Investing in cryptocurrencies directly can be extremely profitable, but there’s a way to make money from them without buying a single coin or token…

And after extensive research, I’ve uncovered the best cryptocurrency stock to buy in this $296 billion market.

This isn’t just some company adding “blockchain” to its name to attract more investors, either.

This financial firm facilitates the wire transfers for one of the most well-known cryptocurrency exchanges.

Now, we still believe there’s a huge profit opportunity from individual crypto coins.

But this cryptocurrency stock we’re about to mention provides diversification should the prices of individual crypto coins fall.

Because it has multiple revenue sources, the company can profit even if the crypto market is down.

It has more cash ($256 million) than debt ($87 million), so you won’t have to worry about the firm going bankrupt overnight.

The company also recorded 223.90% year-over-year (YoY) quarterly revenue growth, and the stock price has climbed 43.48% over the last 12 months.

In comparison, the Dow Jones Industrial Average is up just 7.44% during that same time.

But if you missed out on these gains, that’s okay.

Analysts are expecting big things for the company. It has a trailing P/E of 23.15 but a forward P/E of 13.28. When a forward P/E is lower than its current number, analysts believe earnings will increase.

The stock price is also expected to climb 17.82% in the next 12 months.

And remember, that’s in just the next year.

BitcoinMarketJournal.com estimates there are only 20 million global Bitcoin users, but analysts expect there will be 200 million users by 2024.

That’s a 900% increase in the amount of people who will buy and sell cryptocurrencies in just six years.

And this company will be raking in money as crypto traders transfer cash in and out of exchanges…

This Is the Best Cryptocurrency Stock to Buy in 2018

Metropolitan Bank Holding Corp. (NYSE: MCB) is headquartered in New York and provides commercial- and retail-banking products and services.

It offers checking and savings accounts like most banks, but what really has me interested in MCB is its partnership with Coinbase.

Coinbase is a cryptocurrency exchange that allows its users to buy and sell Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Ethereum, and Litecoin.

But it isn’t just any cryptocurrency exchange. It’s considered the most beginner-friendly service on the planet, making it the first stop for new crypto buyer.

As of December 2017, it had 13 million users.

And to make sure wire transfers are successfully completed for Coinbase users, the crypto exchange looked to Metropolitan for help.

The bank says no assets or liabilities are denominated in cryptocurrencies, which means it’s generating its income from cryptocurrencies in fiat transaction fees.

That’s important, as crypto prices can fluctuate wildly from day to day.

In Q4 2017, MCB had $309 million in cryptocurrency deposits in its settlement and operating accounts, according to its March 31 investor presentation.

The deposits climbed 23.62%, to $382 million, in Q1 2018.

Metropolitan also launched a cryptocurrency debit card, Shift, with Coinbase in 2015. It’s accepted everywhere Visa Inc. (NYSE: V) is accepted and is one of the few solutions for BTC holders to make everyday purchases.

When making a fiat purchase, the equivalent in Bitcoin will be debited from the user’s Coinbase account.

Coinbase and Metropolitan handle all the conversion, meaning you just have to swipe your card.

While this isn’t a pure Bitcoin-to-Bitcoin transaction, it provides a way for some of the 17 million bitcoins out there to flow into society and to be used for purchases.

This is an early start that will help attract even more people to buy and sell Bitcoin, since they know a Shift card will be accepted across the globe.

It costs $20 for card issuance, $2.50 for domestic ATM withdrawals, 3% for international transactions, and $10 for card replacements, according to ShiftPayments.com.

And because of Metropolitan’s involvement in the crypto industry, analysts are bullish on the MCB stock price…

Financial firm Keefe Bruyette & Woods expects the MCB stock price to climb to $63 per share in the next 12 months.

From [a recent] opening price of $53.47, that’s a potential profit of 17.82%.

But remember, that’s just in the next 12 months. And that could be too conservative of an estimate…

Forward-thinking companies like Metropolitan Bank understand cryptocurrencies will disrupt the traditional finance industry.

Instead of fighting it, these companies are bringing the banking industry into the future.

Thanks to their expertise and experience with Coinbase, other crypto exchanges could seek out MCB for their wire transfers and debit card issuances.

As we start seeing more and more Bitcoin users, transactions will accelerate.

Remember that there may only be 20 million Bitcoin users out there right now, but that’s expected to jump to 200 million by 2024.

And with more transactions, Metropolitan Bank is in a prime position to profit.

— Jack Delaney

Source: Money Morning