CoinMarketLabAny list of "best coins to buy" is out of date within weeks and ignores your situation. A framework lasts longer. Here is the one we see disciplined allocators use.
1. Start with the role of the position
Is it a core holding you plan to keep for years, a thematic bet on a narrative, or a short trade? The role sets size, time horizon and when you are wrong. Most mistakes come from holding a trade as a core position after it goes against you.
2. Narrative
Ask what the asset is a bet on: payments, settlement, AI compute, tokenized assets, consumer apps. A narrative with real usage can run for years. A narrative with only price action fades quickly.
3. Liquidity
Check how much you can sell without moving the price, on which venues, and how deep the book is during stress. Thin liquidity turns a small loss into a big one.
4. Catalysts and unlocks
List dated events: upgrades, listings, ETF decisions, large token unlocks. Good assets can still fall into an unlock cliff. Position size should reflect what is coming.
5. Size by risk, not by conviction
Decide the loss you can accept on the position, and set the size from the distance to your exit. A common rule is to risk a small, fixed share of the portfolio per idea.
6. Write down the exit
Before buying, write what would make you sell: a price level, a broken thesis or a time limit. Review it at fixed intervals.
This is education, not financial advice. Crypto assets are volatile and you can lose everything you invest.