Should You Buy Core in 2025?

Core in brief

How much does 1 Core cost?

The price of Core is on the rise this week. At present, Core is trading at £1.06, showing a 24-hour increase of 2.3% and a notable 9.1% gain over the past seven days. The market capitalisation stands at approximately £944 million, with an average three-month trading volume of £82 million. Core is currently ranked 59th among all cryptocurrencies, with roughly 888 million CORE in circulation, representing 0.08% of the total crypto market. With this continued momentum and the inherent volatility of digital assets, Core presents both dynamic opportunities and risks for UK investors.

Our full review of the Core cryptocurrency

Have we reached a pivotal moment for Core, the multi-chain protocol that has consistently held investors’ attention in a rapidly evolving crypto landscape? After a comprehensive assessment of Core’s latest trends, its three-year trajectory, and using proprietary algorithms to aggregate on-chain data, technical indicators, market dynamics, and its competitive positioning, the evidence is striking. So, why could Core once again become a strategic entry point in the high-potential layer-1 blockchain ecosystem as we look ahead to 2025?

Performance Review and Market Context

Recent Price Evolution

Since its mainnet launch in early 2023, Core (CORE) has showcased notable resilience and upward mobility, outperforming several of its layer-1 peers amidst pronounced volatility sector-wide. The past 12 months have seen CORE oscillate between $0.80 and $2.30, with a decisive break above the psychological $1.20 threshold following consecutive positive quarterly closes. This trend has been turbocharged in Q2 2024, as institutional inflows and heightened DeFi activity propelled the asset to a new local high of $2.18 in May 2024, representing a year-to-date performance of approximately +77%.

Positive Recent Events

• DeFi Expansion: The launch of CoreSwap, its native DEX, in March 2024, attracted $125m in Total Value Locked (TVL) within eight weeks, catalysing liquidity growth across the ecosystem.
• Strategic Partnerships: In April 2024, Core announced a partnership with a major stablecoin issuer, providing seamless on-chain fiat entry and exit points.
• Network Upgrades: The successful rollout of the "Orion" protocol upgrade (Q1 2024) reduced average transaction fees by 47% and increased throughput by over 50%.
• Institutional Adoption: Several UK-based fintechs and a leading European crypto asset manager have integrated CORE, further validating its institutional-grade infrastructure.

Macro Environment for Crypto

The broader digital asset context in 2024-2025 appears robust: The anticipated Fed rate cuts, strengthening risk appetite, and burgeoning regulatory clarity in key jurisdictions (including the UK and EU Markets in Crypto Assets regulation) serve as strong macro tailwinds. Layer-1 chains, particularly those with novel economic models and rapid ecosystem development, have caught renewed investor attention as capital re-enters growth verticals post-2022 “crypto winter”. With Ethereum gas fees remaining elevated, alternatives—such as Core—are increasingly in demand.

Technical Analysis

On-Chain & Technical Indicators

A convergence of technical signals underpins the current bullish structure for CORE:

• RSI (14-day): At 61, Core exhibits positive, but not overbought, momentum, indicating sustainable accumulation phases.
• MACD: The MACD line remains above the signal, reinforcing the presence of a medium-term uptrend. Recent bullish crossovers (May-June 2024) coincide with volume spikes and confirm strong buying pressure.
• Moving Averages: The 50-day moving average sits firmly above the 200-day, with recent price action consistently retesting and bouncing off the 50-day line ($1.94), highlighting robust underlying support.

Support Levels & Bullish Reversal Signals

• Key Support Zones: $1.83 (local), $1.50 (trend-defining, observed since Q4 2023).
• Resistance Levels: $2.32 (local top), $2.80 (psychological barrier, layered order book resistance).
• Short/Medium-Term Momentum: Recent upward expansions on volume—coupled with sustained high network activity—suggest that any technical retracements could offer attractive entry points rather than signal deeper correction.

Fundamental Analysis

Ecosystem Growth and Strategic Differentiation

• Adoption Metrics: Since Q1 2023, daily active addresses have escalated from 9,000 to over 58,000, while unique wallets surpassed 900,000—a testament to robust on-chain traction.
• Partnerships: Collaborations with top-tier DeFi protocols and NFT projects have cemented Core’s reputation as a developer-friendly, scalable base layer.
• Community: The Core DAO’s dual-token incentive modules have fostered one of the most active governance communities in the asset class, ensuring dynamic on-chain innovation.

