Three Cryptocurrencies with Real-World Utility
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Mar 21 2026
0mins
Should l Buy WU?
Source: Fool
- Ethereum's Market Position: Ethereum (ETH), with a market cap of $260 billion, is recognized as the largest utility cryptocurrency globally, requiring 'gas fees' for transactions, which positions it as a primary platform for decentralized applications and financial services, potentially serving as a foundation for future AI projects.
- XRP's Cross-Border Payment Advantage: XRP (market cap $88 billion), known as the 'banker's coin', is designed for fast and low-cost cross-border payments, attracting partnerships with financial institutions to enhance the efficiency of traditional payment methods.
- Chainlink's Decentralized Oracle Role: Chainlink (market cap $6.5 billion) functions as a decentralized oracle network, providing real-time data essential for executing smart contracts, thereby facilitating the growth of decentralized finance and asset tokenization projects, which enhances blockchain utility.
- Market Challenges and Investment Caution: Despite the strong real-world applications of these three cryptocurrencies, all have seen declines of over 20% in 2026, prompting investors to carefully assess their market positions and potential risks to ensure sound investment decisions.
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Analyst Views on WU
Wall Street analysts forecast WU stock price to rise
11 Analyst Rating
0 Buy
7 Hold
4 Sell
Moderate Sell
Current: 8.730
Low
7.00
Averages
9.00
High
10.00
Current: 8.730
Low
7.00
Averages
9.00
High
10.00
About WU
The Western Union Company is a provider of cross-border, cross-currency money movement, payments, and digital financial services, empowering consumers, businesses, financial institutions, and governments. Its segments include Consumer Money Transfer and Consumer Services. The Consumer Money Transfer segment facilitates money transfers, which are primarily sent from its retail agent and owned locations worldwide or through Websites and mobile devices. Its money transfer service is provided through one interconnected global network. This service is available for international cross-border transfers and, in certain countries, intra-country transfers. The Consumer Services segment includes the Company’s bill payment services, money order services, retail foreign exchange services, media network, prepaid cards, lending partnerships, and digital wallets. The Company provides its services primarily through a network of agent locations in more than 200 countries and territories.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
Solana Emerges as a Leading Ethereum Rival
- Solana Market Performance: With a market cap of $50 billion, Solana has shown remarkable growth in decentralized finance (DeFi), surpassing Ethereum in monthly trading volume and ranking second only to Ethereum in Total Value Locked (TVL), despite Ethereum potentially dropping over 20% in 2026.
- Stablecoin Innovation: Western Union launched a new Solana-based dollar stablecoin in October, solidifying Solana's position as the go-to blockchain for new stablecoin launches, which not only enhances its market recognition but may also attract more users to its ecosystem.
- Ecosystem Revenue: According to a report by 21Shares, Solana's blockchain ecosystem generated nearly $3 billion in revenue over the past 12 months, demonstrating the sustainability and growth potential of its business model, even as its price remains below historical highs.
- Investor Confidence: Despite Solana's current price of $89, which is a 70% discount from its all-time high of $294 in January 2025, its rapid growth potential distinguishes it in the competition between Ethereum and Solana, drawing increased attention from investors.
See More
Ethereum Faces Competition as Solana Rises
- Market Pullback Impact: Amid the recent pullback in the crypto market, Ethereum is projected to decline over 20% in 2026, with Solana, Cardano, and Avalanche down 27%, 21%, and 22% respectively, indicating significant challenges for the entire Layer-1 blockchain sector.
- Rise of Solana: With a market cap of $50 billion, Solana has emerged as a key competitor to Ethereum, showing strong growth in decentralized finance (DeFi) as it surpasses Ethereum in monthly trading volume and ranks second in Total Value Locked (TVL), a critical metric for DeFi strength.
- Stablecoin Market Share: Solana is rapidly becoming the go-to blockchain for new stablecoin launches, exemplified by Western Union's October launch of a Solana-based dollar stablecoin, which enhances the convenience of international money transfers and strengthens its market position.
- Ecosystem Revenue Growth: According to a report by 21Shares, Solana's blockchain ecosystem generated nearly $3 billion in revenue over the past 12 months, and despite its current price of $89 being 70% lower than its all-time high of $294 in January 2025, it indicates significant undervaluation potential.
See More
Blockchain Financial Revolution: Rise of Cryptocurrencies
- Cryptocurrency Market Potential: The blockchain market is projected to exceed $11 trillion by 2030, representing a staggering 58,000% increase from the current $19 billion, providing significant investment opportunities for long-term investors, particularly in the context of asset tokenization.
- Ethereum's Market Dominance: As the first cryptocurrency to introduce smart contracts, Ethereum currently holds nearly 60% of the tokenized asset market share, with traditional financial institutions like JPMorgan and BNP Paribas leveraging its platform for tokenized fund issuance, highlighting its extensive applicability in finance.
