We report the fast synthesis and electrochemical evaluation of M@Pt core–shell nanostructures (M = Ru, Fe 3 O 4 , Pd) as well as Pt-alone nanoparticles for the ethanol and methanol oxidation reactions (EOR and MOR, respectively) in H 2 SO 4 solution. The cores were obtained in 60 s. The Pt shells were deposited afterward on the cores also in 60 s. The reducing agent was NaBH 4 . XRD results showed that crystalline Pd, Fe 3 O 4 and Pt materials were obtained from this rapid process, while Ru was formed as a quasi-amorphous structure. The average particle sizes of the core–shell nanostructures determined with the Scherrer equation, ranged from 7.35 to 9.29 nm. The electrochemical characterization revealed a catalytic activity of the novel Fe 3 O 4 @Pt anode as high as that of Ru@Pt for the EOR, and higher than the activity of Pt-alone. However, the Fe 3 O 4 @Pt catalysts showed a lower activity for the MOR than Ru@Pt and Pt-alone. Durability tests indicated a high electrochemical stability of the Fe 3 O 4 @Pt and Ru@Pt nanostructures.