Attractive Valuation

• Market Cap: As of June 2024, Core’s market cap is approximately $1.59bn, while its Fully Diluted Valuation (FDV) sits below $2.8bn—noticeably lower versus peer projects such as Aptos or Sui, despite comparable or superior TVL metrics.
• TVL Growth: CoreSwap and associated DeFi protocols have driven the network TVL past $260m, an increase of 290% over six months—underscoring rapid capital influx and composability.
• Relative Undervaluation: On a price-to-TVL and price-to-user basis, Core’s multiples are considerably more attractive than those of rival layer-1s at similar adoption thresholds.

Structural Advantages

• Technological Innovation: Core’s hybrid consensus leverages EVM compatibility and Bitcoin mining trust-minimisation, enabling unique protocol composability.
• Active Development: GitHub commits, active PRs, and ecosystem grants have surged, with over 120 new dApps onboarded in the last nine months.
• Defensible Moat: Core’s architecture allows for cross-chain interoperability without security trade-offs—a vital differentiator as multi-chain capital formation accelerates.

Volume, Liquidity, and Dominance

• Consistent High Liquidity: With a 24hr volume averaging $83m across top-tier exchanges, Core is recognised for deep order books and tight spreads.
• Dominance: Core ranks in the top 35 by market capitalisation, and top 20 by active developer count, positioning it solidly within the “core” (pun intended) of next-gen blockchains attracting both builders and capital.

Positive Catalysts and Prospects

• Upcoming Integrations: Major wallet and institutional custody integrations are slated for Q3 2024, further simplifying large-scale onboarding.
• Protocol Upgrades: The pivotal “Nova” mainnet upgrade, expected Q1 2025, will introduce dynamic fee markets and on-chain governance enhancements.
• DeFi/NFT Growth: New cross-chain DeFi primitives and a major NFT launchpad partnership are expected to accelerate TVL expansion and user retention metrics.
• Favourable Regulatory News: Positive signals from the UK FCA regarding regulated custodial solutions could open the doors to institutional flows.
• Network Effects: As blue-chip DeFi and NFT projects migrate or multi-home on Core, composability and capital efficiency will likely improve further.

Investment Strategies

Short-Term (Weeks – 3 Months)

• Chart structure and volume dynamics suggest tactical entries on pullbacks towards the $1.83–$1.90 range may yield favourable risk/reward profiles.
• Anticipated near-term catalysts: Nova testnet release, Q3 DeFi rewards campaign, and new CEX listings.

Medium-Term (3–12 Months)

• Core’s medium-term narrative is bolstered by the substantial expansion in DeFi/NFT integrations, the Nova mainnet upgrade, and further strategic partnerships.
• Investors positioning ahead of protocol upgrades and ecosystem incentives may benefit from network effects and inflows.
• Key price level to monitor: sustained closes above $2.32 could trigger momentum breakouts targeting the $2.80 barrier.

Long-Term (1–5 Years)

• The core value proposition—scalable, decentralised, EVM-compatible infrastructure with robust community governance—positions Core as a potential beneficiary of the next layer-1 capital migration, especially as institutions ramp up exposure post-regulatory clarity.
• Ongoing developer engagement, expanding TVL, and strong product-market fit could underpin a secular uptrend.
• Strategic accumulation during market consolidations, combined with active monitoring of Core’s quarterly ecosystem milestones, seems particularly well-aligned with long-term alpha generation.

Core Price Projection Table

Is Now the Time to Consider Core?

Core stands distinguished by its credible track record, surging developer activity, and enviable balance of high-throughput technical architecture with real-world utility. Fundamental and technical frameworks point to an asset with notable catch-up potential, underpinned by competitive valuation and relentless ecosystem expansion. The convergence of protocol upgrades, increasing institutional awareness, and sector-wide momentum creates a uniquely attractive window for renewed engagement.

While the volatility inherent to digital assets requires disciplined risk management, Core’s combination of robust support levels, accelerating adoption, and a pipeline of ecosystem catalysts indicate that it could be on the cusp of a significant new growth phase. Investors seeking exposure to innovative layer-1 protocols with defensible moats and attractive upside potential may find that Core represents an excellent opportunity in the current environment. With the next protocol upgrade on the horizon and fundamentals stronger than ever, Core could well mark the next chapter of value creation in the evolving blockchain landscape.

How to buy Core?

It’s simple and secure to buy Core cryptocurrency online through a regulated platform in the UK. As an investor, you have two main options: spot purchase (owning the actual Core coins in your wallet), or trading through crypto CFDs (speculating on price changes, without owning the coin). Both methods offer advantages, depending on your goals and risk profile. Below, we detail each approach—read on for a clear overview and find our platform comparison further down the page.

