5 Undervalued Coins With Solana-Like Growth Potential in a Post-CME Futures Market

The CME Group's launch of Solana (SOL) and XRP futures and options in 2025 has catalyzed a seismic shift in institutional adoption of altcoins. By providing regulated, transparent, and hedging-capable derivatives, CME has unlocked new avenues for institutional capital to flow into digital assets. XRP futures alone hit $23.7 billion in notional volume within five months, outpacing Bitcoin and Ethereum in growth velocity, according to a bitcoin.com report, while Solana's derivatives saw 20,700 contracts traded, according to a Bitget report. This institutional stamp of approval has created a fertile ground for altcoins with robust ecosystems and utility-driven narratives. Below, we analyze five undervalued projects-Little Pepe (LILPEPE), Jupiter (JUP), Astar (ASTR), Ondo (ONDO), and Cardano (ADA)-that are poised to replicate Solana's trajectory through institutional adoption and ecosystem integration.

1. Little Pepe (LILPEPE): The Meme Coin With Enterprise-Grade Infrastructure

While meme coins are often dismissed as speculative, LILPEPE has carved a unique niche by combining viral appeal with Ethereum Layer 2 infrastructure. The project raised $26.8 million in its presale, according to a FinanceFeeds article, implementing anti-sniper protections and a CertiK audit (95.49% security score), per a Cryptopolitan analysis. Its fixed supply model and low-fee transactions position it as a scalable solution for DeFi and NFTs.

Institutional interest is emerging through its growing community and strategic initiatives like the Mega Giveaway, which attracted 76,000 participants (Cryptopolitan). While direct institutional partnerships remain unannounced, LILPEPE's technical rigor and market traction suggest it could follow the path of XRP, which gained institutional traction via CME futures, as noted in a Blockonomi article. Analysts project a 65x price surge by year-end (Cryptopolitan), driven by its potential to disrupt meme coin dominance.

2. Jupiter (JUP): DeFi's Liquidity Powerhouse

Jupiter (JUP) has solidified its dominance in Solana's DeFi ecosystem by generating $46 million in Q3 2025 revenues, according to a Coinotag report. The platform's tokenomics overhaul-burning 3 billion tokens ($3.6 billion at the time) and reallocating 50% of fees to buybacks-has stabilized its supply and boosted institutional confidence, per a Tekedia report.

JUP's expansion into perpetual futures and omnichain interoperability (via Jupnet) further cements its role as a critical infrastructure provider. Institutional investors are drawn to its deflationary model and utility-driven use cases, such as lending and token launches. With CME's Solana futures driving demand for regulated exposure, JUP's ecosystem is well-positioned to capture a significant share of institutional capital.

3. Astar (ASTR): Cross-Chain Interoperability and Fixed Supply

Astar (ASTR) has redefined institutional adoption by transitioning to a fixed supply model (10.5 billion tokens) and burning 50% of transaction fees, according to a BlockchainReporter story. This aligns with institutional preferences for predictable assets and deflationary mechanics. Its partnership with Sony's Soneium blockchain enables cross-chain interoperability between Ethereum and Polkadot, enhancing liquidity and use cases (BlockchainReporter).

The Astar Community Council's focus on attracting dApp projects and refining evaluation frameworks is outlined in the Astar Community Council update. With CME's altcoin derivatives market expanding, ASTR's role as a bridge between enterprise and DeFi could attract institutional treasuries seeking diversified exposure.

4. Ondo (ONDO): The Next-Gen DeFi Infrastructure Play

While ONDO lacks direct mentions in 2025 research, the broader institutional adoption of crypto ETFs and regulated infrastructure is well documented in a Cryptopolitan article, suggesting its potential. ONDO's focus on decentralized finance (DeFi) lending and tokenized real-world assets (RWAs) aligns with trends seen in XRP's institutional adoption via CME options (Blockonomi).

The a16z 2025 report highlights that institutional investors are prioritizing projects with clear utility and regulatory clarity (Cryptopolitan). ONDO's integration into lending protocols and its alignment with RWA trends position it to benefit from the same institutional inflows that propelled XRP and Solana.

5. Cardano (ADA): The "Sleeping Giant" Awakens

Cardano's 2025 roadmap, led by Charles Hoskinson, targets Bitcoin DeFi integration and cross-chain partnerships, according to a Timestabloid report. The potential inclusion of Ripple's RLUSD stablecoin on Cardano's Midnight sidechain (Timestabloid) could replicate XRP's institutional success. ADA's fixed supply and energy-efficient proof-of-stake model also appeal to ESG-focused investors.

With CME's XRP options and Solana futures setting a precedent, ADA's institutional adoption could accelerate through ETFs and regulated derivatives. Hoskinson's strategic vision and Cardano's technical upgrades position it as a long-term contender in the post-CME era.

Conclusion: The Altcoin Renaissance Is Here

The CME's Solana and XRP futures have proven that institutional adoption is no longer confined to Bitcoin and Ethereum. Projects like LILPEPE, JUP, ASTR, ONDO, and ADA are leveraging regulated frameworks, deflationary models, and cross-chain utility to attract institutional capital. As the crypto market matures, these undervalued coins could mirror Solana's explosive growth-provided they continue to prioritize ecosystem integration and institutional trust.