Unlock Your Crypto Future: 3 Top Cryptocurrencies to Hold for Decades with Just $500

If you have $500 to invest in cryptocurrencies, it can be overwhelming to know where to begin. Before diving into specific coins, consider how these high-risk assets fit into your overall portfolio. The key is to allocate only a small percentage to crypto, balancing it with less-risky assets like stocks and bonds.

Once you've established your strategy, focus on cryptocurrencies that are relatively established and offer real-world utility—these are more likely to survive and thrive in the long term.

Here are three top picks to consider for your portfolio.

1. Bitcoin

When I first started investing in cryptocurrencies, I was often frustrated by lists that always started with Bitcoin. As the biggest and best-known crypto, it seemed too obvious, and I was drawn to under-the-radar projects with moon-shot potential. However, over time, I've witnessed prices plummet and many of those lesser-known projects collapse entirely.

Historical data shows that Bitcoin is one of the best choices for long-term investors. While it remains volatile, it has consistently erased losses and reached new highs. If you're going to hold just one cryptocurrency, make it Bitcoin or Ethereum.

Bitcoin has the potential to serve as the backbone of the on-chain economy. It's already attracting increased institutional and corporate investment, with some governments adding it to their reserves. Additionally, Bitcoin may emerge as a form of digital gold—a safe asset that could hedge against inflation. Though it hasn't fully proven itself in this role yet, its continued maturation could change that.

2. Ethereum

Ethereum is the second-largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization. It pioneered smart contracts, which make cryptocurrencies programmable. These contracts allow developers to build other cryptocurrencies, stablecoins, non-fungible tokens (NFTs), and a wide range of decentralized applications on Ethereum's ecosystem.

Critics often point to Ethereum's high fees and relatively slow transaction times. Despite this, Ethereum maintains a dominant position in decentralized finance (DeFi). According to DefiLlama, nearly 60%—over $70 billion—of funds in on-chain applications are on the Ethereum network. While some are turning to faster, lower-cost alternatives like Solana, reliability remains crucial when handling people's money.

This year, blockchain technology has taken significant steps toward mainstream integration, particularly in real-world asset tokenization, such as stablecoins. If companies use public blockchains for these projects, Ethereum and Solana are both strong contenders. This could drive growth in the coming decades.

With a new legal framework for stablecoins in the U.S., Citi predicts issuance could grow from about $280 billion today to as high as $4 trillion by 2030. Broader tokenization of assets like equities, bonds, and real estate is also expected to soar in 2026 and beyond.

3. Chainlink

If you're looking for a lesser-known cryptocurrency with high potential, Chainlink should be on your radar. Chainlink is an oracle crypto, feeding data from other blockchains and the real world into decentralized workflows. As I mentioned earlier, smart contracts are tiny pieces of decentralized blockchain code that require accurate data to function.

For example, imagine a farmer using a decentralized insurance contract that pays out under specific weather conditions damaging crops. The contract relies on an oracle to trigger the payment when those conditions are met. Similarly, if tokenized versions of stocks are traded, a reliable on-chain source of pricing data is essential.

Chainlink has fallen 40% over the past year, but it has secured partnerships with major financial institutions, blockchains, and even the U.S. government. This cryptocurrency could underpin many blockchain technology applications, giving it strong growth potential.

Consider Crypto ETFs

Many new crypto investors are hesitant because they think they need to open an account with a cryptocurrency exchange and find a safe storage solution. Crypto ETFs eliminate this worry, as you can buy them through your brokerage account. The fund handles custody, and these ETFs are protected against brokerage failure by SIPC insurance.

Spot Bitcoin ETFs launched in early 2024, followed by Ethereum ETFs that summer. Since then, they've attracted over $100 billion in funds. The first Chainlink ETF has just launched, meaning you can access all these cryptocurrencies in ETF form. They are also available on top cryptocurrency exchanges if you prefer that route.