Best Crypto Investments Beyond BTC and ETH: What Top Experts Are Watching (2025)

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When it comes to long-term cryptocurrency investing, Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH) dominate most portfolios. But what if you're looking beyond these giants for the next wave of innovation and value creation?

In a recent viral post on X, prominent crypto influencer @Cobie posed a compelling question:

“If you had to buy a liquid, non-speculative crypto asset for a 3–5 year horizon—and couldn’t choose BTC, ETH, HYPE, SOL, or stablecoins—what would you pick, and why?”

The responses poured in from top traders, venture capitalists, and ecosystem builders. Their picks reveal a nuanced view of the future of decentralized finance, real-world asset integration, privacy infrastructure, and even digital identity.

Let’s dive into the insights from industry leaders—and uncover the hidden gems they believe could outperform over the next half-decade.

Why Look Beyond the Giants?

While BTC and ETH remain foundational, the next phase of crypto growth will likely come from purpose-built protocols solving real problems: scalable Layer 2s, privacy-preserving networks, decentralized oracles, and tokenized traditional assets.

As one investor noted:

“In 3–5 years, only tokens with strong revenue potential and sustainable utility will survive. Everything else will trend toward zero.”

This mindset shift—from hype-driven speculation to fundamentals-based value—is reshaping how smart money allocates capital.

👉 Discover how to identify high-potential crypto assets before they go mainstream.

Top Expert Picks for 2025 and Beyond

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

Jesse, who leads Base—a major Ethereum Layer 2 backed by Coinbase—chose $COIN, the company’s stock, rather than a native crypto token.

His rationale?

While not a cryptocurrency per se, $COIN offers exposure to the entire crypto ecosystem through a publicly traded vehicle with real revenue and regulatory clarity.

Ansem – Crypto Analyst: Worldcoin ($WLD)

Ansem sees $WLD as a hedge against centralized AI dominance—particularly from entities like OpenAI.

His thesis centers on digital identity:

This makes $WLD less of a meme and more of a strategic bet on decentralized identity infrastructure.

Qw – Founder of AllianceDAO: Tokens with Strong Future Revenue

Qw emphasizes fundamentals over narratives:

“The only rational choice is a token with strong projected income trading at a reasonable valuation.”

He warns that without sustainable cash flows, most altcoins will eventually collapse. His focus is on protocols generating fees from usage—such as lending platforms, derivatives exchanges, or middleware services.

This approach aligns with traditional equity investing: buy quality at a fair price.

Auri – Crypto Trader: Starknet ($STRK)

Auri champions Starknet, an Ethereum Layer 2 using zero-knowledge rollup technology.

Key advantages:

Three potential success paths:

  1. Becoming a general-purpose L2
  2. Serving as a Bitcoin L2 if settlement becomes viable
  3. Acting as backend infrastructure for other chains

“If privacy and decentralization matter to you, Starknet deserves attention,” Auri says.

👉 Learn how Layer 2 networks are scaling Ethereum’s future.

Mert – Founder of Helius Labs: Jito ($JTO) & Zcash ($ZEC)

Mert backs two very different plays:

$JTO – Liquid staking on Solana

$ZEC – Privacy-focused cryptocurrency

Together, they represent both ecosystem alignment and ideological conviction.

Alex Svanevik – CEO of Nansen: Diversified L1 Portfolio

Svanevik advocates for strategic diversification across Layer 1 blockchains.

His portfolio includes:

Total: 9 assets including BTC, ETH, SOL, etc.
All staked for an estimated 4.5% annual yield.

This strategy balances exposure to established chains and emerging contenders—spreading risk while capturing upside.

Fishy Catfish – Crypto KOL: Chainlink ($LINK)

Chainlink remains dominant in the oracle space after six years—controlling over 90% of secure data feeds.

Why $LINK stands out:

Critically, Chainlink is shifting value capture from blockchains to applications—taking a cut of MEV from oracle-triggered events like liquidations.

This creates a durable revenue model few competitors can match.

Murad – Crypto Thought Leader: $SPX

$SPX is framed not just as a meme coin—but as a cultural movement.

Parallels drawn:

It represents a generational pushback against financial disenfranchisement. With youth unemployment rising and traditional systems failing, $SPX offers a symbolic—and potentially financial—refuge.

While high-risk, its community energy mirrors early Bitcoin or Dogecoin cycles.

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

Awawat focuses on survival and stability:

He dismisses many responses as portfolio shilling, stressing that most altcoins will fail over 3–5 years.

Only assets with real use cases or entrenched positions will last.

W3Q – Crypto Analyst: $HOOD & $TSLA

Taking a hybrid approach, W3Q opts out of pure crypto:

Believes Tesla could re-enter crypto during the next cycle under Musk’s leadership.

Also considers leveraged BTC ETFs during market bottoms—a tactical move for aggressive investors.

Vance Spencer – Framework Ventures: $SKY

Spencer highlights $SKY, noting it’s not yet listed on any major centralized exchange (CEX).

Little public info exists, suggesting either early-stage potential or niche appeal. Still, his mention signals belief in under-the-radar projects with strong fundamentals.

Arthur – DeFiance Capital: AAVE, ENA, PENDLE, JUP

Arthur spreads across:

A balanced mix of yield efficiency, synthetic assets, and cross-chain utility.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can non-crypto assets like $COIN or $TSLA count as crypto investments?
A: Yes—for investors seeking regulated exposure or indirect upside to blockchain adoption. Stocks like Coinbase offer revenue visibility that pure tokens lack.

Q: Why do so many experts emphasize revenue-generating protocols?
A: Because long-term value accrual depends on utility. Protocols that earn fees from usage are more likely to survive bear markets.

Q: Is privacy really coming back in crypto?
A: Growing regulatory scrutiny may actually fuel demand for private transactions. Zcash and Monero could see renewed interest as digital rights concerns rise.

Q: Should I diversify across multiple L1s?
A: Yes—no single chain dominates all use cases. A multi-L1 strategy reduces reliance on one ecosystem’s success.

Q: Are meme coins ever legitimate long-term holds?
A: Rarely—but exceptions exist when backed by strong communities and cultural momentum (e.g., $SPX).

Q: How important is staking yield in long-term returns?
A: Significant. Compounding yields over 3–5 years can substantially boost total return—even at modest rates like 4.5%.

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Final Thoughts

The consensus among top voices is clear: the era of blind speculation is fading. The next bull cycle will reward those who understand protocol fundamentals, revenue models, and macro trends like AI, privacy, and real-world asset integration.

Whether you’re drawn to Starknet’s scalability, Chainlink’s enterprise reach, or Worldcoin’s identity vision—the future belongs to thoughtful investors who look beyond headlines.

Now is the time to research, allocate wisely, and prepare for what comes next.