After months of volatility and uncertainty within the crypto market, it is time to get again to the fundamentals. As an alternative of chasing losses or doubling down on underperforming investments, it is time to give attention to the best-in-class cryptocurrencies able to powering your portfolio to a successful yr in 2025.
With that in thoughts, here is a listing of 5 cryptocurrencies you possibly can safely offload as you spring clear your portfolio.
Dogecoin and Shiba Inu
Let’s begin with any speculative meme coin investments you would possibly nonetheless have in your portfolio, comparable to Dogecoin (DOGE 3.54%) and Shiba Inu (SHIB 1.96%). Even after an enormous meme coin rally over the previous 30 days, these two cryptocurrencies are nonetheless down large for the yr. Dogecoin is down 25%, whereas Shiba Inu is down 22%.
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Many buyers could bear in mind these two meme cash as standout performers from the final crypto bull market rally of 2020-21. In consequence, buyers won’t be prepared to half with them fairly but, satisfied they’ll rebound “any day now.”
However that may be a mistake. Dogecoin is down 68% from an all-time excessive in Could 2021, and Shiba Inu is down 82% from an all-time excessive in October 2021. These cash, I am sorry to say, should not coming again.
Do not take it from me, take it from Cathie Wooden of Ark Make investments. Whereas she’s nonetheless remarkably bullish on best-in-class cryptocurrencies comparable to Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC), she has all however thrown within the towel on meme cash. In March, she particularly instructed that each one however just a few of them will grow to be nugatory. Those that do survive, she says, will turn out to be digital collectors’ gadgets, however not critical investments.
Cardano and Avalanche
The highest participant within the Layer 1 blockchain market continues to be Ethereum (CRYPTO: ETH), in order that’s not a crypto I would offload, particularly after its spectacular 57% rally over the previous 30 days. However there are greater than a dozen Layer 1 blockchains trying to turn out to be “the following Ethereum,” and there is most likely solely room for certainly one of these — max — in your portfolio.
That is why all of the second-tier Ethereum rivals, together with the likes of Cardano (ADA 2.43%) and Avalanche (AVAX 4.70%), are on my spring cleansing record. The Layer 1 blockchain market is simply too crowded. It is essential to give attention to the Layer 1 blockchain networks with the perfect possibilities to unseat Ethereum because the market chief.
For me, the clear chief is Solana (SOL 3.81%), which has a $90 billion market cap. That is 3x the scale of Cardano, and 10x the scale of Avalanche.
Solana additionally seems to be a frontrunner now for a brand new spot ETF, and that would lead to a flood of latest investor cash pouring in quickly. By the use of comparability, neither Cardano nor Avalanche is a first-rate candidate to get a brand new spot ETF anytime quickly.
Perhaps that is oversimplifying issues, however: no spot ETF, no mainstream adoption. Sure, some retail buyers could proceed shopping for Cardano and Avalanche, however the large institutional buyers will not. In consequence, the upside potential of those two cryptos is restricted at greatest, and it is best to dump them.
Litecoin
Lastly, there’s Litecoin (LTC -0.24%). It may appear exhausting to imagine, however at one level this yr, Litecoin was one of many best-performing cryptocurrencies of 2025. In January, Litecoin rallied on a Bloomberg report that it was going to be the following cryptocurrency to get a spot ETF.
That hasn’t occurred, and Litecoin has fizzled away. It is now flat for the yr, even with a 34% rally over the previous 30 days. That is a disgrace, as a result of Litecoin is without doubt one of the oldest cryptocurrencies, relationship again to 2011. Since it is a proof-of-work crypto, similar to Bitcoin, it has dramatically decrease regulatory danger than different cash.
That being stated, Litecoin continues to be a market underachiever. Its most up-to-date halving occasion, which happened in August 2023, turned out to be a nothing burger. At $100, Litecoin’s worth is a whopping 75% beneath its all-time excessive of $413 from Could 2021. There are much better cash you possibly can maintain in your portfolio, particularly in the event you’re targeted on long-term upside potential.
Promote in Could and go away
On Wall Road, there’s an outdated adage: “Promote in Could, and go away.” You’ll be able to apply this similar mindset to the crypto market. Promote all of your underachieving crypto investments in Could, and give attention to all of the best-in-class names as an alternative, so that you’re positioned for a unbelievable second half of the yr.
For me, this implies holding onto Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana, whereas offloading speculative meme cash comparable to Dogecoin and Shiba Inu; second-tier Ethereum challengers comparable to Cardano and Avalanche; and underperforming laggards comparable to Litecoin.
