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Cardano Founder Praises XRP UNL Design, Calls It a “Well-Reasoned System”

Sam Wisdom Raphael
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Cardano Founder Praises XRP UNL Design, Calls It a “Well-Reasoned System”

Charles Hoskinson, the Cardano founder, recently praised the XRP Ledger UNL design, calling it a “well-reasoned system.”

Hoskinson made these comments while speaking in an X Spaces session hosted by XRP community figures and featuring David Schwartz, former Ripple CTO and one of the original architects of the XRPL.

Key Points

  • Charles Hoskinson thanked Schwartz for helping Cardano engineers during the Midnight glacier drop.
  • The Cardano founder confirmed reviewing the XRP UNL system and called it a “well-reasoned system.”
  • The UNL system lets nodes choose trusted validators and maintain consensus.
  • Despite a disagreement on smart contracts, David Schwartz admitted that they remain especially useful.

Cardano Founder Expresses Gratitude to David Schwartz

During the discussion, Hoskinson mentioned his long history with Schwartz, noting that both of them have been active in the crypto space for many years. He pointed out that only a few early participants remain today, which made it meaningful to reconnect. 

The Cardano founder then took time to thank Schwartz for helping during Cardano’s glacier drop for Midnight. He explained that the XRP Ledger was one of the networks used, and Schwartz personally joined several calls with Cardano’s engineers to guide them through how to work with XRPL.

Hoskinson Praises XRP UNL System

Hoskinson went on to describe how working through the glacier drop process gave his team a chance to explore different blockchain designs. 

He said the experience was both challenging and enjoyable. He also admitted that he had not really looked closely at XRP since around 2013 or 2014 and had never fully broken down its consensus system until now.

As part of that review, he mentioned a paper from around 2018. The Cardano founder explained that he was trying to understand how XRPL handles Byzantine agreement, focusing on how the system stays secure and continues to function smoothly under different conditions.

He called the Unique Node List a clever idea for managing trust between validators. According to him, the use of negative UNLs, which temporarily remove inactive or unreliable validators, helps the network keep running properly. 

“The whole UNL concept is pretty nifty, especially if you have negative UNLs to achieve liveness again. So, there were some nice things there, and it’s just a well-reasoned system for what you guys put together,” Hoskinson said.

How the XRPL UNL System Works

The Unique Node List (UNL) is a major part of how the XRP Ledger works. It is a list of trusted validators that each server chooses, based on the assumption that those validators will not act together in a dishonest way. When a server takes part in consensus, it only listens to validators on its UNL and ignores others.

This approach supports XRPL’s Byzantine Fault Tolerant consensus model, which does not rely on Proof-of-Work or Proof-of-Stake. Each node operator can choose their own UNL, selecting independent validators such as organizations or individuals to reduce the risk of coordinated failure.

In practice, most operators rely on shared lists, including the dUNL provided by the XRPL Foundation. This creates an overlap between nodes, which helps the network stay stable and avoid splits. The system also includes a negative UNL feature that can temporarily exclude validators that go offline or stop working properly.

Discussions Around Smart Contracts

Despite his praise, Hoskinson pointed out that he and the XRP team still disagree on smart contracts. He made it clear that this difference remains, but he still respects how far the XRP ecosystem has come.

Schwartz responded by saying the disagreement may not be as large as it seems. He explained that smart contracts on layer-1 have clearly proven useful, as many people use them today. While more advanced ideas may exist, he said those systems have not been built yet, often because they are difficult to develop.

The former Ripple CTO stressed that he prefers solutions people can actually use now and said he likes projects like Midnight that focus on practical use.

HYPE Up 5% as Coinbase Expands Hyperliquid Role as USDC Deployer

Elendu Benedict
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HYPE Up 5% as Coinbase Expands Hyperliquid Role as USDC Deployer

HYPE pumps 5% as Coinbase deepens its involvement with Hyperliquid after becoming the network’s official treasury deployer for USDC.

The partnership, announced on Thursday, marks a major shift for the Hyperliquid stablecoin infrastructure, bringing in Coinbase through its Aligned Quote Asset framework. The announcement aims to make USDC the dominant settlement asset across the ecosystem, gradually sunsetting its earlier native stablecoin USDH.

