Besides BTC and ETH, What Are the Best Crypto Investment Targets for the Next 3–5 Years?

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When it comes to long-term cryptocurrency investments, Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH) are often seen as the foundational pillars. But what lies beyond them? With the market maturing and new narratives emerging—such as AI integration, decentralized identity, privacy, and real-world asset tokenization—investors are increasingly looking at alternative digital assets with strong fundamentals and real utility.

In a recent post on X, prominent crypto influencer @Cobie posed a thought-provoking question: “If you had to invest in liquid, non-risk cryptocurrencies over a 3–5 year horizon—excluding BTC, ETH, HYPE, SOL, and stablecoins—what would you choose, and why?” The response from key industry figures revealed a diverse yet insightful range of picks, from Layer 2 protocols to privacy coins and blockchain infrastructure projects.

Let’s explore these expert-backed investment targets, analyze their potential, and uncover the underlying trends shaping the next phase of crypto growth.

Key Expert Picks Beyond BTC and ETH

Base Head Jesse.base.eth: Coinbase ($COIN)

Jesse.base.eth highlights Coinbase ($COIN) not as a crypto token per se, but as a strategic proxy to the broader ecosystem. His rationale?

  1. Market leadership: Coinbase boasts one of the largest user bases, a trusted brand, and a comprehensive product suite spanning trading, custody, staking, and institutional services.
  2. Execution excellence: The team consistently delivers on regulatory compliance and product innovation, positioning itself at the intersection of traditional finance and Web3.

While not a native blockchain token, $COIN offers exposure to crypto adoption through a publicly traded company with growing revenue streams and expanding global reach.

👉 Discover how leading platforms are shaping the future of digital finance.

Crypto KOL Ansem: Worldcoin ($WLD)

Ansem’s pick—Worldcoin ($WLD)—taps into the convergence of artificial intelligence (AI) and decentralized identity. As AI systems like those from OpenAI advance toward artificial general intelligence (AGI), the need to distinguish humans from bots becomes critical.

Worldcoin’s iris-scanning Orb technology creates a unique digital identity (World ID), enabling verifiable personhood online. This could become essential for:

In an era where surveillance states and deepfakes threaten digital trust, $WLD presents a bold solution with long-term societal implications.

AllianceDAO Founder qw: Focus on Tokens with Strong Revenue Potential

qw takes a macroeconomic view: in a post-hype market, only tokens with strong future revenue models will survive. He argues that speculative premiums outside of Bitcoin are fading, making revenue-generating protocols the safest bet.

This means prioritizing projects with:

Examples include protocol fees, staking yields, and usage-based incentives—all indicators of long-term viability.

Trader Auri: Starknet ($STRK)

For those who value decentralization and privacy, Auri champions Starknet ($STRK)—an Ethereum Layer 2 built on zero-knowledge (ZK) rollup technology.

Why Starknet stands out:

Starknet’s success could unfold through multiple paths:

Its flexibility and technical edge make it a compelling long-term play.

👉 Explore how next-gen blockchains are redefining scalability and security.

Helius Labs Founder mert: Jito ($JTO) & Zcash ($ZEC)

Mert backs two distinct but promising assets:

Jito ($JTO)

As a liquid restaking token on Solana, Jito captures value from network performance and validator efficiency. Given Solana’s continued growth and resilience, $JTO is positioned to benefit directly from increased staking activity and MEV (Maximal Extractable Value) optimization.

Zcash ($ZEC)

Privacy remains a fundamental right—and Zcash is undergoing a technical renaissance under new development leadership. With upcoming upgrades focused on scalability and usability, $ZEC may see renewed interest as regulatory scrutiny intensifies on transparent blockchains.

Nansen Founder Alex Svanevik: Build a Diversified L1 Portfolio

Rather than betting on a single chain, Svanevik advocates for a diversified Layer 1 portfolio including:

Combined with BTC, ETH, HYPE, and SOL, this nine-asset basket covers major ecosystems with varying consensus mechanisms, developer activity, and use cases. By staking these assets, investors can earn an estimated 4.5% annual yield, blending capital appreciation with passive income.

Crypto KOL Fishy Catfish: Chainlink ($LINK)

Chainlink ($LINK) continues to dominate the oracle space—maintaining over 90% market share in secure data feeds for DeFi and RWA (real-world asset) tokenization.

Key growth drivers:

With partnerships spanning SWIFT, DTCC, JPMorgan, and UBS, Chainlink is becoming the backbone of TradFi-to-DeFi connectivity. As more financial assets move on-chain, its role—and value capture—will only grow.

Crypto KOL Murad: $SPX – The "Movement Coin"

$SPX represents a cultural shift rather than pure tech innovation. Dubbed the first “movement coin,” it channels Gen Z frustration and millennial economic anxiety into a decentralized financial rebellion.

Think of it as meme culture meets mission-driven finance:

While speculative, its social momentum mirrors early Bitcoin sentiment—making it a wildcard with disproportionate influence potential.

APG Capital Trader Awawat: $BNB, $LEO, $AAVE, $MKR, $XMR

Awawat favors established players with low downside risk:

He warns against overhyped tokens without revenue—many of which may go to zero in the next cycle.

Framework Ventures’ Vance Spencer: $SKY

$SKY—a lesser-known project not yet listed on major exchanges—is flagged as one to watch. While details are sparse, early signals suggest innovative work in decentralized infrastructure or data markets.

Early-stage gems like this often deliver outsized returns for informed investors.

DeFiance Capital’s Arthur: $AAVE, $ENA, $PENDLE, $JUP

Arthur’s picks reflect confidence in:

These represent high-utility protocols at the heart of yield optimization and cross-chain liquidity.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: Why should I consider crypto investments beyond BTC and ETH?
A: While BTC and ETH offer stability and broad adoption, newer projects provide exposure to emerging trends like AI integration, privacy, RWA tokenization, and scalable Layer 2 solutions—all with higher growth potential.

Q: Are privacy coins like Monero and Zcash safe to hold long-term?
A: Despite regulatory scrutiny, privacy remains a core need. Projects adapting with合规-compliant features (e.g., optional privacy) may thrive as digital surveillance increases.

Q: Is investing in exchange stocks like Coinbase a valid crypto strategy?
A: Yes—$COIN acts as a regulated gateway to crypto adoption, offering indirect exposure with lower volatility than native tokens.

Q: How important is revenue generation for crypto tokens?
A: Critical. In mature markets, tokens without sustainable revenue models struggle to retain value. Protocols capturing fees or enabling real economic activity have stronger fundamentals.

Q: Can meme coins like $SPX have long-term value?
A: While most don’t, those tied to genuine movements or cultural shifts—like $SPX—can build lasting communities and influence market dynamics beyond price.

Q: Should I diversify across multiple L1 blockchains?
A: Absolutely. No single chain dominates all use cases. Diversification reduces risk while capturing growth across ecosystems like Solana, Avalanche, BNB Chain, and emerging players.

Final Thoughts

The next 3–5 years will be defined by utility, interoperability, and real-world integration. Investors should focus on projects with:

Whether you're drawn to ZK tech (Starknet), decentralized identity (Worldcoin), financial infrastructure (Chainlink), or cultural movements ($SPX), there's no shortage of opportunity beyond BTC and ETH.

👉 Stay ahead of the curve by exploring platforms where innovation meets investment potential.