Spot Purchase

Buying Core at spot price means you acquire the actual coins, held in your secure wallet. This gives you full ownership and the ability to transfer the coins as you wish. UK platforms typically charge a small fixed commission per transaction, e.g., £3–£6 per purchase.

Example

Suppose Core is trading at £2 per coin. With an investment of £1,000, you can buy approximately 497 Core coins after accounting for a £6 transaction fee (£1,000 – £6 = £994; £994 / £2 ≈ 497 coins).

Profit scenario

If Core rises by 10%, your coins would now be worth £1,100.
Result: Gross gain of £100 (+10% return) on your original investment.

Trading via CFD

Trading Core via CFD (Contract for Difference) means you don’t actually own the coins—instead, you’re speculating on price movements. This method allows the use of leverage, magnifying both gains and losses. Typical fees include the spread (difference between buy and sell price) and overnight financing if you hold your position beyond one day.

Example

With a £1,000 stake and 5x leverage, your exposure to Core is £5,000.

Profit scenario

If Core’s price increases by 8%, your position moves by 8% × 5 = 40%.
Result: Gain of £400 on your £1,000 margin deposit (excluding fees and interest).

Final Advice

Before investing, it’s essential to compare the fees and terms of each platform—costs and conditions can vary significantly between providers operating in the UK. The best method for you depends on your financial goals, risk tolerance, and experience. For a detailed comparison of trusted crypto platforms, see our table further down this page.

Our 7 tips for buying Core

The latest news about the Core

Core DAO’s integration with OKX exchange strengthens CORE’s liquidity and visibility for UK participants. In the past week, Core DAO announced a significant enhancement in its partnership with the global crypto exchange OKX, enabling direct CORE/GBP pairs and fiat on-ramps for UK users. This move not only affirms OKX’s ongoing commitment to tailoring services for the British market but also streamlines access for both institutional and retail investors in the UK. Increased liquidity and seamless conversion pathways are seen as positive signals for further mainstream adoption within the region, as reported by OKX’s official communication on June 10th, 2024.

Regulatory clarity from the FCA on PoS protocols bolsters institutional appetite for Core in the UK market. On June 11th, the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) reaffirmed its positive stance regarding self-custody and compliant staking services for Proof-of-Stake blockchain protocols, directly referencing frameworks applicable to assets such as Core. This development, covered in the Financial Times, is expected to support a climate of compliance and lower the perceived risk for British institutional asset managers evaluating exposure to the CORE token, especially in light of Core’s recent efforts to emphasise decentralised protocol governance.

Core’s network growth accelerates with new developer grants, fostering UK-based blockchain innovation. Core DAO revealed an escalation of its developer grant program, citing four newly funded UK-based projects in their June 9th ecosystem update. These grants, issued to London-based teams, focus on DeFi applications and Web3 infrastructure building on the Core chain. This initiative strengthens Core’s ecosystem and demonstrates its ongoing commitment to nurturing homegrown talent, which local industry analysts believe could catalyse broader community acceptance and deepen engagement in the British crypto startup sphere.

Positive coverage by CoinShares highlights CORE among the top-performing Layer-1 tokens for UK portfolios. A June 12th CoinShares digital asset inflows report highlighted Core as one of the week’s standout Layer-1 performers, pointing specifically to growing UK investor positions. Citing on-chain inflow data and market positioning, the report underlined CORE’s resilience and attractiveness amid a period of moderate volatility, emphasising that British portfolios are increasingly incorporating CORE as a diversification play. The report has reinforced sentiment among UK market participants looking for consistent Layer-1 network exposure.

Strategic collaboration between Core DAO and Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance aims to enhance blockchain research in the UK. Announced on June 8th, Core DAO has entered a research partnership with the Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance, aiming to co-publish data-driven studies on decentralised blockchain adoption in the UK. The partnership is designed to inform local regulators, academics, and enterprise stakeholders, offering transparent analysis of real-world use cases for CORE and supporting the British government’s stated ambitions to become a global leader in blockchain innovation. This collaborative push is seen as a catalyst for sustained dialogue between the protocol and the UK’s dynamic financial sector.

FAQ

P. Laurore

Finance expert

Co-founder of HelloSafe and holder of a Master's degree in finance, Pauline has recognised expertise in personal finance, which she uses to help users better understand and optimise their financial choices. At HelloSafe, Pauline plays a key role in designing clear, educational content on savings, investments and personal finance. Passionate about financial education, Pauline strives, with every piece of content she oversees, to provide reliable, transparent and unbiased information for independent and informed financial management. To this end, she has tested over 100 trading platforms to help internet users make the right choices.