 Protocols: Getting renewed attention amid institutional interest.

Key Indicators to Watch

  1. Bitcoin Dominance Chart – A drop below 50% dominance often precedes altcoin rallies.
  2. Volume Trends – Increasing volume on altcoin pairs indicates rising interest.
  3. Token Metrics Grades – Look for altcoins with high Trader and Investor Grades — a dual signal of short- and long-term strength.

How to Prepare Your Portfolio
Traders should consider gradual rotation — locking in BTC gains and reallocating to top-rated altcoins. Using Token Metrics’ tools:

  • Monitor daily signal updates
  • Filter by Trader Grade > 80 and recent bold signals
  • Keep an eye on AI and DeFi narratives, as they dominate 2025’s momentum

Conclusion
Whether we’re entering a full-blown altcoin season or just a mini-cycle, the signals are clear: capital is rotating. Use data, not guesswork. With Token Metrics’ AI-powered tools, you can identify high-potential opportunities and stay ahead of the curve in both Bitcoin and altcoin markets.

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Introduction
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Why AI Coins Are Surging
The intersection of AI and crypto isn’t random. Three forces are converging to power this narrative:

  1. Mainstream AI Adoption – With tools like ChatGPT and Claude going mainstream, interest in AI has exploded.
  2. Decentralized Intelligence – Blockchain offers a secure, transparent way to distribute AI models and datasets.
  3. Speculative Momentum – The hype around AI is creating high-risk, high-reward token launches with strong upside potential.

Token Metrics’ AI Token Detection Strategy
Token Metrics uses its proprietary AI to identify early momentum in the market. Here's how it helped surface the best-performing AI tokens:

  • Volume spikes and unusual trading patterns
  • Token grades showing >80 Trader Score
  • Bold signals based on narrative tracking
  • Cross-chain analysis for upcoming projects

Ian Balina noted during the recent webinar that several AI coins have already delivered outsized returns — and this is just the beginning.

Examples of AI Tokens to Watch

  • Launch Coin – While not an AI token itself, its virality shows how fast narratives spread.
  • AI Infrastructure Projects – Platforms building decentralized compute for training and deploying models.
  • AI DeFi Hybrids – Tokens merging machine learning with trading, risk management, or yield optimization.

How to Ride the AI Wave
Using the Token Metrics platform, here’s how to position your portfolio:

  • Use Bold Signals: Sort by AI narrative to find breakout projects.
  • Set Alerts: Monitor new signal generation across top AI narratives.
  • Filter by Grade: Combine high Trader Grade with AI tag for high-conviction trades.

What This Means for Investors
The AI narrative is not a flash in the pan. It represents a paradigm shift in both technology and finance. Tokens that combine utility, vision, and timing will thrive. As always, early entry is key — and that’s where Token Metrics’ daily insights give users the edge.

Conclusion
AI tokens are fueling the next crypto bull run — and the smartest investors are already positioned. With real-time signals, narrative filters, and AI-powered grading, Token Metrics is your map through the chaos. The next big opportunity may already be on the Market Page.

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