Long-term crypto investing in 2025 is becoming one of the most strategic approaches to crypto.
After Bitcoin’s halving in April 2024, historical trends point towards a crypto bull run.
Along with global inflation and economic uncertainty, investors are moving more towards decentralized assets as a hedge against traditional markets.
So much so that even institutions are adopting crypto.
Major organizations, like BlackRock, Fidelity, and JPMorgan, are increasing their exposure to Bitcoin and Ethereum through spot ETFs and other tokenization platforms.
Some experts are even claiming that the S&P 500 is dead and that crypto is the only market to invest in.
This all points to a buy-and-hold strategy.
Whether you are new to crypto or have been investing since day one, identifying the best cryptocurrency to buy and hold is key to building your digital portfolio.
What Makes a Cryptocurrency Worth Holding Long-Term?
There are over 21,000 tokens in circulation as of 2025, but less than 500 of them even have a daily trading volume of over $1 million, according to CoinMarketCap.
What this means is that a vast majority of cryptocurrencies fail to have long-term strength.
To know which tokens are worth investing in, you should evaluate key fundamentals before buying:
| 📊 Evaluation Criteria | 💡 Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| Market Capitalization | Large-cap coins like Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH) offer more stability. Small-cap tokens may grow faster but have a higher risk. |
| Developer Activity | Strong GitHub activity, frequent commits, and dev engagement usually point to project health. Examples include Polkadot, Solana, and Ethereum. |
| Security & Consensus | PoW (Bitcoin) is highly secure. PoS (Ethereum post-merge) offers scalability. Hybrid models combine the benefits of both. |
| Liquidity & Volume | High volume and exchange listings mean easier entry/exit. |
| Community & Decentralization | Projects like Bitcoin and Ethereum thrive thanks to global, decentralized communities, not just founding teams. |
What Affects Long-Term Value
The long-term value of a cryptocurrency is very much influenced by real-world use and its design.
| ✅ Checklist Item | 🔍 Explanation |
|---|---|
| Mass Adoption | A token’s value grows with widespread use. Ethereum leads the DeFi and NFT sectors, with over $40 billion TVL in early 2025. |
| Tokenomics | Bitcoin has a fixed 21 million supply. BNB burns tokens to reduce supply. Ethereum’s EIP-1559 burns fees, making ETH deflationary (about 0.2% inflation). |
| Utility | Tokens with real-world use cases, like ETH, SOL, LINK, IMX, SAND, AR, FIL, are more likely to gain value and adoption in the long term. |
Red Flags to Avoid
It can be very exciting to learn about new projects and try to make a quick turnaround on a memecoin.
But it’s crucial to spot warning signs before you invest.
👤No Identifiable Team: Anonymous or inactive teams usually indicate a lack of accountability or long-term vision for the project.
💸Token Inflation or No Supply Cap: Projects without clear supply or inflation controls have a risk of devaluing tokens over time.
📈Hype-Driven Without Real Use Case: Coins that trend on social media or pump groups but lack working products or partnerships are often short-lived. There are countless examples of memecoins trending and disappearing.
🐋Low Liquidity and Centralized Ownership: If a small number of wallets hold most of the supply, the project is vulnerable to manipulation and what is referred to as “rug pulls.”
🔒 Failed Security Audits or No Audit at All: A project that hasn’t passed third-party security audits is a major cause for concern. You can use tools like CertiK or Hacken to review audit results.
Top Cryptocurrencies to Buy and Hold in 2025
Before buying any crypto, always DYOR (Do Your Own Research).
Cryptocurrency is a highly volatile and fast-evolving asset.
There is no investment without risk, so take time to understand the fundamentals of crypto, market conditions, and what your own financial goals are.
📚 Learn & Secure Your Crypto
At Material Bitcoin, we’re more than just trusted cold storage solutions; we’re your go-to resource for learning about crypto, comparing wallets, and managing your long-term investments with maximum security.
With that in mind, here are some of the best cryptocurrency to buy and hold, based on utility, adoption, and long-term potential:
1️⃣ Bitcoin (BTC)
Often called digital gold, Bitcoin is the most recognized and widely adopted cryptocurrency.
Institutional interest continues to grow, with BlackRock, Fidelity, and Grayscale offering or managing Bitcoin ETFs.
Its fixed supply of 21 million coins and highly secure Proof of Work (PoW) make it a go-to for long-term crypto value.
Just take a look at Kevin O’Leary, AKA Mr. Wonderful‘s, advice for 2025.