Key Points

  • Coinbase is deepening its involvement with Hyperliquid after becoming the network’s official treasury deployer for USDC.
  • Native Markets agreed to grant Coinbase the right to purchase the USDH brand assets as part of the transition.
  • Coinbase will also significantly increase its staked HYPE position.
  • Following the announcement, Hyperliquid’s native token, HYPE, pumped 5% to $41.

Coinbase Expands Support for Hyperliquid

According to the announcement, Native Markets agreed to grant Coinbase the right to purchase the USDH brand assets as part of the transition. During the migration process, users will still be able to redeem USDH for USDC or fiat without fees through Native Markets’ dashboard.

The development further strengthens Coinbase’s broader effort to expand USDC beyond centralized exchanges and major networks as competition within the stablecoin sector intensifies. As part of the agreement, Coinbase will also significantly increase its staked HYPE position.

Hyperliquid Becoming a Major On-Chain Trading Hub

Hyperliquid has rapidly become one of the most closely watched decentralized platforms in crypto. The network gained traction by offering perpetual futures markets with deep liquidity, lower costs, and execution speeds that increasingly rival centralized exchanges.

As activity across decentralized finance (DeFi) accelerated again this year, Hyperliquid benefited from rising demand for on-chain derivatives platforms. That momentum also translated into stronger stablecoin activity throughout the ecosystem.

According to Coinbase, USDC supply on Hyperliquid has nearly doubled year over year, reaching approximately $5 billion. The stablecoin already served as the leading liquidity asset on the platform before this latest partnership expansion.

Under the AQA structure, stablecoin liquidity integrates directly into Hyperliquid’s core infrastructure, while reserve yield revenue flows back into the protocol itself. Coinbase’s new role effectively places the company at the center of USDC liquidity management within the network.

HYPE Pumps 5%

Following the announcement, Hyperliquid’s native token, HYPE, pumped 5% to $41, recovering from yesterday’s sideways trend. Trading volume also increased to $335 million per CoinMarketCap, marking a 12% growth in the past 24 hours.

The rally adds to HYPE’s positive price action over the past five months. While it is down 5% in the past 30 days, it has grown an impressive 64% since the start of the year, making it the best-performing cryptocurrency in the top 20 market cap ranking in that timeframe.

XRP Price Analysis: The Real Bull/Bear Signal Is This Key EMA

Elendu Benedict
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XRP Price Analysis: The Real Bull/Bear Signal Is This Key EMA

Analysis has identified the XRP bull-bear line and how it would define the asset’s price trajectory amid consolidation within a long-term structure.

The analysis focuses how XRP has continued to defend one of its most important long-term technical patterns. Beyond the noise, it suggests the prominent altcoin could be poised for massive expansion if key levels continue to hold.

Key Points

  • The 21 EMA on the 2-month timeframe is the defining line between a continuing XRP bull cycle and a broader macro breakdown.
  • XRP has spent an extended period compressing within a multi-year ascending triangle.
  • The real confirmation is in reclaiming the key resistance range between $2.40 and $3.36.
  • The possible expansion path targets the $7 to $13 range if XRP successfully breaks above overhead resistance.

XRP Bull-Bear Line

Specifically, the commentary by market analyst EGRAG Crypto highlighted the 21-period exponential moving average (EMA) on the 2-month timeframe as the defining line between a continuing bull cycle and a broader macro breakdown.

The XRP Bull-Bear Line/EGRAG Crypto
The XRP Bull-Bear Line/EGRAG Crypto

Despite persistent volatility and repeated pullbacks since the July 2025 all-time high of $3.6, the broader bullish picture remains intact. XRP still trades above the 21 EMA trendline on the 2-month timeframe while preserving a pattern of higher lows that has held for several years.

Additionally, XRP has spent an extended period compressing within a multi-year ascending triangle. The coin entered this triangle in 2017 and has since made higher lows but has faced persistent resistance around the $3.36 level.

According to the analysis, this prolonged compression phase, while maintaining key support levels, resembles setups seen before large cyclical expansions in other major assets, such as Tesla (TSLA).

