1 Alternative to Shiba Inu to Buy and Hold For Decades

Shiba Inu (CRYPTO: SHIB) has been chasing its tail this year and hasn't benefited from 2025's wider crypto gains. In January, the lead developer, known as Shytoshi Kusama, said they would step away from the day-to-day operations. In September, the Shibarium Bridge suffered a security breach. Its price is down over 60% in the past year.

Anything is possible in the world of meme coins, and Shiba Inu may still have some bark left. But it is unlikely. Moreover, there are many better investments out there -- both cryptocurrencies and other assets. Shiba Inu attracted people with its sense of fun and community, but it doesn't have a lot of utility. As such, there's no predicting when -- if ever -- any turnaround might come.

If you're interested in meme coins, consider Solana (CRYPTO: SOL) instead. Not only is it the ecosystem where many meme coins get built, but it also has a thriving community of developers and boasts a growing number of applications. Plus, it's a stakeable crypto, so investors can earn returns by tying up their holdings.

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Solana is fast and fun

Like Shiba Inu, Solana launched in 2020 and was one of the top-performing cryptos of 2021. However, unlike Shiba Inu, that was just the beginning. It initially suffered from some technical glitches, which it seems to have put behind it. Today, it is a popular choice for decentralized finance (DeFi), meme coins, NFxTs, gaming, and more.

Solana is a programmable crypto that operates at a fraction of the cost and over 100 times the speed of first-to-market Ethereum (CRYPTO: ETH). It is now the second biggest crypto by total value locked -- the amount of funds in applications on its chain. It also hosts $13.6 billion worth of stablecoins and tokenized real-world assets.

Most importantly, whatever direction cryptocurrency projects take, Solana will be ready. Electric Capital's data shows it has over 3,800 active developers and is attracting more each year. Meme coins may come and go, but Solana looks like it has staying power.

Emma Newbery has positions in Ethereum and Solana. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Ethereum and Solana. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.