Web 3 Journalist
Tim Hakki
Web 3 Journalist
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Those hoping the opening of 2026 would deliver a clear turning point for mainstream crypto adoption may need to dial back expectations. Still, quieter periods are often the most compelling entry points for investors who want to maximise the next bull run.
Coinbase recently stepped away from backing the CLARITY Act, a proposed U.S. bill aimed at clarifying which regulators oversee different segments of the crypto market. In response, the Senate Banking Committee has delayed the bill by several weeks.
Even so, the path toward comprehensive crypto regulation in the United States appears increasingly unavoidable. At the same time, Bitcoin’s market dominance has been trending lower since summer, meaning the next bull run will more likely be led by altcoins like XRP, Cardano, and Pepe.
XRP (XRP): Payments-Focused Blockchain Targets $5 in Q1
XRP ($XRP), with a market capitalization hovering around $118 billion, is the most established digital asset in global payments, valued for rapid settlement and ultra-low transaction fees.
Ripple engineered the XRP Ledger (XRPL) as a faster, cheaper alternative to legacy messaging networks such as SWIFT for banks and financial institutions.
Ripple’s network has attracted attention from the UN Capital Development Fund and the White House, reinforcing XRP’s reputation as a serious paradigm changer in the field of global payments.
After resolving its long-running lawsuit with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, XRP rallied to an all-time high (ATH) of $3.65 in mid-2025. Broader market weakness later triggered a pullback of roughly 47%, leaving the token trading near $1.93.
A key recent development has been the approval of spot XRP ETFs in the U.S., opening the door to regulated exposure for both institutional and retail investors.
Further ETF launches and clearer regulatory frameworks could provide the momentum needed for XRP to approach the $5 level by the second quarter.
Cardano (ADA): Ethereum Co-Founder Delivers DeFi Giant
Cardano ($ADA) was founded in 2015 by Ethereum co-founder Charles Hoskinson and officially went live in 2017.
Its Proof-of-Stake network is built on a foundation of peer-reviewed academic research, a methodology that continues to distinguish Cardano from other blockchain projects.
With a market capitalization of over $13 billion and total value locked (TVL) of $164 million, ADA still has significant headroom for growth before it can rival Solana as Ethereum’s primary challenger.
From a technical standpoint, ADA’s Relative Strength Index sits around 44. Over the last 24 hours, the token has climbed roughly 4%, pushing its price to approximately $0.36.
The emergence of a bullish falling wedge pattern in late 2026 suggests a possible imminent breakout. Under favorable market conditions, ADA could overcome nearby resistance and rally toward $1.20 by the end of the first quarter.
Should the CLARITY Act move forward, Cardano will likely revisit its ATH of $3.09 before the close of the year.
Pepe (PEPE): The Iconic Webcomic Became One of Crypto’s Most Copied Coins
Since launching in April 2023, Pepe ($PEPE) has quickly climbed to become the third-largest meme coin, fueled by the endearing and enduring appeal of Matt Furie’s Pepe the Frog.
Now capitalizing $2.1 billion, PEPE is the largest meme coin not based on a Shiba Inu theme. Speculation surged when famous Dogecoin/Bitcoin investor Elon Musk briefly adopted a Pepe image as his profile picture on X, prompting chatter about his possible Pepe holdings.
PEPE is currently trading near $0.0000050, marking a 21% gain over the past month. Even so, it remains about 82% below its late-2024 peak of $0.00002803 after a quiet summer and an underwhelming end to 2025.
Its Relative Strength Index stands at 45, reflecting neutral conditions following recent profit-taking. If a broader bull market emerges in Q1, PEPE could potentially reclaim its previous all-time high by the end of the quarter.
A sharp 69% surge between December 30 and January 6 underscored the token’s classic meme-coin volatility, amplifying market moves both upward and downward.
Bitcoin Hyper (HYPER): Blending Meme Appeal With a Bitcoin Layer-2 Vision
Bitcoin Hyper ($HYPER) is a newly introduced Bitcoin Layer-2 initiative aimed at boosting transaction throughput, reducing fees, and enabling advanced smart contracts on Bitcoin.
Built on the Solana Virtual Machine, Bitcoin Hyper combines decentralized governance with a Canonical Bridge that allows seamless transfers of Bitcoin across different chains.
The project’s presale has already secured more than $31 million, with some analysts speculating on potential returns ranging from 10x to 100x once the token begins trading publicly. A recent Coinsult audit found no critical issues within the project’s smart contracts.
The HYPER token serves as the backbone of the ecosystem, powering transaction fees, governance voting, and staking rewards.
Presale participants can stake their tokens for yields of up to 38% APY, though rewards are structured to taper as more users join the network.
With exchange listings expected later this year, Bitcoin Hyper’s presale provides early exposure to what could represent the next phase of Bitcoin’s tech.
Visit the official website or follow Bitcoin Hyper on X and Telegram for more information.
Visit the Official Website Here
