Introduction
In a recent thought-provoking tweet, prominent crypto analyst @Cobie posed a critical question to the investment community: "If you had to invest in liquid, non-VC cryptocurrencies for a 3-5 year horizon while excluding BTC, ETH, SOL, or stablecoins - what would you choose and why?" This sparked insightful responses from industry leaders. Below, we've compiled their top recommendations with detailed analysis.
Institutional-Grade Picks
1. Coinbase Stock ($COIN)
Recommended by: Jesse Pollak (Base Lead)
👉 Why institutional investors favor COIN
- Diversified Product Suite: Combines retail exchange, institutional services, and blockchain infrastructure
- Regulatory Compliance Advantage: One of few crypto-native companies with clear regulatory pathways
- Revenue Streams: 42% YoY revenue growth (2023) with $3.1B annualized revenue
"Their execution on Base L2 demonstrates unparalleled chain-native innovation capabilities." - Pollak
2. Worldcoin ($WLD)
Recommended by: Ansem
- AI Hedge: Positions against OpenAI dominance in AI identity space
- Biometric Proof: 2.5M+ users verified via Orb hardware
- Economic Model: 10B token supply with gradual inflation (~3.5% annually)
Infrastructure Plays
3. Starknet ($STRK)
Recommended by: Auri (Crypto Trader)
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| FDV | $1B |
| TPS Capacity | 5,000+ |
| Unique Feature | Native AA Support |
Growth Pathways:
- Dominant Ethereum L2
- Potential Bitcoin L2 solution
- Backend for multi-chain dApps
4. Chainlink ($LINK)
Recommended by: Fishy Catfish
- RWA Leader: Processes 75% of all DeFi oracle calls
- TradFi Bridge: Partnered with SWIFT, DTCC, and major banks
Tech Pipeline:
- CCID (Cross-Chain ID)
- ACE Compliance Engine
- DECO Privacy Tech (Patent #10,936,219)
Ecosystem Tokens
5. Jito ($JTO)
Recommended by: Mert (Helius Labs)
- SOL Ecosystem: Captures 38% of Solana MEV revenue
- Liquid Staking: $500M+ TVL within 6 months of launch
- Fee Structure: 0.5% protocol fee on staking yields
6. Pendle ($PENDLE)
Recommended by: Arthur Cheong
- Yield Trading: $1.2B cumulative volume (2024)
- Tokenomics: 85%+ circulating supply
- APY Arbitrage: Enables fixed-rate DeFi yield positions
Privacy & Alternative Assets
7. Zcash ($ZEC)
Recommended by: Mert
- Tech Upgrade: Expected zk-SNARKs efficiency improvements
- Regulatory Status: Compliant with OFAC regulations
- Market Position: Only privacy asset with Bittrex approval
8. Monero ($XMR)
Recommended by: Awawat
- Untraceable: RingCT technology prevents chain analysis
- Adoption: ~120,000 daily transactions (2x 2023 average)
- Supply: Fully mined - zero inflation
Traditional Crossovers
9. Robinhood ($HOOD)
Recommended by: W3Q
- Crypto Gateway: 18% revenue from crypto (Q1 2024)
- User Growth: 23.4M funded accounts (+15% YoY)
- Product Expansion: Rolling out IRA and lending products
10. SPX Index Token
Recommended by: Murad
- Equities Bridge: Tracks S&P 500 performance
- Tax Efficiency: On-chain settlement avoids capital gains
- Liquidity: $50M+ daily volume across DeFi
FAQ Section
Q: Why exclude Ethereum from recommendations?
A: The exercise sought alternative ideas beyond dominant assets like ETH that already capture significant investor attention.
Q: How should investors evaluate these picks?
A: Consider: 1) Team track record 2) Tokenomics 3) Addressable market size 4) Technical differentiation.
Q: What's the biggest risk with these recommendations?
A: Regulatory changes (especially for privacy coins) and protocol obsolescence in fast-evolving crypto markets.
Q: Why include traditional stocks like TSLA?
A: Crypto-native investors increasingly view Tesla as a tech/AI play with crypto optionality via Elon's influence.
Q: When would these investments mature?
A: Most recommendations target the 2025-2027 timeframe aligned with expected infrastructure completion and adoption milestones.
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Disclaimer: This content represents third-party opinions only. Always conduct your own research before investing.