December 5, 2025

Crypto Portfolio: Which Assets to Include and Why

Many beginners mistakenly believe that a crypto portfolio is just a collection of whatever coins are trending on Twitter. That approach is a fast track to losing money. Investing is more like strategy in an online game: you need a balanced team with a "tank" for defense, a "mage" for tech, and fast "fighters" for gains.

Forget the boring lectures. Here is a simple guide on how to assemble your first proper crypto squad, not just a crowd of useless assets.

How to Tell a "Hero" from "Junk"?

Before investing a single dime, ask yourself 4 questions about the coin:

  1. What does it actually do? Does it have real technology, or is it just "another coin for fast payments"?
  2. Who built it? Are they anonymous geeks with anime avatars or public developers with a reputation?
  3. Is anyone else invested? If the project's market cap is tiny, its price could crash to zero just because one trader sneezed.
  4. Does anyone actually need it? Is it used for anything other than speculation?

This is a basic filter that will weed out 90% of the scams and help you find the best crypto projects for investment.

Assembling the Team: Roles in Your Portfolio

There is no perfect list of top cryptocurrencies for investment. But there are proven "heroes" that form the backbone of most sensible portfolios.

1. THE TANK: Bitcoin (BTC)

  • Role: A heavy, slow, but incredibly reliable tank. It takes the hits when the market panics. This is digital gold, your main defensive asset. If your portfolio is a house, Bitcoin is the foundation.
  • Why him? Limited supply, maximum recognition, highest security.

2. THE MAGE: Ethereum (ETH)

  • Role: A battle mage who holds together all the magic of the crypto world (DeFi, NFTs, smart contracts). He’s not as armored as Bitcoin, but his spells change the rules of the game.
  • Why him? A gigantic ecosystem with thousands of other projects built on top of it. As long as DeFi and NFTs are alive, ETH is alive and in demand.

3. THE SUPPLY OFFICER: Binance Coin (BNB)

  • Role: A utility character who buffs the whole team (if you're on his turf). He "feeds" off the largest exchange, Binance, offering fee discounts and access to new projects.
  • Why him? His utility is direct and obvious to millions of users. As long as Binance is alive, BNB is alive.

4. THE ASSASSIN: Solana (SOL)

  • Role: A fast and bold killer. Processes thousands of transactions per second for pennies. Ideal for quick attacks (DeFi, gaming).
  • Why him? One of the main "Ethereum killers," attracting tons of projects with its speed. High risk, but a very promising fighter.

5. THE DIPLOMAT: Polkadot (DOT)

  • Role: A diplomat who teaches different blockchains to talk to each other. A bet on a future where there isn't one winner, but many interacting networks.
  • Why him? The idea of an "internet of blockchains" is a major trend. Polkadot is one of the leaders in this race.

What About Fast Trades? (Best Cryptocurrencies for Trading)

If you don't want to invest for the long haul but want to speculate actively, you need different heroes—more volatile, but with good liquidity.

  • Ripple (XRP), Cardano (ADA), Chainlink (LINK), Litecoin (LTC) — these are second-tier fighters. They have their own history, fan base, and constant price swings that you can try to profit from. But remember: the higher the potential profit, the higher the risk.

How Not to Wipe Out in One Battle? (Portfolio Assembly)

  1. Diversify! Don't bet everything on one hero, even if it's the mighty Bitcoin. Allocate funds: 50-60% to the "tank" and "mage," 20-30% to other major fighters, and no more than 10% to risky young projects.
  2. Know your goal. Are you here for a year? Five years? Or a couple of weeks? Your choice of heroes depends on this.
  3. Don't fall in love with your coins. If a project stops developing or bad news comes out, ruthlessly kick it out of the squad.

Conclusion

An optimal crypto portfolio isn't a random bag of coins; it's a balanced team where every fighter plays a role. Start with reliable "tanks" and "mages," and then experiment with riskier characters. And remember: an investor's main skill isn't finding "moonshots," it's not losing money.

FAQ for Those in a Hurry

Q: Which coins are best for the long term?
A: Those with strong fundamentals and real-world application. Usually, this means Bitcoin and Ethereum.

Q: How often should I change my portfolio composition?
A: Once a quarter or every six months, do a "rebalance": sell some of what has grown significantly and buy more of what has dipped to maintain your original proportions.

Q: Can I throw a meme coin into my portfolio?
A: You can, but only with an amount you're willing to burn in a fireplace for laughs. That's not an investment; it's a lottery ticket.

This material is for informational purposes only. Please evaluate the risks independently before investing.

An expert-driven blog by Sergey Smotrov — a leading voice in crypto and investment, and CEO of Coinrate. Join our community — follow us on social media for exclusive updates.