3 Cryptocurrencies to Buy for a Diversified Portfolio

Key Points
Bitcoin accounts for 60% of the crypto market, and needs to be a cornerstone of any crypto portfolio.
Ethereum, as the premier Layer 1 blockchain network, should be the second crypto added to a portfolio.
For maximum diversification and upside potential, investors can add a bargain-priced altcoin to the mix.
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Even with a steep market decline in early 2026, many top cryptocurrencies are still trading at sky-high prices. A single Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC), for example, will set you back about $71,000.
However, there's a quick, simple way to put together a diversified crypto portfolio for the ultra-low cost of just $60. Here's how to do it.
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Start with Bitcoin
The building block of any cryptocurrency portfolio needs to be Bitcoin. After all, the world's most popular cryptocurrency still accounts for a whopping 60% of the total market cap of the crypto market. As a general rule of thumb, then, Bitcoin needs to account for at least 60% of your portfolio. Otherwise, you're not getting full exposure to crypto as a unique asset class.
Although the cost of Bitcoin in the spot market is currently $71,000, there are cheaper ways to get access to it. For example, you could pick up one share of the iShares Bitcoin Trust (NASDAQ: IBIT), which is currently trading for about $41. This spot crypto ETF gives you 1:1 exposure to the price action of Bitcoin, and can be used as a proxy for direct Bitcoin exposure.
Choose your favorite Layer 1 blockchain network
The next step is to choose your favorite Layer 1 blockchain network. For the majority of investors, this will be Ethereum (CRYPTO: ETH). It remains the world's second most-popular cryptocurrency, with a huge $265 billion market cap.
The good news is that it's possible to pick up a very affordably priced Ethereum ETF without paying $2,200 in the spot cryptocurrency market. The iShares Ethereum Trust (NASDAQ: ETHA), for example, trades for about $17 right now, and can be added to your portfolio as easily as any tech stock.
That said, there are other Layer 1 blockchain networks that appear to be growing faster than Ethereum right now, and might have a bigger payoff later down the road. My top pick right now is Solana (CRYPTO: SOL), which is rapidly gaining ground on Ethereum, especially in the key area of decentralized finance (DeFi).
Add in a high-risk, high-upside altcoin
Finally, for maximum diversification benefits, it's best to add at least one high-upside altcoin. One popular option right now is XRP (CRYPTO: XRP), which continues to tantalize crypto investors with the prospect of incredibly high future returns. XRP currently trades for a bargain price less than $1.50, making it an affordable addition to any portfolio.
But you could just as easily add in an artificial intelligence (AI) crypto. Many of these are also bargain-priced and go for less than $1. My current favorite right now is Kite (CRYPTO: KITE), which bills itself as "the world's first AI payment blockchain." Kite launched at the end of 2025, and currently trades for a price of just $0.20.
The $60 crypto portfolio
And there you have it: the basic framework for a diversified crypto portfolio, all for the low, low price of less than $60. That's $41 for the iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF, $17 for the Ethereum ETF, and $2 for 10 of the high-risk, high-upside Kite altcoins or about $1.50 for XRP.
Of course, you will need to rebalance this portfolio to get your allocation just right. But it's hard to go wrong with a 70/30 blend of Bitcoin and Ethereum at the outset, which is roughly what you get with $41 allocated to Bitcoin and $17 allocated to Ethereum.
And, if you want, that 70/30 blend can easily be changed to a 60/40 or 80/20 blend, depending on your overall risk-reward profile. You also can rotate into different high-upside altcoins as new trends emerge in the blockchain and crypto space.
Crypto investing doesn't need to cost an arm and a leg. Thankfully, new spot crypto ETFs make it possible to get exposure at a much lower price point, opening up crypto investing to a wider audience.
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Dominic Basulto has positions in Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, and XRP. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, XRP, and iShares Bitcoin Trust. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.