Key Confirmation Level

Currently, XRP continues consolidating beneath the key resistance range between $2.40 and $3.36. EGRAG highlighted that the real confirmation is in reclaiming this level, which is 68% to 135% above the current market price of $1.43. 

Reaching this level would push the coin closer to a breakout of the multi-year resistance, setting the stage for a massive price expansion.

Moreover, the analyst claimed that there is a 40-50% chance that XRP has bottomed at $1.12 in February. This leaves a 50-55% chance of a final capitulation, potentially retesting the structure’s ascending support trendline near Binance’s lowest wick at $0.77.

Room for a Larger XRP Expansion

EGRAG outlines a possible expansion path toward the $7 to $13 range if XRP successfully breaks above overhead resistance. At the current market standing, this would result in increases of 390% and 809% to these price levels.

Meanwhile, the chart also references a more aggressive long-term projection above $200. However, the analyst stresses that such a scenario would not depend solely on technical structure and would likely require a full liquidity cycle across the broader crypto market. The move culminates in an ambitious 13,886% growth.

For now, the primary focus remains on whether XRP can continue defending the 21 EMA on the 2-month chart while reclaiming the $2.40 to $3.36 resistance region.

How to Buy Hawk Tuah Coin (HAWK): History and Price Prediction 2026

Elendu Benedict
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How to Buy Hawk Tuah Coin (HAWK): History and Price Prediction 2026

Meme coins continue to dominate attention across the digital asset sector, and Hawk Tuah (HAWK) has emerged as one of the more talked-about names tied to internet meme culture. 

A viral social media demonstration sparked the idea for the token, and it ended up being one of the most popular meme coins of recent times.

While earlier momentum has cooled, interest in the token has remained active, particularly among traders seeking highly volatile assets capable of dramatic short-term price swings. 

As such, this piece is for the many market participants who seek to understand what Hawk Tuah actually is, how its tokenomics work, where its price could head between 2026 and 2030, and what risks come with holding meme coins in general.

What Is Hawk Tuah (HAWK)?

Hawk Tuah (HAWK) is a meme cryptocurrency inspired by the viral “Hawk Tuah” internet phenomenon that spread widely across social media platforms in 2024. 

Hailey Welch, well known as the “Hawk Tuah Girl,” captured millions of internet users in Nashville in June 2024 when she demonstrated the Hawk Tuah move as one of the most exciting intimacy moment moves.

The video took the internet by storm, and she quickly rose to fame. Six months later, Welch decided to explore the crypto space, launching the HAWK token on Solana. 

The project leans heavily into meme culture, community engagement, and online branding. Welch disclosed that she had intended to employ profits from the token for charitable works.

What Is the Current HAWK Price?

Currently, HAWK trades at $0.0001204 with a market cap of $1.2 million. Its trading volume has dropped to almost nothing, signaling strong market disinterest.

HAWK Price History

HAWK entered the market during a period when the Hawk Tuah meme dominated internet culture. Initially, excitement around the token came largely from Welch’s promotions on her social media platforms, which attracted millions in pre-market sales.

Early price action reflected this speculative environment. Like many newly launched meme coins, HAWK experienced rapid volatility shortly after launch as traders rushed into the asset in search of quick upside exposure.

The token launched with a market cap of $16.6 million and grew to $491 million in a short time. However, the surge was short-lived amid accusations that insiders were selling their bags, resulting in a drop of over 90%. A legal battle stemming from the case further added pressure on the meme coin’s price.

Currently, HAWK is down 99% from its all-time high of $0.01485 in December 2024. Nonetheless, CoinMarketCap shows the meme coin is up 35% from its all-time low of $0.00008897 in February 2026.

Hawk Tuah Price Prediction for 2026, 2027–2030

Forecasting meme coin prices remains highly speculative because sentiment, liquidity, and social media activity often matter more than other traditional valuation metrics.

For 2026, HAWK could stabilize between $0.00020 and $0.00040. However, this remains heavily dependent on overall crypto market conditions. 

If the broader sector enters another bullish phase, meme assets could once again attract strong retail attention. Under favorable conditions, HAWK could revisit previous highs or establish new speculative peaks.

