Web 3 Journalist
Tim Hakki
Web 3 Journalist
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Those anticipating that the start of 2026 would usher in a decisive breakthrough for mass crypto adoption may want to temper expectations, but that just means there isn’t a better time to buy crypto.
Coinbase has withdrawn its support for the CLARITY Act, a legislative proposal intended to define regulatory responsibilities for digital assets in the United States. Following this move, the Senate Banking Committee has postponed its review of the bill by several weeks.
That said, comprehensive crypto regulation in the U.S. still looks increasingly inevitable before the end of the year. Meanwhile, Bitcoin dominance has fallen since summer, a shift many analysts view as an early sign of capital rotating into altcoins such as XRP, Dogecoin, and Pepe ahead of the next major market expansion.
XRP (XRP): Payments-Focused Blockchain Targets $5 as Momentum Builds
XRP ($XRP), which carries an approximate market cap of $115 billion, continues to stand out as one of the most established cryptocurrencies in the global payments arena, prized for fast settlement times and minimal transaction costs.
The XRP Ledger (XRPL) was purpose-built to serve banks and financial institutions, positioning itself as a faster and more cost-efficient alternative to traditional systems like SWIFT.
Ripple’s expanding footprint has drawn attention from influential organizations, including the UN Capital Development Fund and the White House, strengthening XRP’s profile as a potential game-changer in cross-border payments.
After bringing its prolonged legal battle with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission to a close, XRP surged to a record high of $3.65 in mid-2025. Since then, weaker market conditions have driven a correction of roughly 48%, with the token now trading near $1.89.
Despite the pullback, XRP’s time below the $2 mark could prove temporary. One of the most notable catalysts has been the approval of spot XRP ETFs in the U.S., providing regulated access for both institutional and retail investors.
Additional ETF approvals and clearer regulatory guidance could help propel XRP toward the $5 range by the second quarter.
Solana (SOL): High-Performance Blockchain Aims for a New All-Time High
Solana ($SOL) remains one of the leading smart contract platforms in the market. Renowned for its speed and low fees, the Solana ecosystem supports more than $8.2 billion in total value locked, while SOL itself commands a market cap of over $70 billion.
The launch of spot Solana ETFs by firms such as Grayscale and Bitwise has played a key role in introducing SOL to traditional finance investors.
Currently trading around $124, SOL sits just below its 30-day moving average, a technical setup that often precedes a move back toward the prevailing trend. A bullish flag pattern that emerged in late 2026 could also resolve to the upside.
If SOL decisively clears resistance near $200 and then $275, it could surpass its previous all-time high of $293.31 and potentially move beyond $300 before the quarter concludes.
Solana is also gaining traction as a preferred network for real-world asset tokenization, one of the most attractive institutional blockchain use cases. Major asset managers, including BlackRock and Franklin Templeton, have already leveraged Solana to issue tokenized investment products.
Pi Network (PI): Can the Mobile Mining Project Hit $2 By Q2?
Pi Network transformed crypto onboarding by introducing a mobile-based mining model that avoids energy-intensive hardware, enabling users to earn tokens directly from their smartphones.
PI’s relative strength index currently sits at 20, signaling excessive selling pressure that has taken the token into relative discount territory, making now a strong time to buy and hold.
If positive sentiment returns to the market, PI could rally toward $2 by Q2, representing a 12x increase from its current level of around $0.17 and marking a seven-month high.
Development teams are continuing work on Version 23, an update widely expected to lay the groundwork for the project’s long-awaited mainnet launch. Should this milestone drive wider adoption, a swift move to $2 is likely, but challenging the previous ATH of $2.99 may not be realistic this quarter.
With its own Layer-1 blockchain, straightforward onboarding process, and rapidly growing user base, Pi Network will easily leverage the next wave of global crypto adoption.
Bitcoin Hyper (HYPER): Blending Meme Appeal With a Bitcoin Layer-2 Vision
Bitcoin Hyper ($HYPER) is a newly launched Bitcoin Layer-2 project designed to improve transaction speeds, lower fees, and enable advanced smart contract functionality on the Bitcoin network.
Powered by the Solana Virtual Machine, Bitcoin Hyper incorporates decentralized governance alongside a Canonical Bridge that facilitates seamless Bitcoin transfers across chains.
The project’s presale has already raised more than $31 million, with some commentators projecting potential returns of 10x to 100x once the token becomes publicly tradable. A recent audit by Coinsult reported no critical vulnerabilities in the smart contract.
The HYPER token underpins the entire ecosystem, serving as the medium for transaction fees, governance participation, and staking incentives.
Early buyers can stake tokens during the presale phase for yields of up to 38% APY, although returns are designed to decrease gradually as participation grows.
With exchange listings anticipated later this year, Bitcoin Hyper’s presale offers early access to what could be the next stage in Bitcoin’s technological evolution.
Visit the official website or follow Bitcoin Hyper on X and Telegram for more information.
Visit the Official Website Here
