When it comes to long-term crypto investing, Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH) are often the default choices for many. But what if you’re challenged to look beyond these giants — and also exclude high-hype assets like Solana (SOL), meme coins, and stablecoins?
On June 22, prominent crypto influencer @Cobie posed this exact question on X:
“If you had to buy a liquid, non-VC crypto asset today for a 3–5 year horizon — and couldn’t pick BTC, ETH, SOL, HYPE, or stablecoins — what would you choose, and why?”
The thread ignited a wave of insightful responses from top-tier crypto KOLs, traders, and venture investors. Their answers reveal a nuanced landscape of emerging opportunities — from infrastructure plays to privacy networks and real-world asset (RWA) integrations.
Let’s dive into the most compelling long-term crypto investment picks backed by industry leaders.
🔹 Coinbase ($COIN): The Institutional Gateway
Jesse Powell, head of Base, made a bold but strategic pick: $COIN, the stock of Coinbase.
Why? Two key reasons:
- Diversified product suite: Coinbase has evolved far beyond a simple exchange. It now offers custody solutions, staking services, a self-custody wallet, Layer 2 scaling (Base), and institutional-grade trading infrastructure.
- Execution excellence: Few teams in crypto match Coinbase’s ability to ship products at scale while navigating complex regulatory environments.
👉 Discover how leading platforms are shaping the future of digital finance.
While $COIN is an equity rather than a native token, its deep integration with the crypto ecosystem makes it a powerful proxy for broader adoption — especially as regulatory clarity improves in 2025 and beyond.
🔹 Worldcoin ($WLD): Identity in the Age of AI
Crypto KOL Ansem chose $WLD, betting on the convergence of artificial intelligence and decentralized identity.
His thesis:
As AI systems like OpenAI advance toward artificial general intelligence (AGI), verifying human identity becomes critical. Without safeguards, digital economies could be overwhelmed by bots and synthetic users.
Worldcoin’s biometric-based identity verification (via Orb scanning) offers a potential solution. By linking identity to proof-of-personhood, $WLD may become foundational for:
- Airdrop fairness
- Universal basic income (UBI) distribution
- Governance in decentralized communities
- Anti-sybil mechanisms in DeFi
This positions $WLD not just as a speculative token, but as infrastructure for a post-AGI world.
🔹 Starknet ($STRK): Privacy-Focused Ethereum L2
Trader Auri highlighted Starknet ($STRK) as a high-potential Ethereum Layer 2.
Key advantages:
- High throughput: Competes with Solana in TPS while maintaining Ethereum’s security model.
- Account abstraction (AA): Enables smart contract wallets, improving UX and enabling gasless transactions.
- Low valuation: Fully diluted valuation around $1B — significantly below peers like Arbitrum and Optimism.
Starknet has three potential paths to success:
- Becoming a general-purpose L2
- Serving as a Bitcoin L2 (if settlement on BTC becomes viable)
- Acting as backend infrastructure for other chains
Its use of STARK proofs also makes it one of the most privacy-preserving scalable solutions available.
🔹 Jito ($JTO) & Zcash ($ZEC): Yield and Privacy Play
Mert, founder of Helius Labs, advocated for a dual approach:
$JTO – Liquid Staking on Solana
Jito dominates Solana’s liquid staking market. With over 60% market share, $JTO captures yield premiums from MEV (Maximal Extractable Value) redistribution — a structural advantage likely to persist if Solana remains relevant.
$ZEC – The Resurgent Privacy Coin
Privacy demand is cyclical. With increasing surveillance and data monetization, Zcash is poised for a comeback. Upcoming upgrades under a new research lab structure could revitalize development and adoption.
🔹 Chainlink ($LINK): Bridging TradFi and DeFi
KOL Fishy Catfish doubled down on Chainlink ($LINK) — a veteran project with accelerating momentum.
Chainlink isn’t just an oracle. It’s becoming the connective tissue between traditional finance and blockchain through:
- Real-world asset (RWA) tokenization: Enabling bonds, real estate, and commodities to go on-chain.
- Stablecoin infrastructure: Powering cross-chain interoperability and compliance.
Upcoming innovations:
- Automatic Compliance Engine (ACE): For KYC/AML checks
- Cross-Chain Identity (CCID): Portable digital identity
- DECO: Privacy-preserving data verification using zkTLS
Major institutions like SWIFT, DTCC, JPMorgan, and UBS already use Chainlink-powered solutions — giving it unmatched enterprise credibility.
