What if the 32 countries that have qualified for the World Cup were Cryptocurrencies, which one would they be?
I do my best to answer that question below.
I hope you enjoy and let me know if you agree or disagree.
Brazil - Bitcoin (BTC)
When you think of the beautiful game or of Crypto these two come to mind pretty quickly and are the traditional powerhouses of both.
No one is more popular or more pleasing to the eye than these two.
However these days when both are put to real life use or test, others seems to get better overall results.
Germany - Ethereum (ETH)
Solid Foundation, very high ranking, proven to work and has produced results.
Others may challenge, look more visually exciting or threaten to do more but as yet are not as proven.
Efficient and respected.
England - Ripple (XRP)
Both are very highly ranked, have a strong backing and when you look at what they possess, they look great on paper.
Seem destined to win yet prone to losing when they shouldn't.
Seem to constantly disappoint their followers but maintain the potential to do big things when times are good.
However when times are bad, none crash quicker.
Argentina - Bitcoin Cash (BCH)
Perennially high ranking and also pleasing to the eye.
Have had questionable leadership in the past from a living legend type and some bizarre decisions have been made along the way.
Will always be highly ranked and sure enough will go well but destined to be a poorer version of a bigger Fish that lives in the same pond.
Belgium - EOS (Eos)
Huge hype behind them and possess some stars in the team.
Tipped to win big one day but as yet have not put any meaningful results on the board and still unproven as a whole.
Spain - Monero (XMR)
Very strong effective coin that has been around a long time.
Many have tried to copy their style but none have mastered it with the same success.
Were once a lot higher ranked than they are now but could easily get back there.
They are so good at what they do, you couldn't discount them being a powerhouse for a long time to come.
France - Litecoin (LTC)
No doubt they are a big, powerful high ranked team but they can also be a little flaky.
Have some strong people and can be 'hot' when they are on but struggle to get the results to match the very best teams.
Appealing as they are, can also have the odd dramatic breakdown of relationships with key players/coaches/partners.
Croatia - Tron (TRX)
Have some absolute star power in their team and have maintained a high rank for a long time.
Have promised to deliver big results for quite a while but the roadmap to get there has been excruciatingly long.
Can't write them off as they do possess quality but they are still largely unproven.
How long until we see something of real value or substance?
Denmark - Aelf (ELF)
Just quietly going about their business very effectively.
Doesn't get the same level of fanfare that some of the others around it do, but possess some real star power and could do big things.
Likely to surprise with results.
Iceland - Verge (XVG)
They just seem to do it different to everyone else but it works.
No one ever really rates them as world beaters and they are easily scoffed at but they do get results.
Can capture the public's imagination like no other and if underestimated, could blow straight by bigger fish in the rankings.
Portugal - NEO (Neo)
One possesses arguably the most powerful player on the planet (Ronaldo) and the other possess arguably the most powerful partner on the planet (Chinese Government).
Both have already produced tremendous results in the past and claimed glory for their backers.
Both still claim the best is yet to come and they might be right. Could win it all.
Poland - ZCash (ZEC)
Been around a long time and always performed satisfactory enough.
Possess a strong no frills hand, no real big wins but always competitive enough to keep relevant in the rankings.
Flashier ones seem to blow past them without too much fuss.
Russia - Ethos (ETHOS)
Been times in the past when it has been hyped as an up and comer but just never really arrived.
Are effective enough but have a generic brand of play and don't seem to bring anything new or original to the table.
Still, they are largely an unknown quantity and could yet surprise.
Not exactly sure what to expect, but their results to date don't excite and current ranking reflects that.
Serbia - Tether (USDT)
Been around a long time, solid and never really deviate up or down much.
Are useful enough to stick around and be relevant but never going to be an exciting one.
Functional yes, but will likely crash hard one day.
Sweden - Vechain (VEN)
Can be exciting and produced surprising results to stay amazingly stable whilst others around them have slid.
Do show promise, I just don't think the finished product will ever be a world beating one.
Destined to remain in the shadow of some better ones but will still be fun to watch.
Switzerland - Stellar Lumens (XLM)
They don't scream excitement but possess a surprisingly high ranking.
Results have been stable if unspectacular but they do have some promise about them.
Been effective for a long time without really ever threatening and now is the time to take the next step.
Can they do it?
I lean more to no than yes.
Colombia - Icon (ICX)
Have a pleasing to the eye style about them and some real star power.
Have threatened to do some big things in recent times but have never quite got there.... yet.
