Whether you’re looking to make some quick cash or earn some serious cryptocurrency, there are plenty of ways to get involved in the world of digital money. However, not all cryptocurrencies are created equal; and it’s easy to get swept up in the hype over flashy and innovative new coins without researching their potential future value. So, if you’re interested in getting involved with cryptocurrency but want to avoid losing your money to an overhyped project that may never succeed, these five cryptocurrencies offer solid returns on investment and real-world use cases that will ensure their longevity and safety from market fluctuations.

1 – Bitcoin (BTC)

Bitcoin is the most popular cryptocurrency and has been around for a while. It’s also the most expensive, so if you’re looking to invest in cryptocurrencies, Bitcoin is a good place to start. The reason Bitcoin is a good investment is because it has established itself as one of the largest cryptocurrencies in the world, being the first as well. If the trend continues and Bitcoin becomes even more mainstream, the price will rise significantly and any initial investments would be worth it. However, investors should be aware that there are many risks associated with investing in Bitcoin, including sudden crashes that can happen at any time.

2 – Ethereum (ETH)

Launched in 2015, Ethereum is a decentralized software platform that enables Smart Contracts and Decentralized Applications (DApps) to be built and run without any downtime, fraud, or interference from a third party. Not only is it used for the majority of crypto transactions today, being one of the industry standards, but Ethereum is also the second-largest cryptocurrency by market cap after Bitcoin, and it was one of the best performing assets in 2020. Fast forward to 2022, and now Ethereum is planning to switch to a more efficient, eco-friendly model - proof of stake, which is a valuable aspect for users of ETH, as well as investors. The benefits this provides could potentially lead it to one day overtake Bitcoin, as it has a similar value/establishment in the market at a cheaper price. In a bear market like this, it would be a good investment to buy ETH low and watch it rise back in value over time.

3 – Ripple (XRP)

Ripple is a unique cryptocurrency in that it’s not just a digital currency, but also a payment network. That means that it has the potential to be used by banks and other financial institutions as a way to transfer money quickly and cheaply. Ripple has already partnered with a number of banks and its popularity is only increasing. If this trend continues, then you can expect this coin to grow substantially in value over time, making it a great value investment with a price not as hefty as Ethereum or Bitcoin.

4 – NEM (XEM)

NEM (New Economy Movement) is a dual-layer blockchain that is both scalable and secure. NEM’s unique consensus mechanism, Proof of Importance, encourages users to actively participate in the network. NEM has a strong community backing and is constantly innovating. In a world with so many cryptocurrencies in a fast changing market, the ones that typically thrive are the ones with actual value in the real world. Unlike meme coins or other coins pumped up by influencers, NEM provides a good contribution to the blockchain itself. This gives it the potential to develop even more in the future as well.

5 – Cardano (ADA)

Cardano is a unique project. It’s the first cryptocurrency to be built on the Haskell programming language, which makes it more secure than other coins. Cardano is also scalable, meaning it can handle more transactions than other cryptocurrencies. That’s important because as cryptocurrency usage increases, so does the need for scalability. Another interesting aspect of Cardano is that its tokens are fully decentralized and not just distributed. The company behind Cardano has less control over their tokens and therefore cannot affect them in any way (something to think about when you're looking at investing). Lastly, the founder of Cardano (Charles Hoskinson) is highly respected in the blockchain community, which lends credence to his work. Overall, this coin seems like a good choice for anyone who's interested in long-term gains.

Conclusion

Overall, all of the above coins are great cryptocurrencies to invest in due to their value and unique traits setting them apart from the masses. These are projects which can be expected to still remain in many years' time, and may even be considered some of the "blue chips" of cryptocurrency. With stable returns in the past, and even during a bear market now, they have potential to grow by loads in the future. While it is important to do your own financial research, these are some of the cryptocurrencies I believe will not disappoint many investors!