The crypto we'd actually hold

We review coins that meet a minimum bar: market cap above $500M, listed on at least 5 major exchanges, and a public team or foundation. We also cover coins below that bar if they have meaningful editorial relevance — typically the major memecoins (DOGE, SHIB, PEPE) which are widely held even if our scoring is harsh.

Six factors on a 0-5 scale: Fundamentals (×1.5), Tokenomics (×1.0), Network security (×1.5), Adoption (×1.0), Liquidity (×1.0), Governance (×1.0). The weighted sum is divided by 6.4 and mapped to a letter grade: A ≥ 4.5, B ≥ 4.0, C ≥ 3.5, D ≥ 3.0, F < 3.0. The methodology is identical to our broker reviews — same thresholds, same divisor, same letters.

Both genuinely qualify. BTC's monetary policy and proof-of-work security spend are unmatched in the universe; ETH's adoption, governance, and post-Merge stability earn it the same letter even though the underlying strengths differ. The composite is a confidence rating, not a price forecast — two A coins can outperform or underperform each other in any given period.

The composite reflects six weighted factors — not price performance. SOL scores brilliantly on adoption and liquidity, but loses points on tokenomics (heavy early distribution, ongoing inflation) and network security (validator centralisation, outage history). BTC's monetary policy and security spend are unmatched. The methodology is consistent across coins; the scores differ honestly.

Pure memecoins fail on fundamentals (no problem solved beyond speculation), governance (frequently anonymous teams), and tokenomics (extreme concentration). The composite reflects that. We cover them because they are widely held, not because we recommend them — the D is the honest signal.

No. The IC composite score reflects our editorial assessment of long-term durability and category fit. It is not a price forecast. A coin with a B grade may outperform an A-grade coin over any given period. Use the score as one input alongside your own thesis, time horizon, and risk tolerance.

Full reviews are refreshed quarterly. Factor scores are recalculated weekly when underlying inputs change (e.g. a new exchange listing affects the Liquidity score; a network upgrade affects Network security). The 'Last refreshed' timestamp on each review is the date of the most recent editorial review — the underlying data may be more recent.

No. IC reporters do not hold positions in single-name altcoins they review. Index-fund crypto exposure (via spot BTC/ETH ETFs like IBIT) is permitted with disclosure. Holdings are audited quarterly. See each author's profile for current disclosures.