By 2027 and 2028, the price direction may depend on whether the project expands beyond short-term meme relevance. Tokens that survive longer cycles typically maintain active communities while continuing to attract new users and exchange support. HAWK could hit $0.0008 in 2027 and $0.0010 in 2028

Meanwhile, forecasts for 2029 and 2030 vary significantly. Optimistic projections assume meme culture will remain deeply connected to digital assets, allowing established meme coins to retain market relevance. 

More cautious outlooks argue that newer narratives and emerging sectors could reduce long-term attention toward older meme tokens. Under favorable market conditions, HAWK could hit $0.0025 by 2029 and $0.0037 in 2030.

Ultimately, long-range HAWK projections remain uncertain because meme coins rarely follow traditional valuation models.

How Many HAWK Coins Are There?

The total supply of HAWK plays an important role in how the market values the token. Meme coins often launch with extremely large supplies because lower per-token prices can appear psychologically attractive to retail participants.

The same applies to HAWK, though its supply is much lower than other meme coins like Shiba Inu. The token has a total supply of 9.99 billion tokens, with the same amount in circulation.

How To Buy HAWK

Buying HAWK generally involves using a decentralized exchange (DEX) that supports the token, as it has failed to secure a listing on a major centralized exchange (CEX) due to its volatile nature and the controversies surrounding the SEC probe.

Notably, the first step in each of them is to convert fiat to USDT. The next step is to use the platform’s search option and select HAWK. Afterward, you select the amount of the token you wish to purchase. There are also options to select the amount in USDT or Solana, depending on available trading pairs.

Before purchasing, users should confirm the official contract address to avoid counterfeit tokens. Scam copies frequently appear during periods of strong meme coin attention.

Storage also matters. While some traders leave tokens on exchanges, others prefer non-custodial wallets for additional control over their holdings. You can buy the token on Raydium and Bitget Wallet.

Is Hawk Tuah Coin a Good Investment in 2026?

Whether HAWK performs well in 2026 will likely depend on market sentiment, community engagement, and overall liquidity conditions across the crypto sector.

Meme coins can deliver explosive upside during strong speculative cycles. However, they also carry elevated downside risk because prices often move primarily on hype and momentum rather than on measurable utility.

Notably, sentiment around Hawk Tuah remains relatively muted amid investor fallout and discussions surrounding the ongoing lawsuit against the project’s core team. While the US SEC has closed the investigation into Welch, other team members are facing a probe over criminal charges.

As a result, HAWK remains a high-risk investment at this time and warrants caution in 2026.

Risks To Know Before Buying HAWK

Meme coins carry substantial risks, and HAWK is no exception. Volatility remains one of the largest concerns. Prices can rise rapidly during periods of strong attention but fall equally fast once momentum fades.

Liquidity risk also matters. Smaller-cap assets may experience sharp declines during periods of lower activity because fewer buyers remain active in the market. Currently, HAWK’s trading volume has dropped to almost nothing; hence, a sudden surge in activity could spike prices. 

In addition, meme coins face greater risks due to wallet concentration. A small number of holders control a large percentage of supply, and sudden selling pressure can emerge when they move, significantly impacting price stability.

HAWK Token Distribution/CoinMarketCap
HAWK Token Distribution/CoinMarketCap

HAWK Token Distribution/CoinMarketCap

HAWK vs Other Major Meme Coins

Meme coins have a general idea but have different themes. Some, like Dogecoin, Shiba Inu, and BabyDoge, are inspired by dogs. Pepe is frog-themed, and POPCAT and Wiki Cat are cat-themed.

However, HAWK comes with a different narrative. It promotes Welch, the face behind the popular Hawk Tuah move. Additionally, it is a celebrity meme coin, a category that draws more caution among investors due to several cases of rug pulls and temporary hype.

HAWK vs DOGE vs SHIB Table

HAWK vs DOGE vs SHIB Table
HAWK vs DOGE vs SHIB Table

HAWK vs DOGE vs SHIB Table

Dogecoin remains the most recognizable meme coin due to its long history and mainstream visibility. Meanwhile, Shiba Inu expanded beyond meme culture through ecosystem initiatives and decentralized applications.

