The cryptocurrency market is known for its volatility, and the past few months have been punctuated with plenty of ups and downs. With Bitcoin and other alternative coins plunging in value after the onset of the Omicron variant back in November, then again, just this week in light of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, and remarks made about crypto by Joe Biden in the U.S, some would-be investors are wondering whether it’s really worth tying up their cash in digital assets such as these. But if there’s one thing we know, it’s that Bitcoin and the like have a history of bouncing back like nothing else we’ve seen on the market, and the low prices of late could therefore mean it’s the perfect time to take the leap.
Seasoned investors, meanwhile, have likely held their nerve when it comes to Bitcoin, but some might be questioning whether it’s really the best of the cryptocurrencies to get behind in 2022. Still the largest in the world, there’s no denying its powerful influence over the performance of alt-coins – but it’s far from the only opportunity to make some gains. Diversifying your portfolio can be a powerful way to up-level your long-term results, and some relatively unknown digital assets could be about to grow substantially. Remember, the biggest Bitcoin millionaires are those who invested early – so it’s wise to get to know your options now, before you miss the boat.
If you’re signed up to a trading platform or website already, then there’s no time like the present to make your move. These three alt-coins could be set to grow exponentially in 2022, and are the top players to keep your eye on.
Ethereum (ETH)
Perhaps the most obvious inclusion, Ethereum’s Ether has already shown us its potential by putting on a stellar performance in the second half of last year and growing to its loftiest heights yet. But it’s very likely we haven’t seen even a fraction of the Ethereum blockchain’s full potential yet, and this is what makes it such an exciting prospect for the year ahead.
The second largest cryptocurrency in terms of market capitalisation, the coin alone is performing well – but the blockchain offers a wide range of applications based on exchange automation, allowing two parties to trade with low transaction latency and optimal security. It is already also being used for authentication purposes by luxury brands – and the full extent of its applications is only just beginning to unfold.
According to industry experts, Ether could be set to break the $10,000 barrier by the end of 2022 as Ethereum’s full range of uses becomes clear.
Stellar (XLM)
This still relatively unknown cryptocurrency might at first seem like a bit of a wild card – but it is thought that Stellar could have the potential to take the place of Ripple one day.
The Stellar blockchain’s cryptocurrency is called the lumen – a token that trades under the symbol XLM. Its primary focus is on developing economies in the arrears of remittance and bank loans, and offers its network for free. Its blockchain is known within the crypto community because of its high processing speeds and ability to reduce the verification time for transactions and smart contract executions, so there’s no denying that it comes with huge potential, and is undoubtedly one to watch – or invest in early – this year.
Cardano (ADA)
The Cardano network, with its ADA coin, launched in 2017 and went into direct competition with the Ethereum blockchain, quickly putting it on the map for the savviest of crypto investors. Today, it is one of the fastest growing blockchain platforms, and the scientific and methodological approach of its developers continues to serve it well, with the World Economic Forum considering it one of the most scalable blockchains currently in existence.
This has, understandably, made Ethereum’s developers uncomfortable, and with ADA’s value increasing by eleven times over in 2021, it’s looking like a promising prospect for 2022. With a huge amount of cryptography and engineering research going on behind the scenes, it’s a great pick not just for longer-term investments, but for shorter-term punts, too.
The bottom line
The start of the year may have been a tumultuous one, but looking at the bigger picture, the crypto market is still going strong, and with a number of exciting opportunities available to investors, it could be one of the most exciting years for the market yet. As with all investment types, cryptocurrencies come with their risks, and volatility is to be expected – but if you’re looking for a new alt-coin to get behind in 2022, then these are the ones to keep an eye on.
Disclaimer: Investing money carries risk, do so at your own risk and we advise people to never invest more money than they can afford to lose and to seek professional advice before doing so.
