Top Crypto Investment Picks from Global KOLs (Excluding BTC & ETH)

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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 looking beyond these giants — and even excluding other popular assets like Solana (SOL), stablecoins, or hype-driven memecoins?

In a recent poll on X, renowned crypto influencer @Cobie posed a compelling question: “If you had to invest in a liquid, non-speculative cryptocurrency for a 3–5 year horizon — and couldn’t choose BTC, ETH, SOL, HYPE, or stablecoins — what would you pick, and why?”

The response was overwhelming. Top-tier KOLs, traders, and venture capitalists weighed in with thoughtful, strategic picks that reveal deeper trends in the evolving blockchain landscape. From privacy coins to real-world asset (RWA) infrastructure and Layer 2 innovation, here’s a curated breakdown of their top recommendations.

🔍 Core Keywords

These keywords reflect the underlying themes shaping the next phase of blockchain adoption — scalability, privacy, institutional integration, and user-centric design.

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

One of the most grounded picks came from Jesse Powell, founder of Base, who advocated for Coinbase ($COIN) — not a native crypto token, but a publicly traded company at the heart of the U.S. crypto ecosystem.

His reasoning?

  1. Diverse product suite: From custody and staking to exchange and wallet services, Coinbase has built a scalable, compliant infrastructure trusted by institutions and retail users alike.
  2. Execution excellence: Among all teams operating at the intersection of crypto and traditional finance, Coinbase stands out for its vision and ability to deliver under regulatory pressure.

While not a crypto asset per se, $COIN represents exposure to the broader adoption curve — making it a hedge against volatility while still benefiting from crypto growth.

👉 Discover the future of regulated digital asset platforms here.

Ansem (Crypto KOL): Worldcoin ($WLD)

Ansem’s choice reflects growing concerns about artificial intelligence and digital identity. He backs Worldcoin ($WLD) as a long-term bet on proof-of-personhood in the post-AGI (Artificial General Intelligence) era.

With OpenAI advancing rapidly, the need for verifiable human identity online will become critical. WLD’s iris-scanning Orb technology aims to create a global, privacy-preserving identity layer that distinguishes humans from AI bots.

This isn’t just about crypto — it’s about digital sovereignty. If governments or big tech deploy mass surveillance systems, decentralized identity tools like WLD could become essential infrastructure.

As AI-generated content floods the internet, proving you’re human may soon be more valuable than holding digital gold.

Qw (AllianceDAO Founder): Tokens with Strong Future Revenue

Qw cuts through the noise with a blunt thesis:

“Only tokens with strong (future) revenue trading at reasonable multiples make sense over 3–5 years. Everything else will go to zero.”

He argues that speculative premiums outside of Bitcoin are fading. The future belongs to protocols that generate real cash flow — whether through transaction fees, data services, or enterprise adoption.

This shift marks the maturation of Web3: no more hype cycles, just sustainable business models.

Investors should focus on projects with clear monetization paths, low dilution, and growing demand for their core utility.

Auri (Trader): Starknet ($STRK)

For those bullish on Ethereum’s scalability roadmap, Starknet ($STRK) emerges as a compelling Layer 2 play.

Auri highlights three key advantages:

Starknet also has multiple paths to success:

  1. Becoming a general-purpose L2
  2. Powering Bitcoin L2s via trustless settlement
  3. Serving as backend infrastructure for other chains

Even one of these outcomes could multiply its value several times over.

👉 Explore next-gen blockchain scaling solutions now.

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

Mert goes two directions — one tied to Solana’s success, the other to a privacy resurgence.

Jito ($JTO): As a liquid staking derivative (LSD) leader on Solana, JTO captures value from validator rewards and MEV (Maximal Extractable Value). If SOL remains dominant in DeFi and NFTs over the next five years, JTO is positioned to benefit directly.