@kevinolearytv If you’re wondering where I see the biggest crypto opportunities, here’s my focus: 1️⃣ Bitcoin – Digital gold. Enough said. 2️⃣ Ethereum – Powering the smart contract revolution. 3️⃣ Stablecoins – I use USDC for transactions because it’s efficient and reliable. And of course, I’m backing @WonderFi, the regulated exchange making all of this seamless in Canada. #CryptoInvesting #WonderFi #Ethereum ♬ original sound – Mr. Wonderful
2️⃣ Ethereum (ETH)
Ethereum is the OG of decentralized apps.
With its move to Proof of Stake, ETH now offers staking yields (averaging around 4% APY).
This is very appealing for long-term holders.
The burning of transaction fees via EIP-1559 has made ETH net deflationary.
This translates to ETH becoming scarcer, therefore more valuable.
3️⃣ Solana (SOL)
Solana has made a strong rebound since its FTX fallout.
Its ultra-fast transaction speeds (65,000+ TPS) and low fees make it one of the top platforms for DeFi and NFTs.
Ecosystem growth has expanded to Solana Mobile and Firedancer, a second validator client expected to increase speed and reliability.
As of 2025, Solana is a top 10 coin by market cap, with active development and VC backing.
Solana Market Cap
4️⃣ Chainlink (LINK)
Chainlink is the top oracle solution for connecting smart contracts to real-world data.
They have key partnerships with Google Cloud, SWIFT, and many other DeFi platforms.
5️⃣ Arbitrum (ARB) or Optimism (OP)
Arbitrum and Optimism account for over 60% of Ethereum’s L2 TVL as of 2025.
Major dApps like Uniswap, Aave, and GMX operate on these rollups, providing faster and cheaper transactions.
| Token | Why It’s Interesting |
|---|---|
| Polygon (MATIC) | Ethereum scaling solution with low fees and enterprise partners like Nike, Reddit, and Starbucks. |
| Aptos (APT) | Built on the Move programming language, designed for secure and scalable smart contracts. |
| Avalanche (AVAX) | It supports custom subnets and is gaining traction for institutional-grade tokenization platforms. |
| Kaspa (KAS) | Uses blockDAG for fast PoW mining (1-second blocks); great for high-speed applications. |
How to Match the Right Crypto to Your Profile
Just as no investor is the same with their goals or risk tolerances, neither are cryptos.
Whether you’re trying to understand if crypto is a bubble or you’re serious about building a long-term crypto plan, choosing the right assets is key for smart crypto investing and trading.
Here’s how to choose the right cryptocurrencies based on your investment style:
🛡️ Conservative Holders
If your goal is wealth preservation with lower risk, it’s best to stick with large, established cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum.
Focus on stability and Market Cap.
These assets are less volatile and have high trading volume.
They are also supported by large communities and have institutional interest.
They’re better suited for long-term holding.
🚀 Growth-Focused Investors
If you’re looking for higher upside potential and are comfortable with more risk, you should explore newer projects in fast-growing sectors.
Look into projects like Solana, Arbitrum, Aptos, and Render.
These projects are involved in gaming, AI, and decentralized infrastructure, and therefore have a larger potential for gains, but they can be much more volatile!
⚖️ Diversified Strategy
A balanced portfolio, in our opinion, is the smartest approach.
As a beginner, holding Bitcoin for the long term will never fail.
Once you’ve established your crypto footing, try to diversify across different categories like Layer 1s (Ethereum, Solana), Layer 2s (Arbitrum, Optimism), and oracles (Chainlink).
Storing Your Long-Term Crypto Investments
Securing your crypto is just as important as choosing which coins to invest in.
As a long-term holder, finding the best place to hold crypto will help protect your assets from hacks, exchange failures, or accidental loss.
Best Wallets for Long-Term Holding (Cold vs. Hot)
Cold wallets are the most secure option.
Some of the best hardware wallets available are cold wallets, such as Material Bitcoin, Ledger, Trezor, and Arculus.
Hot wallets, like MetaMask and Trust Wallet, are good for quick trade techniques, like arbitrage trading, but they are not recommended for storing large amounts of crypto long-term.
| Key Area | ✅ What to Consider | 📌 Tips & Tools |
|---|---|---|
| 📊 Tracking & Rebalancing |
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| 💼 Tax & Compliance |
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| 🔐 Cold Wallet Storage |
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FAQs
Is it better to hold a few big coins or diversify?
- It depends on your risk tolerance. Big coins like BTC and ETH offer stability, while diversification can reduce risk and increase potential growth.
How long should I hold before selling?
- Many long-term investors hold for at least 4 years or through full market cycles. Your timeline should match your financial goals.
What’s the safest way to hold my crypto long-term?
- Use a cold wallet like Material Bitcoin and back up your seed phrase offline with cold backup metal wallets like Material DIY. Avoid leaving large amounts on exchanges.
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