HAWK, by comparison, remains earlier in its development cycle and still depends heavily on viral momentum and online engagement.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What blockchain is HAWK on?

Hawk Tuah is on the Solana network, with the contract address “HAWKThXRcNL9ZGZKqgUXLm4W8tnRZ7U6MVdEepSutj34.”

What is the total supply of HAWK?

The total supply of HAWK is 9.99 billion tokens, and all are already in circulation.

Is HAWK safe to buy?

HAWK carries the same risks commonly associated with meme coins, including volatility, liquidity concerns, and speculative market behavior. Users should always verify contract details and remain cautious when interacting with these tokens.

Top 10 AI Crypto Coins to Invest in 2026 by Market Cap

Abdulkarim Abdulwahab
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Top 10 AI Crypto Coins to Invest in 2026 by Market Cap

Artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping the crypto market. While companies like OpenAI, Google, and Microsoft race to centralize AI power, a parallel movement is building open, decentralized AI networks on the blockchain. These are best crypto coins to invest, and in 2026, they represent one of the most compelling investment narratives in the entire digital asset space.

This guide covers everything you need to know: what AI crypto coins actually are, why they matter, and which 10 projects are worth watching right now. These projects were selected for their real utility, market-cap leadership, and genuine growth potential.

What Are AI (Artificial Intelligence) Crypto Coins?

AI crypto coins are tokens that power blockchain-based projects in which artificial intelligence is integrated into the core infrastructure. These projects generally fall into five distinct categories:

  • Decentralized compute networks — platforms where anyone can rent GPU power for AI training and inference (e.g., Render, Akash Network)
  • AI model training platforms — open networks where machine learning models compete, collaborate, and earn rewards (e.g., Bittensor)
  • Data infrastructure projects — tools that supply and organize the data pipelines AI models depend on (e.g., The Graph)
  • AI agent platforms — ecosystems where autonomous software agents transact, coordinate, and execute tasks on behalf of users (e.g., Virtuals Protocol, Fetch.ai)
  • AI-native blockchains — Layer-1 chains architected specifically to support AI workloads and agent-based applications (e.g., NEAR Protocol, Internet Computer)

The critical question for any project in this space is this: if the token were removed, would the product still function? For some strong AI coins, the answer is no. For most “AI-branded” altcoins, the answer is yes. That distinction separates genuine investments from hype.

Why Invest in AI Crypto Coins?

Several structural forces are converging to make 2026 a pivotal year for the AI sector.

The GPU crunch is real. NVIDIA’s GTC keynote in March 2026 projected $1 trillion in chip demand through 2027, sending AI tokens surging across the board. Decentralized compute networks are uniquely positioned to capture demand in a supply-constrained market.

Agentic AI is becoming the dominant narrative. The shift from AI tools to autonomous AI agents — software that plans, executes, and transacts on behalf of users — is driving new token utility across multiple platforms. 

Illia Polosukhin, co-founder of NEAR Protocol, stated in early 2026 that “AI agents will be the primary users of blockchain.”

Meanwhile, institutional capital is arriving. Grayscale and Bitwise have both filed for spot ETFs covering Bittensor’s TAO token. This move could open traditional capital inflows to the broader AI crypto sector.

Beyond the macro picture, AI tokens also offer unique portfolio diversification. They respond to AI-specific catalysts such as spikes in chip demand, major model launches, and research breakthroughs. As a result, they may move independently of broader crypto sentiment tied to Bitcoin and Ethereum market cycles.

Top 10 AI Crypto Coins to Invest in 2026 by Market Cap

1. Bittensor — The Decentralized AI Marketplace

  • Price: $296
  • 90-day gains: 89%
  • Market cap: $3.2 billion

Bittensor sits at the top of the AI crypto hierarchy, and for good reason. It operates a decentralized, peer-to-peer machine learning network in which AI models compete to provide computational services across domain-specific subnets.

Contributors earn TAO tokens based on the quality of their outputs. The network now supports up to 128 specialized subnets, with Subnet 64 (Novelty Space) introducing serverless AI compute with Trusted Execution Environment (TEE) capabilities.

