Heading into summer 2026, some crypto investors are pondering whether they should chase after the blistering hot returns of new, unproven cryptocurrencies, or put their faith in longtime market stalwarts with proven track records.

I’m in the second camp. I’m investing for the long term, and that’s why I’m picking Bitcoin (BTC +1.54%) as the one cryptocurrency to buy if I could pick only one.

Catalysts for Bitcoin in 2026

Most importantly, Bitcoin has a historical track record that no other cryptocurrency can match. In six of the past 10 years, it has delivered returns of 80% or higher. And it has never had back-to-back losing years. While there are no guarantees, that leads me to think that Bitcoin, down 44% from its all-time high in…