I noticed that in crypto this year, people are no longer seeking excitement — everyone is thinking about how to invest in cryptocurrencies without losing what they already have. But the market has become more complex, and there are no more universal schemes. It’s especially hard for beginners who are just starting to understand digital assets.

Before choosing specific coins, you need a strategy. That’s the most important thing. Discipline works better than chasing after a miracle coin. Here are basic rules that make sense: keep most of your portfolio in stable assets, buy regularly in small amounts (this is called DCA), invest only what you can afford to lose, store your assets in hardware wallets, and forget about promises of guaranteed profits. Emotions are enemy number one. It’s better to enter the market gradually, with equal parts at regular intervals. Most beginners lose money when they try to make quick profits.

Regarding specific assets — the initial portfolio should consist of Bitcoin and Ethereum. This is logical and safe. The ratio depends on how much risk you’re willing to take: more Bitcoin — more conservative, more Ethereum — higher potential but also higher volatility. Last year, 91% of altcoins fell, half of them by 50-70%. Even professionals struggle to beat the market, and for a beginner, it’s almost impossible.

You can allocate 70-80% of your portfolio to Bitcoin and Ethereum. These are the core assets that support the entire market. The rest should be distributed among major projects from the top 20 by market cap. Solana, Polkadot, BNB — these are understandable projects with real utility. If you want to diversify without guessing, you can split altcoins like this: half in the top 3, 40% in projects ranked 4 to 10, and 10% in the remaining top 20. Meme coins and dubious projects are not needed for beginners.

For those who want to minimize risk, there’s a simple scheme: main asset — Bitcoin, stable part — USDT. This makes it easier to withstand downturns and make decisions without panic. USDT is very versatile — it reduces risks and provides flexibility for maneuvers.

There’s also a promising direction — Perpetual DEX. These are decentralized platforms for trading derivatives, where everything is on the blockchain and you retain control over your funds. Hyperliquid, Lighter, Aster, and others are growing due to demand for on-chain solutions. But this is more complex; beginners should consider it only as a small part of their portfolio if they understand the risks at all.

In summary: which cryptocurrency should a beginner invest in? Start with Bitcoin and Ethereum, add USDT for stability, then large altcoins from the top 20. No rush, no FOMO. Discipline, gradual purchases, realistic expectations — these work better than any advice about a specific coin. On Gate, you can track all these assets and see real charts. The question of which cryptocurrency to invest in is not about choosing the right coin, but about following the right strategy. Pick your own and stick to it.