Would not be surprised to see some stunning results in the future and they possess a lot of admirers for the way they go about it.
Peru - Bytecoin (BCN)
I could not name any of their key players or really tell you much about them but they are surprisingly high ranked.
They don't get the fanfare of some other bigger more flashier types and that's unlikely to change anytime soon.
They do however have results on the board as their rank shows so are one to maybe look out for, from the corner of your eye at least.
Uruguay - Dash (DASH)
Have a proud, rich history filled with successes.
Have produced some big results for their followers in the past.
Despite always being ever present in the conversation they have not produced any big results of late.
Their rank has slid in modern times but they are still widely respected and always expected to do well.
Might not ever win it all or be number 1 but underestimate them at your peril, you could get bitten.
Costa Rica - Siacoin (SC)
Had a moment in the sun where they got some results and generated some hype but have slid back in recent times.
Not a lot of fanfare or attention these days and no recent results to catch the public's eye despite being steady enough.
At the end of the day they try hard but there are just too many others that do the same thing better than them.
However they still remain relevant in the rankings, so respect and they'll no doubt keep plugging away.
Will look for a competitive showing.
Mexico - Nano (NANO)
Have been strong in the past but then slid hard and received a lot of negative media attention.
Have since stabilised and had a big refresh to seem like a new team.
Produced some decent results since and done enough to be back in the conversation.
Something tells me they have a lot more to give and could go to another level soon.
Will probably never quite reach the level of world beaters but one to watch carefully.
Panama - Reddcoin (RDD)
They keep plugging away and get some results here & there but never really in contention to do a whole lot.
They don't bring anything new or exciting to the table so any positive results would surprise.
Current rank is quite low and I don't expect they will hang around for long.
Egypt - Nebulas (NAS)
A lot better than their rank suggests and have some real star power.
No real hype...yet but could perform surprisingly well.
There is always one that comes from left field and shoots up.
This could be the one.
Morocco - Rchain (RHOC)
Does not have either the rank nor the attention it probably deserves but when you look closer, has a dam good team.
Has quietly gone about its business very effectively and one I expect to rise.
Will probably never be world leaders but will be super competitive.
Nigeria - Loopring (LRC)
Had a lot of hype at one point and was expected to do a lot more by now.
May still deliver and have had some decent results banked but others in their neck of the woods might of gone past them now.
Will be interesting times coming up to see what it will produce.
I would not be shocked to see them go backwards though and make a quick exit.
Senegal - Bunny token
Will bring something different to the table and no doubt get some attention.
Will be talked about and very fun to watch but won't deliver anything of real substance.
Results not likely to make for good reading but will be a fun ride.
Tunisia - Nem (XEM)
Not the most exciting one but despite being unspectacular, they gets results and current rank shows this.
I don't expect any big things in their future but they're better than given credit for and may surprise a few.
I am not eager to run out and back them but at the same time I will be keeping an eye on them.
Australia - FunFair (FUN)
I would like to say they are a whole lot better than their current rank suggests but it is probably about right.
They can excite in patches but for the most part they bring a well tried brand to the table that others have already done in the past and done a whole lot better.
Need some new ideas or a spark from somewhere to generate some real excitement and bring some freshness to the table.
May yet still do it but I don't expect a whole lot from them in the short term.
Iran - Dogecoin (DOGE)
In the top 50 rankings and can be useful but not a lot is expected of them, ever really.
May do enough to be competitive at best but don't expect to see them reinvent the wheel or anything.
Looking to others for more excitement.
Japan - Ontology (ONT)
Japan have had a similar quick passing game to Portugal (NEO) in the past so you could argue their style is in the same "ecosystem" but maybe without the absolute star power.
Despite being exciting in their own right, will never reach the same heights.
All in all, have a nice brand that is sure to win a few admirers and will no doubt get some positive results.
Won't win it all or ever be number 1 but sure to keep rising.
Korea Republic - PIVX (PIVX)
Play a decent brand and certainly have some quality but others do it a bit better.
Will be sure to have some admirers and could produce some decent results but overall I think their ceiling is low.
So while they are limited, they do still offer some value.
Saudi Arabia - Bitcoin Private (BTCP)
Have unashamedly "borrowed" from stronger others to try and produce something that can compete at the top level.
Not a very high ranking and not a whole lot is expected in either the short or long term.
Any positive movement would surprise.
I hope you enjoyed my list and thanks for reading
- Dahmsy79