On many threads in this forum, I read that adoption is the key to longterm success.
Adoption happens when users
outside this forum and the short-term altcoin exchange speculators are actively engaged in the community, using and spending the coins.
Our current best (only?) method of measuring adoption is Congecko's ranking by community size and engagement:
Coingecko community rankingThe ranking may surprise you, and I believe point us in the direction of the coins worthy of longterm investment.
We would all expect these three to be on top, and they are.
#1 Bitcoin
#2 Dogecoin
#3 Litecoin
What about the rest, I will list just a few, the most recently perceived giants and two coins I believe can be giant killers in terms of adoption. You can see them all on Coingecko.
#5 AppleByte
#11 Dash
#12 NXT
#21 MaidSafe
#41 Hyper
#49 Unobtanium
#73 NEM
#169 Guldencoin ** a postive exception, see below
In terms of the only thing that counts longterm, I see two coins that I think are potential giant killers. I don't mean in total market cap, but in terms of real adoption, and therefore longterm price appreciation.
AppleByte, the crypto supporting the arts - which currently has a social media following of 68,000+, tipping apps that have already been used to support over 700 working artists (not just for posting "to da moon"), a music site that accepts payment in AppleByte, and most importantly has provided artists with a place to spend AppleBytes from day one, which can be seen on their forum.
Guldencoin - The coin used in the Netherlands, has 88 local merchants in the Netherlands accepting Gulden and the Nocks.nl website allowing any merchant that accepts bitcoin to accept pay in Guldencoin, which provides a place for real users to spend the coins. The social media will never be as large as other coins used around the world, but they are building real adoption.
I discount Dash & NXT, because I believe there is too much competition, and more coming for the supposed Bitcoin "replacements".
So that, gentlemen/ladies is where I am placing my longterm bets. Comments?