If I Were to Buy Just 1 Cryptocurrency for 2022, This Would Be it

There are opportunities for investors to buy high-quality cryptocurrencies in 2022. But if you could only buy one, this would be my recommendation.

| More on:

You’re reading a free article with opinions that may differ from The Motley Fool’s premium investing services. Become a Motley Fool member today to get instant access to our top analyst recommendations, in-depth research, investing resources, and more. Learn More

After two years of significant growth in the popularity of cryptocurrencies, there is a considerable revolution underway. It’s not just investors speculating anymore. There are several high-potential projects offering a tonne of opportunities for growth. If you’re looking for a high-potential growth investment, finding a high-quality cryptocurrency to buy in 2022 is a prudent choice.

There are a few things to understand about cryptocurrencies, though, before deciding to commit and invest your hard-earned money.

First, off you’ll want to figure out what the coin does and what projects it offers exposure to. Is it used as a digital currency to purchase goods, or is it used as a token to invest in decentralized finance (DeFi) projects? It could even be a currency used to buy digital land in one of the many up-and-coming metaverse projects.

By determining what the coin or token does will help to determine if it has value. If the use cases it offers have real value or differentiate it from the thousands of other tokens in existence, then it should have a tonne of long-term potential.

So, with that in mind, here’s one of the best cryptocurrencies you can buy for 2022.

One of the best cryptocurrencies to buy in 2022 and hold long term

Some of the best opportunities for investors today lie with all the projects being built on blockchains. Because several of the most actively used blockchains are smart contract compatible, new projects are being created each day.

These include play-to-earn video games, NFTs, DeFi and even the popular metaverse projects. So, naturally, each of these individual projects, as well as the blockchains they run on, have a tonne of growth potential.

The best investment for 2022, though, in my opinion, looks like Fantom (CRYPTO:FTM), which has the native token FTM.

One of the first and most important reasons Fantom has potential is that it’s an Ethereum compatible blockchain, meaning projects that run on Ethereum can also run on Fantom. In addition, it means that investors can easily bridge cryptocurrencies such as stable coins from any Ethereum-compatible blockchain network to Fantom.

This ease of access is crucial to attracting new users, and it incentivizes developers to launch their projects on the network as well, which is another reason it’s one of the best cryptocurrencies to buy for 2022.

How to determine Fantom’s value

As more investors look to invest in DeFi projects, a blockchain like Fantom offers a tonne of potential. Other Ethereum compatible chains, such as Polygon, Avalanche and Binance Smart Chain, are each in the top 14 cryptocurrencies by market cap, with the lowest market cap of the three being Polygon, worth roughly US$18 billion today.

Meanwhile, Fantom is the 28th most popular cryptocurrency, and its market cap is just US$7.5 billion, and that’s after Fantom has rallied by 30% over the last seven days. The network and, therefore, its currency continue to gain more popularity. But because it’s still so cheap, it offers an incredible opportunity right now.

In fact, Fantom’s market cap to total value locked (one of the best ratios for gauging a token’s value) is quite low at just 1.25. So, the token should continue to have a tonne of upside, which is why it’s one of the best cryptocurrencies to buy for 2022.

For comparison, Ethereum, Binance Smart Chain, Avalanche, and Polygon have market value to TVL ratios of 2.3 times, 5.4 times, 2.2 times, and 3.1 times, respectively. So, clearly, at a market cap-to-TVL ratio of just 1.25, Fantom is the cheapest of the bunch.

Therefore, with so much potential that all these cryptocurrencies have, and the fact that Fantom is so cheap, if I could buy just one token for 2022, Fantom would be my top choice.

Should you invest $1,000 in Fantom right now?

Before you buy stock in Fantom, consider this:

The Motley Fool Stock Advisor Canada analyst team just identified what they believe are the Top Stocks for 2025 and Beyond for investors to buy now… and Fantom wasn’t one of them. The Top Stocks that made the cut could potentially produce monster returns in the coming years.

Consider MercadoLibre, which we first recommended on January 8, 2014 ... if you invested $1,000 in the “eBay of Latin America” at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $21,345.77!*

Stock Advisor Canada provides investors with an easy-to-follow blueprint for success, including guidance on building a portfolio, regular updates from analysts, and two new stock picks each month – one from Canada and one from the U.S. The Stock Advisor Canada service has outperformed the return of S&P/TSX Composite Index by 24 percentage points since 2013*.

See the Top Stocks * Returns as of 4/21/25

This article represents the opinion of the writer, who may disagree with the “official” recommendation position of a Motley Fool premium service or advisor. We’re Motley! Questioning an investing thesis — even one of our own — helps us all think critically about investing and make decisions that help us become smarter, happier, and richer, so we sometimes publish articles that may not be in line with recommendations, rankings or other content.

Fool contributor Daniel Da Costa owns Binance Coin, Ethereum, Fantom, and Polygon. The Motley Fool owns and recommends Ethereum.

Confidently Navigate Market Volatility: Claim Your Free Report!

Feeling uneasy about the ups and downs of the stock market lately? You’re not alone. At The Motley Fool Canada, we get it — and we’re here to help. We’ve crafted an essential guide designed to help you through these uncertain times: "5-Step Checklist: How to Prepare Your Portfolio for Volatility."

Don't miss out on this opportunity for peace of mind. Just click below to learn how to receive your complimentary report today!

Get Our Free Report Today

More on Investing

Canada national flag waving in wind on clear day
Energy Stocks

Top Canadian Value Stock I’d Consider During This Buying Opportunity

Are you looking to put some cash to work during this downturn? Here are two TSX stocks to have on…

Read more »

A train passes Morant's curve in Banff National Park in the Canadian Rockies.
Investing

Where Will Canadian National Railway Be in 8 Years?

Canadian National Railway (TSX:CNR) stock could be a bargain for those who buy and hold for the next eight years.

Read more »

Canadian Dollars bills
Retirement

5 Canadian Monthly Dividend Stocks to Buy and Hold in Your TFSA for Retirement Income

Monthly dividend stocks can be a way of creating passive income in retirement, but these are some of the best.

Read more »

tsx today
Stock Market

TSX Today: What to Watch for in Stocks on Monday, April 28

Falling commodity prices could pressure the TSX at the open today as Canadians head to the polls in parliamentary elections.

Read more »

Investing

$1,000 Ready to Deploy? 3 Quality TSX Stocks for Canadian Investors

Amid improving investors sentiments, the following three Canadian stocks offer excellent buying opportunities.

Read more »

Blocks conceptualizing the Registered Retirement Savings Plan
Dividend Stocks

RRSP Investors: 3 Canadian Dividend Stocks to Buy on Dips

These stocks have strong track records of dividend growth and now trade at discounted prices.

Read more »

concept of real estate evaluation
Dividend Stocks

Beyond Real Estate: These TSX Income Generators Could Deliver Superior Passive Income for Canadians

These two TSX dividend stocks could offer Canadian investors a reliable income stream and strong long-term upside, without relying on…

Read more »

Confused person shrugging
Dividend Stocks

Better TSX Dividend Stock to Own: Manulife or Sun Life?

While Sun Life stock has outpaced Manulife in the last two decades, which dividend-paying insurance giant is a good buy…

Read more »