In December 2025, Bittensor completed its first halving, reducing daily TAO issuance from 7,200 to 3,600 tokens. The same deflationary mechanism drove Bitcoin supply shocks in 2020 and 2024. TAO has a hard cap of 21 million tokens.

Backed by Polychain Capital, which has invested more than $200 million, and founded by former Google engineer Jacob Steeves, Bittensor carries a level of institutional credibility that most AI crypto projects lack.

Grayscale has filed for a standalone Bittensor ETF with the SEC, with a decision expected in August 2026.

2. NEAR Protocol — The AI-Native Blockchain

  • Price: $1.58
  • 90-day gains: 59%
  • Market cap: $2.01 billion

NEAR Protocol has repositioned itself as the infrastructure layer for “agentic commerce,” enabling autonomous AI agents to transact on behalf of users. 

Its system delivers transaction finality in under 600 milliseconds, and the team has benchmarked 1 million transactions per second during testing.

In February 2026, NEAR Protocol launched its near.com super app, combining AI capabilities with confidential transactions. The network’s high throughput, fast finality, and developer-first design make it attractive for real-time AI execution and autonomous on-chain systems.

3. Internet Computer (ICP) — Fully On-Chain AI Execution

  • Price: $2.97
  • 90-day gains: 28%
  • Market cap: $1.64 billion

Internet Computer takes one of the most ambitious approaches in the space: running AI models fully on-chain without relying on traditional cloud providers. Unlike most blockchains, which process transactions while routing heavy computation off-chain, ICP can host and execute AI workloads directly within its network.

ICP ranks among the top projects for developer activity, alongside Filecoin, Chainlink, and NEAR Protocol. Its chain-key cryptography enables smart contracts to interact directly with other blockchains and the internet, making it a uniquely self-contained AI infrastructure layer.

4. Artificial Superintelligence Alliance / FET (ASI) — The AI Agent Economy

  • Price: $0.21
  • 90-day gains: 33%
  • Market cap: $477 million

The Artificial Superintelligence Alliance, formed through the merger of Fetch.ai, SingularityNET, and Ocean Protocol, represents one of the most ambitious coalitions in the AI crypto sector.

The combined FET token, now trading as ASI, unifies three complementary ecosystems: autonomous agents (Fetch.ai), AI services marketplaces (SingularityNET), and data markets (Ocean Protocol).

Fetch.ai’s agent infrastructure allows AI systems to interact, negotiate, and execute tasks independently. The ecosystem supports automation, AI-driven services, and one of the most recognizable brands in AI crypto.

5. Render — Decentralized GPU Power

  • Price: $1.87
  • 90-day gains: 43%
  • Market cap: $967 million

Render connects studios and developers that need GPU power with users who have excess computing capacity. It originally launched as a platform for 3D rendering. However, it has since expanded into AI training and inference, benefiting from the ongoing GPU shortage across the AI industry.

When users render 3D projects on Render, they pay with RENDER tokens. This creates a direct relationship between real network usage and token demand. As a result, Render is widely considered one of the few AI crypto projects with measurable and steadily growing on-chain activity.

Its Dispersed subnet, which handles AI and general computing tasks, showed consistent usage growth through March 2026, according to monthly reports from the Render Network Foundation.

RENDER’s price also rose sharply in early 2026 as enthusiasm around AI and increasing demand for NVIDIA chips boosted investor interest in AI-related tokens.

6. The Graph (GRT) — Helping AI Access Blockchain Data

  • Price: $0.02788
  • 90-day gains: 4.48%
  • Market cap: $300 million

The Graph helps developers and AI-powered applications access blockchain data more efficiently. Its subgraph technology allows applications to retrieve specific on-chain information without the need to build custom indexing systems.

The project is widely used across DeFi and Web3 applications, and its 2026 roadmap increasingly focuses on AI agents and real-time data services.

As more AI tools begin interacting with blockchains, The Graph could benefit from the growing demand for reliable on-chain data infrastructure.

