The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has filed fraud charges against Unicoin and three of its senior executives over allegedly misleading 5K+ investors.
According to the charges, the project promised that its token would be backed by billions worth of international real estate holdings. In reality, its assets were only worth a smidge of what was advertised, with the real proceeds amounting to just $110M, per the SEC.
But despite regulatory pressure and controversy surrounding some new crypto projects, there’s no need to abandon crypto entirely. Some of the best altcoins to buy, like MIND of Pepe ($MIND), Best Wallet Token ($BEST), and Monero ($XMR), stand out with real and audited utility cases.
Despite a few bad apples, there’s still much to look forward to in crypto this year.
Unicoin Falsely Touted Itself as ‘SEC-Registered,’ Filing Claims
The Unicoin saga further stands out because it didn’t center on a traditional token sale but rather a complex scheme allegedly involving ‘rights certificates’ tied to unissued tokens.
According to the SEC, these certificates were falsely touted as US-regulated and backed by hard assets.
Coupled with asset misrepresentation and insiders cashing out, it’s no wonder the SEC is pushing for the project to be permanently banned and pay steep fines.
The message for crypto investors is clear: due diligence is more important than ever.
But not all cryptocurrencies are built on fiction. In fact, the failure of projects like Unicoin only reinforces the value of actually good altcoins worth buying.
As the SEC tightens its grip, the future looks bright for tokens that are transparent, utility-driven, and compliant from the ground up, like $MIND, $BEST, and $XMR.
1. MIND of Pepe ($MIND) – Proprietary AI Delivers Hot Crypto Trading Insights
MIND of Pepe ($MIND) is a trustworthy meme coin with real utility. It stands out for combining AI and blockchain tech to deliver exclusive crypto insights to its token holders. And this project isn’t just based on promises.
Its in-house AI agent has been live online since May 10, 2025. Already, it’s scanning platforms like X, dApps, and on-chain activity to identify the hottest crypto trends and current market sentiment.
The agent’s findings are already reaching $MIND holders, with some also automatically being distributed to the public via the agent’s X handle (@MIND_agent) and the project’s official Telegram channel.
This is just part of the project’s roadmap. MIND continues to advance with further features in the pipeline: a persona-trained Large Language Model (LLM), DEXScreener and Solana trackers, vector embeddings, and Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG).
Additionally, the MIND Terminal, a dashboard meant to supercharge $MIND holders’ trading tactics and insights, is also under development.
MIND of Pepe doesn’t have a mint function, blacklist, or honeypot settings, which minimizes the risk of abuses and scams like rugpulls.
TokenSniffer also backs its legitimacy. Designed to funnel out scam tokens, it identifies that creators’ wallets hold less than 5% of its circulating token supply. This prevents the likelihood of sudden sell-offs and price crashes.
With over $9.7M already raised and 1.4M+ $MIND staked (currently at a 234% APY), $MIND is building a credible foundation in a sector that’s often plagued by speculative hype and scams.
Now’s your last chance to buy $MIND on presale for $0.0037515. The presale ends in 10 days, and our MIND of Pepe price prediction sees the coin possibly hitting $0.00535 (a ~35% increase) post-exchange listings.
2. Best Wallet Token ($BEST) – Lower Fees & 116% Staking Rewards in Novel Non-Custodial Wallet
Best Wallet Token ($BEST) is the proprietary token of Best Wallet, one of the best software crypto wallets. Best Wallet is known for its anonymity and non-custodial key management, which makes it a private and transparent project from the get-go.
What also gives Best Wallet a competitive edge is that it’s the first of its kind to feature a launchpad with the best crypto presales. Plus, the wallet is still working on adding new features, like real-time market insights and support for 80+ blockchains.
To uncover all its perks, check out our Best Wallet review.
$BEST is an altcoin worth buying for anyone wanting to leverage the crypto wallet app (available on iOS and Android). By holding $BEST, you can save on gas fees, vote on the ecosystem’s future trajectory, and receive greater staking rewards (currently at a 116% APY).
But there’s more to $BEST than its utility, governance rights, and rewards. It’s also a secure buy, as shown through its smart contract, which Coinsult has audited.
Underscoring the project’s commitment to transparency and security, Coinsult found neither high nor medium-risk vulnerabilities in $BEST’s contract.
Moreover, the project’s whitepaper states that investors can cancel presale purchases within fourteen days, with only gas fees having to be paid. This inspires confidence and mirrors consumer protection principles often seen in more regulated financial environments.
Considering that Best Wallet is also working to launch advanced anti-fraud and MEV protection, the ‘Best’ ecosystem sets trust as a top priority.
Check our Best Wallet Token price prediction for more details.
3. Monero ($XMR) – Hits Over $316 as the Demand for Privacy On-Chain Grows
Monero ($XMR) has jumped by over 7% since last week, bringing its price to a commendable $361+.
The coin’s strong emphasis on anonymous, untraceable transactions helps spur its demand.
Unlike Bitcoin or Ethereum, where all transactions are publicly visible, Monero uses advanced cryptographic techniques (like ring signatures and stealth addresses) to ensure privacy and fungibility.
Its privacy features undoubtedly make compliance with anti-money laundering (AML) and know your customer (KYC) laws challenging. However, Monero’s codebase is open source, enabling audits and scrutiny by researchers and regulators.
Cyberscope, for instance, audited the $XMR smart contract and found that it’s ‘very low risk,’ given its:
Zero honeypot behaviour;
Verified source code;
MIT license;
No proxy or upgradeability risks;
Lack of suspicious functions.
The Monero community also actively discusses compliance in forums like the Monero Research Lab. They work alongside academics to improve transparency without compromising privacy.
You can buy $XMR on some of the best crypto exchanges, such as MEXC.
The Best Altcoins to Buy Thrive by Upholding Trust and Security
The Unicoin controversy underscores the dire need for transparency and verified utility in the crypto sector. But it also strengthens the case for community-first crypto projects.
As bad actors like Unicoin grab industry attention, so do the best altcoins with proven utility and strong security audits.
From AI-powered trading insights to cheaper trading fees and anonymous payments, $MIND, $BEST, and $XRP lead by example (not false promises).
Nevertheless, always DYOR before making any investments. This information doesn’t constitute financial advice. Even the best altcoins to buy can fluctuate wildly, especially post-exchange listings.
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