I think if you have the means, you don't have to choose between gold and cryptos: both can be part of a balanced portfolio. Gold is a low-risk, low-yield asset that is decent for wealth preservation, but not necessarily enough to protect you from inflation. Cryptos are high-yield but riskier, too. If you invest in both, you can control your risks.
For the average retail trader, it just depends on your goals and your risk tolerance.