If you want to "invest" in a currency or token for the long term, it must have strong use cases (utility) and the project behind it must be profitable enough to keep it continuing. I would have included "the team" to the list, but as you know, it takes a strong team to create a product that is both helpful and profitable in the first place. As a result, it's a foregone conclusion.You can look up for some good Defi projects like SushiSwap, Lido or ReFi or maybe consider some project in gamefi industry Axie Infinity, ENGN, or BORA, which are comparable blockchain gaming initiatives. Especially now that large companies like EA and Ubisof have joined the fray. Of sure, it's a new project, but it's DYOR, and the btc was also a new project.
What matters the most is not about the use case or utility but rather the newbie's capability in managing his asset and emotion.
Cryptocurrency does not work like a stock market, it is more violent and unpredictable.
Even if you know how to do the research, it will be for naught if you can not handle the pressure and fear once the dump happens. As a newbie you really and should know your limit, that is what should they do first before doing anything in cryptocurrency to prevent something unnecessary to happen.
Suicide happened a lot due to this.