There are some variables around the Cardano project that will benefit it´s preference among other ecosystems in the near future. This turns it´s native token ADA into a great future investment. Some of this variables are:

The Enviromental Impact

As the climate emergency continues to rise, more and more governments take the matter more seriously. Maybe because of the economic impact, the international image or because of treaties and comittments between countries. The blockchain project sure has made a great impact and built trillions of dollars, but the general public´s opinion has yet to be conquered. Only 10% of people on average own crypto. The highest approval rating among the population of a country is 62% in Turkey. In western hegemonic economic powers the approval of cryptocurrencies reaches a 31% in the US, 16% in Belgium, 20% in Germany and 24% in the UK (ING, 2019). 

As democratic countries tend to adopt decisions by following what the majority wants to adquire more votes in the next election, crypto is in a relatively acute position. Some countries could ban PoW because of it´s impact on the enviroment. Climate change is becoming a bigger and bigger electoral field, and candidates and parties increasingly take more interest on pleasing such views. For example New York is seeking to ban the proof of work protocol because of energy consumption. 

In this area, Cardano is in a strong position. Is one of the most efficient protocols energywise, only using 6 GWh annualy, not even a 0.1% of what Bitcoin uses (110 TWh/year). Cardano consume is similar to 800 US households, Bitcoin consumes approximately the same energy as Malasya and Ethereum (45TWh/year) the same as Serbia for example (Leisling, 2021; Forbes, 2021; BBC, 2021). A great thing about Cardano is that it doesn´t just focus on ecologic insterests. Other ecologic projects such as SolarCoin and BitGreen exists just for this matter, but Cardano manages to be enviroment friendly while offering a revolutionary, powerfull and versatile project at the same time. 

Peer-reviewed blockchain

Cardano combines two spaces for governance and roadmap decision making. The fact that Cardano it´s not entirely based on direct governance and that a solid group of scientists are reviewing the project has certain advantages. The rigour that the project endures helps to reduce the quantity of mistakes and errors that the hard forks can create. Another enviroments such as Ethereum prioritize agile upgrades over assured ones. Cardano has a very radical approach in this sense, in my opinion it will provide a more balanced and matured progress for the network. Other blockchain applications that rely on the public´s opinion, the market drive or on thounsands of token holders can have a dificult time creating a long-term view and to take coordinated decisions. 

Cardano´s investments

The project is moving funds and creating oportunities in the developing countries, specially in Africa. Besides of the ethical and humanitarian advantages, this has great financial interest. While most cryptocoins are trying to push their projects in developed countries, Cardano is interested in the developing ones. Trying to substitute the dollar, the euro, the pound or the yen is incredibly difficult. The developed world has a very solid and settled financial system. But countries in Africa, South America or Southwest Asia have yet a long way to run financially. As a metaphor, building projects in the western world is like opening a shop in the middle of New York or Paris. Bringing the blockchain to Africa is like constructing a railroad in the middle of the countryside. Of course a shop in New York has access to way more money. The thing here, is that we know that Africa will be subject of a great economic rise during this century. 

Of course, crypto are decentralized and international; so basically all projects are everywhere. What I´m talking about here is the long-term intentions and directions. 

In conclussion, I think the best thing about Cardano, and what makes it a great long term investment is that it has a sense. It has a direction and a roadmap, is decentralized but at the same time has a very strong leadership. All of this combined with a very technologically powerfull system sure will bring interest in the project.