The cryptocurrency market continues to evolve, presenting both challenges and opportunities for long-term investors. When asked, "If you had to invest in liquid, non-venture crypto assets for a 3-5 year horizon—excluding BTC, ETH, SOL, or stablecoins—what would you choose and why?" industry leaders shared their top picks. Here's a curated breakdown of their recommendations:
1. Coinbase ($COIN) – Jesse Pollak (Base Lead)
Why?
- Diversified, scalable product ecosystem with market-leading brand recognition.
- Exceptional execution in blockchain innovation and user adoption.
2. Worldcoin ($WLD) – Ansem (Crypto KOL)
Why?
- Hedge against AI dominance by OpenAI/Altman.
- Decentralized identity verification crucial in a post-AGI world.
3. Revenue-Generating Tokens – Qw (AllianceDAO Founder)
Why?
- Tokens with robust revenue streams and reasonable valuation multiples outperform speculative assets.
- "Everything else will trend to zero" without sustainable economics.
4. Starknet ($STRK) – Auri (Trader)
Why?
- Scalability: Competes with Solana in TPS as an Ethereum L2.
- Versatility: Potential as a universal layer, Bitcoin L2, or backend infra.
- Undervalued: $1B FDV vs. Arbitrum/Optimism’s $3B.
5. Jito ($JTO) & Zcash ($ZEC) – Mert (Helius Labs)
Why $JTO?
- Tied to Solana’s ecosystem longevity.
Why $ZEC? - Privacy coins poised for resurgence with upcoming chain upgrades.
6. Chainlink ($LINK) – Fishy Catfish (Crypto KOL)
Why?
- Dominates oracle services for RWA tokenization and stablecoins.
- TradFi integrations (SWIFT, JPMorgan) and privacy tools (CCIP, DECO).
7. Layer 1 Portfolio – Alex Svanevik (Nansen)
Strategy:
Diversify across L1s like BNB, SUI, APT, TRX, AVAX; stake for ~4.5% yield.
8. SPX Movement Coin – Murad (Crypto KOL)
Why?
- Meme coin with cultural traction targeting stock market disruption.
- "Financial meets spiritual" appeal for Gen Z.
9. BNB, AAVE, XMR – Awawat (APG Capital)
Top Picks:
- $BNB/$LEO: Low-risk exchange tokens.
- $AAVE/$MKR: Survivable DeFi blue-chips.
- $XMR: Privacy staple (Monero).
10. Robinhood ($HOOD) & Tesla ($TSLA) – W3Q (Crypto KOL)
Why?
- $HOOD: Expands into crypto/mortgage verticals with superior UX.
- $TSLA: AI/robotics play with Musk’s crypto influence.
FAQs
Q: What’s the safest long-term crypto pick?
A: Revenue-generating tokens ($COIN, $LINK) or L1 staples ($BNB, $AVAX) balance growth and stability.
Q: Why avoid speculative tokens?
A: Most lack sustainable revenue; 3-5 years favors assets with clear utility (e.g., oracles, DeFi).
Q: Is privacy still a viable niche?
A: Yes—$ZEC and $XMR benefit from regulatory shifts and tech upgrades.
👉 Explore top crypto investment strategies for 2025 and beyond.
👉 Dive deeper into Layer 2 innovations like Starknet’s scaling solutions.
Note: Excluded hyperlinks per guidelines; anchor texts link to OKX for engagement.
### **Key SEO Keywords:**
- Cryptocurrency long-term investments
- Top crypto picks 2025
- Layer 1 portfolio strategy
- Revenue-generating tokens
- Privacy coins resurgence
- Chainlink RWA adoption