Hello Crypto Bros!
This has been one of the most intriguing crypto bull cycles in 2024. We kicked things off with Bitcoin making a massive rally, thanks to the buzz around BlackRock’s Bitcoin ETF, the major halving event, and various geopolitical factors fueling the momentum. What really caught my attention in this cycle, though, was how altcoins didn’t follow Bitcoin as they usually do.
In past bull markets, when Bitcoin rallied, almost every altcoin would follow suit, giving rise to the saying, "A rising tide lifts all ships." In those markets, it was easy to make money. Throw a dart at a coin, and chances are it would go up. But this time, things were different. Bitcoin surged hard, outperforming most altcoins, with only a select few making new all-time highs. Many altcoins, even legacy coins in the top 10-20 market cap range, lagged behind.
As someone who closely watches these top coins for both their liquidity and strong use cases, I’ve noticed that while some projects have real, long-term value, others haven’t kept pace with Bitcoin’s explosive growth. Crypto, as you know, is still a speculative and rapidly evolving space. Personally, I focus on projects with solid fundamentals and a forward-looking use case that can shape the industry.
One of the most surprising trends this year has been the rise of meme coins like PEPE and Dog WIF HAT, which outperformed some of the biggest names in the market by 10x or more. It's been a strange but fascinating ride.
Now, Bitcoin has been ranging between $50k and $68k throughout the year, and it’s starting to look like a big accumulation bull flag might be forming. As a crypto veteran, I’ve been monitoring several projects to see where the best returns might come from. Sure, Bitcoin is the safer play, but for me to get a 4x return, Bitcoin would need to reach $200k. While that’s possible, I’m not sure when or how easily it could get there.
That’s why I keep my eyes on altcoins. They tend to be more volatile. When Bitcoin moves up 5%, altcoins can jump 20%. But the reverse is also true—they drop harder when Bitcoin dips. So, with volatility in mind, I’ve been watching a few key coins that I believe are in a great position for significant gains.
Check out the projects I’m researching, along with my chart analysis and reasoning for why I think they have excellent risk/reward potential.
Disclaimer: Before we dive into the details, remember that cryptocurrency is extremely volatile and risky. Only invest what you can afford to lose, and be prepared to hold through periods of market fluctuation. This is not for the faint of heart.
Now, here are my top three picks for long-term holds. These are projects I’m actively buying, and I’m willing to add more to my position if prices drop further.
Polkadot (DOT)
Polkadot has been a standout project since its inception. Often dubbed the "Ethereum killer," it’s seen its market cap reach $50 billion twice. It’s one of the legacy coins that have been around almost as long as Ethereum and Litecoin. What sets Polkadot apart for me are its key features:
- Ethereum-like functionality: It allows other projects to build on its blockchain, similar to Ethereum but with faster transaction speeds.
- Staking rewards: You can stake DOT and earn a 10% return through a cold wallet like Ledger.
- Price Action: Polkadot hit a high of $50 twice in the past but recently tested the $3.75 support level, which aligns with its historical lows from 2020 and 2023. We’re now seeing it hold above $4.10.
From a technical perspective, this project has a lot of room to grow, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see it 10x in value over the long term. If you’re looking for a conservative entry, a stop-limit order below $3.50 could limit your risk to $1 per coin, while the upside could take DOT back to $35 or even $50.
Uniswap (UNI)
Uniswap is another favorite of mine. As a decentralized exchange (DEX), it eliminates the need for centralized exchanges. The only downside is that it’s an Ethereum-based project, meaning it only supports ERC-20 tokens. However, given that most altcoins are built on Ethereum, this isn’t a major drawback.
- Why UNI is compelling: Uniswap allows users to swap tokens without needing to go through traditional exchanges, making it a go-to for crypto whales who want to avoid KYC procedures.
- Current Price: UNI’s all-time high was $45, but we’re now hovering around $6.75. It tested a weekly support level at $4.68 perfectly and is currently facing resistance around $7.22.
This coin has been in a range between $2.50 and $7.22 since May 2022, but long-term, I see this as a strong accumulation zone. If you’re looking to define your risk, a stop under $3.31 might be a good idea. Given the massive volume Uniswap handles, I believe UNI will become even more critical as the crypto space grows.
Rune (RUNE)
Rune is perhaps my most profitable coin to date. Like Uniswap, it powers a DEX, but what makes Rune unique is that it supports cross-chain swaps. While Uniswap is limited to Ethereum based tokens, Rune’s Thorchain allows you to swap assets like Bitcoin for Ethereum or Polkadot for Binance-based tokens.
- Game-Changing Cross-Chain Swaps: This capability is groundbreaking in the crypto space, making Rune a project with immense future potential.
- Limited Supply: Rune has a limited supply, and as more people use Thorchain for decentralized swaps, demand for Rune will drive its price up.
From a technical standpoint, Rune is currently in a very attractive range, between $2.50 and $4. I’ve been accumulating here and would happily continue to buy if it drops further. It takes 1 million Rune to run a node, and with less than 40 nodes in total, this creates additional scarcity for the token.
Final Thoughts
These are the three projects I’m eyeing, and I’m willing to hold them for the long term. As always, do your own research and never invest more than you can afford to lose. But if you’re looking for solid, long-term plays with the potential for massive returns, I believe these projects could offer excellent value.
Enjoy the rest of your weekend, and let’s keep conquering these markets!
Cheers,
Ryan Bailey
VICI Trading Solutions
Love it - Nice writeup Bailey!