As the crypto landscape continues to develop, experts are weighing in on what could drive the next surge in the market. In a recent discussion, Roundtable anchor Rob Nelson was joined by David Duong, Head of Institutional Research at Coinbase, Jon Najarian, Co-Founder of Market Rebellion, and Aaron Arnold, Host of Altcoin Daily. The conversation covered the potential of non-ethereum blockchains, the influence of political stances on bitcoin, and promising assets in the market.

Rob Nelson kicked off the conversation by asking about the excitement surrounding various blockchains and the anticipated crypto uptick. David Duong noted the resurgence of interest in Layer 1 and alternative Layer 1 (ALT L1) blockchains, citing Solana's significant technological advancements despite the FTX collapse. Duong emphasized, however, that ethereum remains the dominant player in decentralized finance (DeFi), with bitcoin and ethereum being the primary assets for institutional investors.

Duong highlighted the recent ETF launches as a critical development, suggesting that it would attract substantial institutional inflows. "Bitcoin and ETH are still the top tokens to watch," he said, stressing that traditional finance research continues to focus on these two assets. He believes that a broad ETF covering bitcoin and ethereum could soon become a reality, driving price performance.

Jon Najarian shifted the focus to central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) and their potential impact on bitcoin. He pointed out that former President Trump's strong opposition to CBDCs and the digital dollar might boost bitcoin's value. "Trump's stance against CBDCs could be lifting bitcoin," Najarian remarked, suggesting that the political environment plays a significant role in crypto markets.

When asked to provide investment picks, Najarian expressed his preference for Coinbase, praising its solidity and performance. "I love Coinbase because it's publicly traded and has been a solid choice for investors," he said, emphasizing that his recommendation was not driven by risk but by the exchange's stability.

Aaron Arnold provided insights into lower-cap cryptos with potential staying power. He mentioned Solana, Chainlink, Injective, Sui, and Ondo Finance as assets with real utility and institutional connections. "We're bullish on a variety of aspects in the space, from tokenization to L2s and gaming," Arnold noted, underscoring the diverse opportunities in the crypto market.