7. Virtuals Protocol (VIRTUAL) — The AI Agent Economy Platform

  • Price: $0.763
  • 90-day gains: 43%
  • Market cap: $505 million

Virtuals Protocol has become one of the fastest-growing projects in the AI agent sector. The platform allows developers to create, launch, and monetize AI agents that can operate and interact on-chain autonomously.

In early 2026, Virtuals Protocol added support for multiple blockchains and introduced Virtuals Console, a no-code tool that makes it easier for users to build AI agents. The project also expanded across networks such as Arbitrum, XRP Ledger, and BNB Chain.

With AI agents emerging as one of crypto’s biggest trends in 2026, Virtuals Protocol is positioning itself as a key platform for building and trading these autonomous systems.

8. Akash Network (AKT) — Cheaper Cloud Computing for AI

  • Price: $0.7904
  • 90-day gains: 154%
  • Market cap: $236 million

Akash Network is a decentralized cloud computing marketplace where users can rent GPU power at significantly lower prices than major providers such as Amazon Web Services or Google Cloud. Its system enables providers to compete on price, helping customers reduce AI computing costs.

In 2026, Akash Network introduced its Burn-Mint Equilibrium (BME) upgrade, which directly links AKT token burns to network usage.

When users purchase cloud computing services, AKT tokens are bought and burned, reducing the circulating supply over time. The network has also partnered with AI platforms such as Venice.ai and FLock.io to expand decentralized AI computing services.

As AI companies search for more affordable GPU access, Akash Network is becoming an increasingly popular alternative because of its lower costs and growing AI integrations.

9. SKYAI (SKYAI) — Multi-Chain AI Data Infrastructure

  • Price: $0.3637
  • 90-day gains: 867%
  • Market cap: Approximately $363 million

SKYAI is an AI infrastructure project built around an extended Model Context Protocol (MCP) that connects AI systems to blockchain data across multiple chains. It focuses on making on-chain data usable for large language models and AI agents.

The platform aggregates more than 10 billion rows of data from networks such as BNB Chain and Solana to create a unified data layer for AI applications. It also introduces an MCP marketplace where data providers can monetize their datasets.

SKYAI has gained strong momentum because of its high-growth narrative surrounding AI agents and data infrastructure. However, its price remains highly sensitive to market sentiment, exchange listings, and execution of its roadmap, particularly the planned MCP marketplace launch.

10. Siren (SIREN) — AI Agent Token Inspired by Mythology

  • Price: $0.5145
  • 90-day gains: 333%
  • Market cap: Approximately $373.93 million

Siren is an AI agent token built around a themed AI system called SirenAI, inspired by Greek mythology. The project features a dual-personality AI agent designed to provide both conservative guidance and high-risk strategic insights.

The token has experienced strong price momentum driven by AI-related hype and exchange listings, including major perpetual trading support on platforms such as Bybit, MEXC, and Binance Alpha.

However, on-chain data indicates heavy token concentration, with a large portion of the supply controlled by a small number of wallets. Despite this, Siren continues to attract attention because of its strong AI narrative and previous explosive rallies tied to exchange-related catalysts.

Are AI Crypto Coins a Good Investment in 2026?

Yes. As part of a diversified portfolio, AI crypto coins could be a worthwhile investment, but they also carry significant risk. The industry currently has strong momentum:

  • Demand for AI computing power is growing rapidly.
  • GPU shortages remain a major issue.
  • More companies and institutions are paying attention to decentralized AI networks.
  • Investors are beginning to distinguish serious projects from hype-driven ones.

In 2026, the strongest projects are those with real usage and revenue. A simple way to evaluate AI crypto projects is to focus on four key factors:

  • Real utility: Does the token actually power AI services such as computing, data sharing, or AI agents, or is it simply using “AI” as a marketing label?
  • Developer activity: Are developers actively building on the platform? Strong developer communities matter more than short-term price movements.
  • Tokenomics: Well-designed projects often limit supply or reward long-term holders.
  • Liquidity: Can the token be bought and sold easily without large price swings? Larger, heavily traded tokens are generally safer.