- Solana's Technical Edge: Solana processes transactions over 2,000 times faster than Ethereum at a fraction of the cost, attracting attention from traditional financial giants like Visa and Western Union, indicating its importance in stablecoin and tokenized stock trading.
- Chainlink's Foundational Role: As an information bridge, Chainlink ensures the accuracy and compliance of smart contracts, partnering with major financial institutions to support market price trading of tokenized stocks, underscoring its critical role in the blockchain ecosystem.
See More
Tokenized Asset Market Expected to Reach $11 Trillion
- Massive Market Potential: The tokenized asset market is projected to grow from $19 billion to $11 trillion, representing an astonishing increase of nearly 58,000%, indicating that cryptocurrencies are gradually integrating into mainstream financial systems and attracting long-term investor interest.
- Ethereum's Dominance: As the first cryptocurrency to introduce smart contracts, Ethereum currently holds nearly 60% of the tokenized asset market share, and its reputation for reliability and security makes it a compliance-friendly choice for traditional institutions, further solidifying its market position.
- Solana's Competitive Edge: Solana is renowned for processing over 2,000 times more transactions per second than Ethereum at a fraction of the cost, attracting traditional financial players like Visa and Western Union, highlighting its significance in the integration of tokenized stocks and stablecoins.
- Importance of Chainlink: Chainlink serves as a crucial information bridge, ensuring accurate price data for tokenized assets and supporting compliance across multiple blockchain platforms, making it an indispensable part of the tokenization infrastructure and promoting the healthy development of the entire industry.
See More
Ikea's Expansion Plans in India Amid Global Sales Slowdown
- Market Expansion Goals: Ikea aims to open around 30 new stores in India over the next five years, building on its current six stores, which will include a mix of large and small formats as well as pick-up points for online deliveries, targeting the rapidly growing Indian furniture market.
- Local Sourcing Increase: Currently, 30% of Ikea's sales in India come from locally sourced materials, with plans to increase this to 50% by 2030, enhancing supply chain efficiency and reducing costs while supporting local economic development.
- Market Potential Analysis: According to IBEF, India's furniture and home décor market is projected to exceed $25 billion by 2024 and reach $40.8 billion by 2033, while Ikea forecasts the market will hit $48 billion by 2030, reflecting its optimistic outlook on market opportunities.
- Profitability Expectations: Despite a decline in global retail sales over the past two years, Ikea's sales in India rose by approximately 6% in the fiscal year ending August 2025, with expectations for the Indian operations to become profitable by fiscal year 2028, demonstrating strong confidence in long-term investments in this market.
See More
Investment Potential Analysis of Ethereum and Solana
- Ethereum's Market Dominance: Ethereum holds approximately 60% of the decentralized finance market with a total value locked of $56 billion, and despite a 60% price drop since last August, its smart contract applications continue to drive market growth.
- Solana's Speed Advantage: Solana can handle over 100,000 transactions per second in tests, with an actual processing speed of 3,500 TPS and an average transaction fee of just $0.013, showcasing its cost and speed advantages compared to Ethereum's 15-30 TPS and $0.10-$0.30 fees.
- Market Potential and Challenges: The tokenized asset market, excluding stablecoins, is projected to grow from $33 billion today to $4 trillion by 2035; while Ethereum faces issues with network congestion and transaction fees, Solana must overcome its historical technical outages, giving both a chance to capture growth in this expanding market.
- Risk and Reward Trade-off: Although Solana's market cap of about $50 billion offers more room for growth compared to Ethereum's $250 billion, its past technical instability makes it a riskier investment, requiring investors to assess their risk tolerance when choosing between the two.
See More
Solana Emerges as a Leading Ethereum Rival
- Solana Market Performance: With a market cap of $50 billion, Solana has shown remarkable growth in decentralized finance (DeFi), surpassing Ethereum in monthly trading volume and ranking second only to Ethereum in Total Value Locked (TVL), despite Ethereum potentially dropping over 20% in 2026.
- Stablecoin Innovation: Western Union launched a new Solana-based dollar stablecoin in October, solidifying Solana's position as the go-to blockchain for new stablecoin launches, which not only enhances its market recognition but may also attract more users to its ecosystem.
- Ecosystem Revenue: According to a report by 21Shares, Solana's blockchain ecosystem generated nearly $3 billion in revenue over the past 12 months, demonstrating the sustainability and growth potential of its business model, even as its price remains below historical highs.
- Investor Confidence: Despite Solana's current price of $89, which is a 70% discount from its all-time high of $294 in January 2025, its rapid growth potential distinguishes it in the competition between Ethereum and Solana, drawing increased attention from investors.
See More
Ethereum Faces Competition as Solana Rises
- Market Pullback Impact: Amid the recent pullback in the crypto market, Ethereum is projected to decline over 20% in 2026, with Solana, Cardano, and Avalanche down 27%, 21%, and 22% respectively, indicating significant challenges for the entire Layer-1 blockchain sector.