Moreover, Chainlink is shifting value capture from base layers to applications. For example, oracle-triggered liquidations now share MEV revenue with protocols like Aave — creating new economic models.
🔹 Diversified L1 Portfolio: Beyond Single Bets
Alex Svanevik, founder of Nansen, took a portfolio approach:
“Build a diversified basket of Layer 1 assets.”
His expanded list includes:
BNB, SUI, APT, TRX, AVAX — added to existing holdings in BTC, ETH, SOL, HYPE.
All assets are staked, generating ~4.5% annual yield. This strategy balances exposure across:
- High-throughput chains (SUI, APT)
- Established ecosystems (BNB Chain)
- Scalable smart contract platforms (AVAX)
It’s a pragmatic play for those who believe in multi-chain persistence but want reduced single-asset risk.
🔹 AAVE, LEO, XMR: Survival-of-the-Fittest Picks
Awawat, a trader at APG Capital, focused on survivability:
“In 3–5 years, most altcoins will be dust. Only a few will remain.”
His shortlist:
- $BNB / $LEO: Established exchange tokens with limited upside but strong downside protection
- $AAVE / $MKR: Core DeFi primitives likely to endure
- $XMR (Monero): The most battle-tested privacy coin
He also noted growing interest in gold-backed tokens like PAXG/XAUT as macro hedges.
🔹 $SKY and $HOOD: Niche but Visionary Bets
- Vance Spencer (Framework Ventures) picked $SKY — a lesser-known asset not yet on major exchanges — indicating confidence in under-the-radar projects.
W3Q went off-chain entirely, choosing $HOOD (Robinhood)** and **$TSLA (Tesla):
- Robinhood as the “picks and shovels” play in retail finance
- Tesla as the AI + robotics convergence leader
Both reflect skepticism about pure crypto assets outside BTC/ETH — but still seek exposure to tech-driven disruption.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Why exclude BTC and ETH from long-term portfolios?
A: While BTC and ETH are foundational, diversification is key. Allocating part of a portfolio to high-conviction altprojects allows investors to capture asymmetric growth from innovation cycles in DeFi, RWA, AI, and privacy.
Q: Is investing in equities like $COIN or $HOOD still “crypto” exposure?
A: Yes — especially when those companies are deeply integrated into crypto ecosystems. Coinbase directly benefits from onchain activity; Robinhood offers growing crypto trading volume and wallet adoption.
Q: Are privacy coins like Zcash and Monero still relevant?
A: Absolutely. With rising digital surveillance and data exploitation, privacy is not dead — it's cyclical. Regulatory pressure may slow adoption short-term, but demand will resurge as users seek control over identity and transactions.
Q: Can tokens like $LINK really bridge TradFi and DeFi?
A: Evidence says yes. Chainlink’s partnerships with SWIFT and DTCC prove institutional trust. Its upcoming compliance tools make it one of the few projects ready for regulated asset tokenization at scale.
Q: What’s the risk of betting on niche L2s like Starknet?
A: Competition is fierce. However, Starknet’s technical superiority in ZK-proofs and account abstraction gives it durable differentiation — especially if scalability and UX become deciding factors.
Q: Should I consider leveraged ETFs instead of native assets?
A: Leveraged instruments amplify both gains and losses. They’re best used tactically during market bottoms — not as core holdings. For most investors, direct ownership of diversified assets is safer and more sustainable.
👉 Explore cutting-edge blockchain innovations with tools built for tomorrow’s market leaders.
Final Thoughts: Think Beyond Hype
The consensus among top KOLs is clear:
The next 3–5 years belong to infrastructure, identity, privacy, and real-world integration — not just speculative narratives.
Whether it’s Chainlink connecting banks to blockchains, Starknet advancing ZK-scaling, or Worldcoin redefining digital identity, the strongest investments are those solving real problems with sustainable models.
As the market matures, winners will be determined not by social media buzz — but by execution, utility, and resilience.
👉 Start building your future-proof crypto portfolio today.
Core Keywords:
long-term crypto investment, Layer 2 scaling, real-world assets (RWA), decentralized identity, privacy coins, DeFi infrastructure, Chainlink use cases