I'm not an expert, but if you ask me, I could say that this is one of the safest choices. The risk surely is much higher by investing in ICOs/IPOs, as you mentioned.
possible for a beginner hold bitcoin is a very nice way. you can hold bitcoin while collecting it, and it also can you think of as a way of investment, because the price of bitcoin is always unstable. This time bticoin prices are rising, because of the close end of the year and so many use bitcoin for now, so take advantage of this moment to hold bitcoin that you have with an investment destination
You cannot afford to simply hold them without doing anything to it, but as everyone is expecting that price will go higher by the end of the next month so it would be good to hold them without taking any risky of investing it anywhere and if price doesn't goes higher then you can think of alternatives like trade and investments.