Narrowing down the best cryptocurrency to buy in 2018 depends on how deep into the crypto roster you're willing to go.
Investing in cryptocurrencies is already a highly risky proposition - any one of them could quickly collapse to zero - but the more established cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Ripple are somewhat less risky.
And while these better-known cryptocurrencies are expected to rise significantly in 2018, they aren't likely to deliver the kind of percentage gains they delivered in 2017. Bitcoin rose 1,318% last year, Ethereum 9,162%, and Ripple a stunning 36,018%.
But some of the newer cryptocurrencies could achieve similarly monster gains, particularly those that trade for relatively low prices (in many cases under $1). Plus, it's wise to diversify your crypto holdings just in case one does suffer an epic collapse.
To determine the best cryptocurrencies to invest in, I've looked for those with the strongest use cases and those with the best prospects to appreciate over the course of the year.
Using these criteria last July, I recommended 12 cryptocurrencies to Money Morning readers.
Today, 11 out of the 12 are winners - most of them big winners. Monero has led the way; it's now more than 6.5 times its July 28 price. The smallest gainer was Golem, which is up 50%. The only loser was Gnosis, which is down 34%.
Had an investor put $100 into each of those cryptocurrencies then, for a total initial stake of $1,200, they'd now have $3,859 - a gain of 221.6%.
With that in mind, here are my top 10 cryptocurrencies for this year - five re-recommendations from my July list, and five new ones...
Don't Buy Bitcoin Until You See This: Tom Gentile just shared an urgent video giving the name of a cryptocurrency he thinks could surge in the very near future. Click here to see his crypto trade recommendation now...
Now let's take a look at my five new cryptocurrency recommendations, one of which could soar as much as 13,400% in 2018...
[mmpazkzone name="in-story" network="9794" site="307044" id="137008" type="4"]
Last year, Tom Gentile used his pattern-trading software to help give his readers a shot at beating the S&P 500.
Now he's using that technology to help pinpoint recommendations in a market that grew 164 times faster than stocks: cryptocurrencies.
The windfall of profits he expects is staggering.
Click here to learn more about Tom's system - and see the No. 1 cryptocurrency he's buying right now on camera!
Follow me on Twitter @DavidGZeiler and Money Morning on Twitter @moneymorning, Facebook, or LinkedIn