Zcash ($ZEC): Often overlooked, Zcash is undergoing a technical renaissance under a new research lab structure. With strong zero-knowledge cryptography and renewed development momentum, privacy coins may see a comeback — especially as regulatory scrutiny increases and users demand financial confidentiality.

Privacy isn’t dead — it’s just gone underground.

Alex Svanevik (Nansen Founder): Diversified L1 Portfolio

Rather than betting on one chain, Svanevik advocates for diversification across Layer 1s.

His portfolio includes:

Combined with BTC, ETH, HYPE, SOL, this creates a 9-chain mix covering high-throughput networks, enterprise adoption, and emerging ecosystems.

All assets are staked, generating an estimated 4.5% annual yield — blending capital appreciation with passive income.

This approach reduces single-chain risk while capturing upside across multiple technological paradigms.

Fishy Catfish (KOL): Chainlink ($LINK)

Chainlink remains a powerhouse in decentralized oracle networks — and Fishy Catfish believes its dominance is only accelerating.

Key strengths:

Critically, Chainlink is shifting value capture from blockchains to applications — capturing MEV from oracle-triggered liquidations alongside Aave.

As institutions enter crypto, trust-minimized data and compliance tools will be indispensable.

Murad (KOL): $SPX – The Movement Coin

$SPX stands apart as a cultural phenomenon disguised as a meme coin.

Murad describes it as:

“A financial-spiritual movement targeting Gen Z’s economic disenfranchisement — like BTC for gold, but louder.”

It channels frustration into digital ownership, creating a sense of belonging amid job insecurity and societal fragmentation. Unlike most memecoins, $SPX claims a mission: democratizing access to capital and meaning.

While high-risk, its community energy mirrors early Bitcoin or Dogecoin rallies — driven by narrative as much as technology.

Awawat (APG Capital Trader): BNB, LEO, AAVE, MKR, XMR

Awawat takes a conservative stance:

He warns: Many altcoins will go to zero in this cycle. Only those with real usage or strong balance sheets will endure.

W3Q (KOL): $HOOD & $TSLA

Thinking beyond pure crypto, W3Q favors:

Both offer indirect exposure to crypto adoption — Robinhood via its expanding crypto features, Tesla via Musk’s historical influence on market sentiment.

Also considered: leveraged Bitcoin ETFs during market bottoms.

Vance Spencer (Framework Ventures): $SKY

Spencer highlights $SKY, noting it's not yet listed on any centralized exchange — a sign of early-stage potential. Details are scarce, but the mention from a respected VC suggests strategic interest in under-the-radar protocols with strong fundamentals.

Arthur (DeFiance Capital): AAVE, ENA, PENDLE, JUP

Arthur spreads bets across:

These represent yield optimization, synthetic assets, and cross-market efficiency — key themes in next-gen DeFi.

FAQ Section

Q: Why avoid hype-driven coins for long-term investing?
A: Most memecoins lack utility or revenue models. Over 3–5 years, only projects with real adoption and cash flows tend to survive.

Q: Is investing in Coinbase stock instead of crypto contradictory?
A: Not necessarily. $COIN offers regulated exposure to crypto growth without direct custody risks — ideal for risk-aware investors.

Q: Can privacy coins like Zcash or Monero rebound?
A: Yes. As surveillance grows, demand for financial privacy increases. Regulatory clarity could unlock institutional interest.

Q: What makes Chainlink different from other oracle networks?
A: Proven track record, enterprise partnerships, and advanced features like DECO and CCIP give it a multi-year lead.

Q: Should I diversify across multiple L1s?
A: Diversification reduces risk. Different chains excel in different areas — security (Bitcoin), smart contracts (Ethereum), speed (SUI), or scalability (BNB).

Q: Are Layer 2s like Starknet safer than new L1s?
A: Generally yes. L2s inherit Ethereum’s security while innovating on speed and cost — reducing technical and economic risk.

👉 Start building your future-proof crypto portfolio today.