Remember when we first talked about Bitcoin and Ethereum? Well, buckle up because today we're diving into the wild world of "alternative cryptocurrencies" - or as the cool kids (not me) say, "altcoins."

But we're not just going to list random cryptocurrencies. Instead, we're focusing on three of the hottest trends in crypto right now: AI-powered cryptocurrencies, DePIN (don't worry, I'll explain what that means), and everyone's favorite chaos category - memecoins.

Let's get weird.

What’s AI crypto?

Unless you've been living under a rock, you know AI is kind of a big deal right now. But did you know there's a whole category of cryptocurrencies focused on artificial intelligence?

AI cryptocurrencies are tokens that power decentralized AI networks. Think of them like the fuel that helps AI projects run without being controlled by big tech companies. Some popular ones include:

• Fetch.ai (FET): Imagine if AI could automatically trade, book travel, or manage your calendar for you. That's what Fetch.ai is building.

• SingularityNET (AGIX): The platform that powers the AI robot Sophia (yes, that famous robot that got citizenship in Saudi Arabia). They're trying to create a marketplace for AI services.

The cool thing about AI crypto is that it's trying to make AI more accessible to everyone, not just big companies like Google or Microsoft. But remember - just because something has "AI" in the name doesn't mean it's the next big thing!

What the heck is DePIN?

DePIN stands for Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Networks. I know, I know - that sounds like a mouthful of corporate jargon. But it's actually pretty cool.

Think about it this way: What if instead of big companies owning all the important networks we use (like cell towers or internet infrastructure), regular people could own and operate pieces of these networks?

That's what DePIN is all about. Some examples:

• Helium (HNT): People set up small wireless hotspots in their homes and earn crypto for providing internet coverage to their neighborhood.

• Render (RNDR): Got a powerful computer? You can rent out your GPU power to artists and designers who need it for 3D rendering.

It's like Airbnb, but for infrastructure instead of houses. Pretty neat, right?

And now for something completely different... Memecoins

Ah, memecoins. The crazy cousin of the crypto family that nobody takes seriously until they make someone a millionaire.

Memecoins are cryptocurrencies that started as jokes or are based on internet memes. The most famous is Dogecoin (DOGE), which was literally created as a joke about Bitcoin and now has a market value in the billions. Yes, billions. With a B.

Some popular memecoins:

• Dogecoin (DOGE): Started as a joke, got Elon Musk's attention, and now here we are

• Shiba Inu (SHIB): The "Dogecoin killer" that became its own beast

• PEPE: Yes, there's a coin based on that frog meme. No, I can't believe I'm writing about this either.

Here's the thing about memecoins - they're basically gambling. They can go up 1000% in a day or crash to zero. They have no real use case except making people laugh (and occasionally, very rich or very poor).

So... how do I think about these?

Here's a simple way to think about each category:

AI Crypto: The "serious business" play. These projects actually try to solve real problems and could be valuable if AI continues to grow. But they're still risky and early.

DePIN: The "infrastructure" play. These projects are trying to build real-world utilities. They might take longer to grow but could have staying power.

Memecoins: The "lottery ticket" play. Don't invest anything you can't afford to lose. Seriously. I mean it. No, really.

The smart way to approach these? Think of them like a pyramid:

• Base layer: Your "boring" Bitcoin and Ethereum

• Middle layer: Maybe some AI and DePIN projects you've researched thoroughly

• Tiny top layer: A very small amount in meme - VERY SMALL

Obviously, this is not financial advice, I’m just a faceless guy in your inbox.

Really quick, where’s crypto right now?

• Bitcoin is nearly above all-time-highs of $73K; it’s up 15%+ from our last crypto newsletter!

• The upcoming U.S. Presidential election has been driving some crypto optimism, with Trump in particular having a pro-crypto stance

• A coin launched by an AI, Goatseus Maximus, went from $0 to $860M in 13 days; it’s down 41% from there

• With interest rates dropping globally, people are expecting crypto to keep rallying

• But with the presidential election ahead and plenty of geopolitical chaos, WHO KNOWS