- Rise of Solana: With a market cap of $50 billion, Solana has emerged as a key competitor to Ethereum, showing strong growth in decentralized finance (DeFi) as it surpasses Ethereum in monthly trading volume and ranks second in Total Value Locked (TVL), a critical metric for DeFi strength.
- Stablecoin Market Share: Solana is rapidly becoming the go-to blockchain for new stablecoin launches, exemplified by Western Union's October launch of a Solana-based dollar stablecoin, which enhances the convenience of international money transfers and strengthens its market position.
- Ecosystem Revenue Growth: According to a report by 21Shares, Solana's blockchain ecosystem generated nearly $3 billion in revenue over the past 12 months, and despite its current price of $89 being 70% lower than its all-time high of $294 in January 2025, it indicates significant undervaluation potential.
See More
Blockchain Financial Revolution: Rise of Cryptocurrencies
- Cryptocurrency Market Potential: The blockchain market is projected to exceed $11 trillion by 2030, representing a staggering 58,000% increase from the current $19 billion, providing significant investment opportunities for long-term investors, particularly in the context of asset tokenization.
- Ethereum's Market Dominance: As the first cryptocurrency to introduce smart contracts, Ethereum currently holds nearly 60% of the tokenized asset market share, with traditional financial institutions like JPMorgan and BNP Paribas leveraging its platform for tokenized fund issuance, highlighting its extensive applicability in finance.
- Solana's Technical Edge: Solana processes transactions over 2,000 times faster than Ethereum at a fraction of the cost, attracting attention from traditional financial giants like Visa and Western Union, indicating its importance in stablecoin and tokenized stock trading.
- Chainlink's Foundational Role: As an information bridge, Chainlink ensures the accuracy and compliance of smart contracts, partnering with major financial institutions to support market price trading of tokenized stocks, underscoring its critical role in the blockchain ecosystem.
See More
Tokenized Asset Market Expected to Reach $11 Trillion
- Massive Market Potential: The tokenized asset market is projected to grow from $19 billion to $11 trillion, representing an astonishing increase of nearly 58,000%, indicating that cryptocurrencies are gradually integrating into mainstream financial systems and attracting long-term investor interest.
- Ethereum's Dominance: As the first cryptocurrency to introduce smart contracts, Ethereum currently holds nearly 60% of the tokenized asset market share, and its reputation for reliability and security makes it a compliance-friendly choice for traditional institutions, further solidifying its market position.
- Solana's Competitive Edge: Solana is renowned for processing over 2,000 times more transactions per second than Ethereum at a fraction of the cost, attracting traditional financial players like Visa and Western Union, highlighting its significance in the integration of tokenized stocks and stablecoins.
- Importance of Chainlink: Chainlink serves as a crucial information bridge, ensuring accurate price data for tokenized assets and supporting compliance across multiple blockchain platforms, making it an indispensable part of the tokenization infrastructure and promoting the healthy development of the entire industry.
See More
Ikea's Expansion Plans in India Amid Global Sales Slowdown
- Market Expansion Goals: Ikea aims to open around 30 new stores in India over the next five years, building on its current six stores, which will include a mix of large and small formats as well as pick-up points for online deliveries, targeting the rapidly growing Indian furniture market.
- Local Sourcing Increase: Currently, 30% of Ikea's sales in India come from locally sourced materials, with plans to increase this to 50% by 2030, enhancing supply chain efficiency and reducing costs while supporting local economic development.
- Market Potential Analysis: According to IBEF, India's furniture and home décor market is projected to exceed $25 billion by 2024 and reach $40.8 billion by 2033, while Ikea forecasts the market will hit $48 billion by 2030, reflecting its optimistic outlook on market opportunities.
- Profitability Expectations: Despite a decline in global retail sales over the past two years, Ikea's sales in India rose by approximately 6% in the fiscal year ending August 2025, with expectations for the Indian operations to become profitable by fiscal year 2028, demonstrating strong confidence in long-term investments in this market.
See More
Investment Potential Analysis of Ethereum and Solana
- Ethereum's Market Dominance: Ethereum holds approximately 60% of the decentralized finance market with a total value locked of $56 billion, and despite a 60% price drop since last August, its smart contract applications continue to drive market growth.
- Solana's Speed Advantage: Solana can handle over 100,000 transactions per second in tests, with an actual processing speed of 3,500 TPS and an average transaction fee of just $0.013, showcasing its cost and speed advantages compared to Ethereum's 15-30 TPS and $0.10-$0.30 fees.
- Market Potential and Challenges: The tokenized asset market, excluding stablecoins, is projected to grow from $33 billion today to $4 trillion by 2035; while Ethereum faces issues with network congestion and transaction fees, Solana must overcome its historical technical outages, giving both a chance to capture growth in this expanding market.
- Risk and Reward Trade-off: Although Solana's market cap of about $50 billion offers more room for growth compared to Ethereum's $250 billion, its past technical instability makes it a riskier investment, requiring investors to assess their risk tolerance when choosing between the two.
See More
