Solana News Today: Bitcoin Ethereum Solana Top Long-Term Crypto Holdings After Key Upgrades

Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana have emerged as the top three cryptocurrencies to consider for long-term holdings over the next five years, according to recent market analysis and technical developments. These three assets have demonstrated structural improvements, growing institutional adoption, and expanding use cases that position them as strong contenders in the evolving crypto landscape [1].

Bitcoin remains the dominant store of value in the crypto space, driven by its hard-coded supply schedule and the recent halving event in April 2024, which cut block rewards in half. The structural supply compression is a long-term tailwind, reinforced by the maturation of spot Bitcoin ETFs and the SEC’s approval of in-kind creation and redemption mechanisms for crypto ETPs on July 29, 2025. This development has enhanced liquidity and reduced trading friction. BlackRock’s IBIT, for instance, now holds assets near $88 billion, signaling strong institutional demand. Additionally, the Runes token standard, introduced post-halving, has added a native fungible-token layer to Bitcoin, enhancing miner economics and fee sustainability [1].

Ethereum has made significant strides in scaling and efficiency with key upgrades in 2024 and 2025. The Dencun upgrade in March 2024, featuring EIP-4844, significantly reduced L2 transaction costs, which is a major win for rollup-based scaling. The Pectra upgrade, launched on May 7, 2025, merged Prague and Electra, increasing the maximum effective validator balance from 32 to 2048 ETH via EIP-7251, streamlining staking operations. The launch of spot Ether ETFs in the U.S. in July 2024 has also contributed to a steady flow of institutional capital, with Bloomberg reporting over $6.7 billion in net inflows by mid-August 2025. These developments have solidified Ethereum’s role as a programmable settlement layer and a key player in regulated crypto investment [1].

Solana has continued to strengthen its position as a high-throughput consumer-focused blockchain. A series of performance improvements in the 1.18 client release enhanced scheduling, quality of service, and spam handling, stabilizing the user experience for developers and end users. Client diversity is also gaining traction, with Firedancer, an independent validator client from Jump Crypto, entering testnet and mainnet-assist modes in 2025. This diversification is expected to significantly improve network resilience and throughput in the future. Institutional adoption has also grown, with Visa expanding its stablecoin program to include Solana and Stripe reintroducing USDC payments with Solana support. Independent trackers have noted periods in 2025 where Solana led in monthly active addresses and network revenue, particularly in memecoins, DePIN, and consumer applications. The SEC has also set the next decision date for the Bitwise and 21Shares spot Solana ETFs for October 16, 2025, which could broaden the investor base for the asset [1].

For investors looking to position themselves for a five-year horizon, the strategy should focus on dollar-cost averaging into all three assets and annual rebalancing to manage risk. Cold storage and reputable brokers are recommended for direct and ETF holdings, respectively. While the market is expected to experience drawdowns of 60–80 percent at least once, having a diversified portfolio and understanding the risks—such as liquidity shifts, regulatory changes, and operational complexities—can help investors stay resilient [1].

In conclusion, Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana represent a balanced mix of scarcity, programmability, and speed. The milestones achieved in 2024 and 2025 have not been superficial but rather foundational. Bitcoin’s ETF infrastructure and fee markets have strengthened, Ethereum’s scalability and staking have improved, and Solana has enhanced its performance, diversification, and adoption. These developments create a compelling case for long-term investors seeking exposure to the next phase of crypto innovation [1].

Source: [1] Top 3 Cryptocurrencies Worth Holding For The Next 5 Years (https://coinmarketcap.com/community/articles/68a07c114f67545f08af0866/)