With interest in crypto at a low point, this might be the ideal time to buy in (via DCA?) for the long term. In this opinion piece, I discuss three of my favorite coins that I have high expectations for: Ethereum, Bitcoin, and Mina.

1. Ethereum (ETH)

Ethereum is my first choice because of its versatility and the strong foundation it provides for decentralized applications (dApps). Since its inception in 2015, the platform has proven to be a reliable and innovative ecosystem. Ethereum's smart contracts form the basis for countless projects, including decentralized finance (DeFi) platforms and non-fungible tokens (NFT's). With all the activity on Ethereum and its second layers, this ecosystem is miles ahead of its competitors.

With the recent switch to a Proof of Stake consensus mechanism, the development team has demonstrated their commitment to continually improving the network. This upgrade could significantly reduce transaction costs (in the long term) and the environmental impact of mining, making Ethereum even more attractive to both investors and developers. An update expected later this year aims to enable Ethereum to handle a multitude of transactions. The currently high fees that hinder mass adoption should become a thing of the past.

2. Bitcoin (BTC)

Bitcoin, the first and most well-known cryptocurrency, remains one of my favorites due to its proven value storage and growing acceptance as a means of payment. Although there are concerns about the environmental effects of the proof-of-work (PoW) consensus mechanism, Bitcoin remains a solid investment due to its scarcity and the fact that it is often seen as a 'digital version of gold.' With new laws and regulations, the importance of true decentralization decentralization, such as with Bitcoin, is becoming increasingly important.

Institutional adoption of Bitcoin and the growing interest from major companies like Tesla and MicroStrategy also bolster confidence in the coin. Furthermore, recent developments like the  Lightning Network are making Bitcoin more scalable and user-friendly for everyday transactions. I personally run a Lightning node and closely follow the developments. However, an important caveat here is that, in my opinion, the Lightning network is very complex, which does not benefit the understandability (and according to many, the decentralization) of the system. The user, in the end, does not necessarily have to notice this.

3. Mina (MINA)

Mina, a relatively new player in the crypto world, has piqued my interest due to its unique approach to blockchain technology. Mina's biggest selling point is the fixed size of the blockchain, which is only 22 kB. This allows anyone with a smartphone to participate in the network and help validate transactions.

Thanks to the use of zk-SNARKs, a technology that allows (through zero-knowledge proofs) transactions to be verified without the need to download the entire blockchain, Mina can offer a high degree of decentralization and privacy. This makes the project promising, and it could become a strong competitor to established blockchains in terms of scalability and accessibility.

Conclusion

Ethereum, Bitcoin, and Mina represent three promising cryptocurrencies with diverse features and applications. Ethereum and Bitcoin have already proven to be solid investments, while Mina is an interesting newcomer with innovative technology. Although there are always risks associated with investing in cryptocurrencies, I believe these three coins have a good chance of creating long-term value for their users and investors.

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