Risks of Investing in AI Crypto Coins

No investment discussion is complete without an honest assessment of the risks. AI crypto is one of the most exciting sectors in digital assets, but it is also one of the most volatile. Here are the main risks investors should understand:

Competition From Major AI Companies

Large centralized AI firms such as OpenAI have enormous funding and resources. For example, OpenAI closed a $110 billion funding round at a $730 billion valuation in early 2026. Decentralized AI projects must offer solutions that are cheaper, faster, or more innovative in order to remain competitive.

Price Volatility

AI crypto tokens can rise rapidly and decline just as quickly. Even established projects such as Render and Bittensor experience significant price swings during crypto market downturns.

Execution Risk

Many projects promise ambitious technology but fail to deliver. Delays, technical issues, or weak leadership can quickly damage investor confidence.

Regulatory Uncertainty

Crypto regulations continue to evolve globally. New laws related to crypto trading, securities classification, or AI governance could affect token prices and adoption.

Token Dilution

Some projects release large quantities of new tokens over time. This can reduce value for existing holders, even if the underlying project continues to grow.

Fake “AI” Projects

With over 900 AI crypto projects tracked by CoinGecko and CoinMarketCap, many are not genuine AI infrastructure plays. A large number rely on AI branding without meaningful integration.

How to Buy AI Crypto Coins

Buying AI crypto tokens follows a process similar to purchasing any other digital asset.

Step 1: Choose a Reputable Exchange

Some of the best exchanges for buying AI crypto coins in 2026 include Binance, Coinbase, Kraken, OKX, and Gate.io.

Most leading AI tokens, including Bittensor (TAO), NEAR Protocol (NEAR), Internet Computer (ICP), Render (RENDER), FET, and The Graph (GRT), are available on at least two or three of these platforms. Smaller-cap projects may require decentralized exchanges such as Uniswap or Raydium.

Step 2: Complete KYC Verification

Most regulated exchanges require identity verification. This process typically takes between 15 and 30 minutes.

Step 3: Deposit Funds

You can fund your account using fiat currencies such as USD, EUR, or NGN (via P2P services), or by transferring existing crypto assets such as Bitcoin or USDT.

Step 4: Place Your Order

Use a limit order if you want to control your entry price. For smaller-cap tokens with lower liquidity, market orders may lead to significant slippage.

Step 5: Secure Your Holdings

For long-term holdings, transfer your tokens to a self-custody wallet such as Ledger, Trezor, or another compatible software wallet. Avoid keeping substantial holdings on exchanges.

Step 6: Diversify Across the AI Stack

Rather than concentrating your portfolio in a single token, consider spreading exposure across different categories, such as compute networks (Render, Akash), model networks (Bittensor), agent platforms (FET, Virtuals), and data infrastructure (The Graph, Ocean Protocol). 

This approach reduces single-project risk while maintaining exposure to the sector’s growth potential.

FAQs

Which AI Crypto Coin Has the Highest Market Cap?

Bittensor (TAO) currently leads the AI crypto sector with a market capitalization of approximately $3.2 billion, followed by NEAR Protocol and Internet Computer (ICP).

TAO’s position reflects its status as one of the most established decentralized AI model networks, supported by institutional investment and a deflationary supply model.

Can AI Crypto Coins Make You Rich in 2026?

They can, and they already have for some investors.

SKYAI surged more than 750% over the past 60 days, while Siren gained more than 331% over the past three months. 

However, the same volatility that creates these gains can also reverse them quickly. Some AI tokens remain down between 60% and 73% since the beginning of the year, with little recovery so far.

In other words, AI crypto coins are best approached as a calculated component of a diversified crypto portfolio, not as a get-rich-quick scheme. Proper position sizing, stop-loss strategies, and a genuine understanding of each project are essential.

What Are the Best Crypto Exchanges for Buying AI Crypto Coins?

  • Binance — highest liquidity for major AI tokens, including TAO, RENDER, NEAR, FET, and GRT
  • Coinbase — regulated and U.S.-friendly, with support for AKT, NEAR, ICP, and GRT
  • Kraken — strong reputation for security and support for most major AI tokens
  • OKX — competitive fees and a strong selection of mid-cap AI tokens
  • Gate.io — broader access to smaller-cap AI tokens and newer listings
  • Uniswap / Raydium — decentralized options for tokens not yet listed on centralized exchanges

Will AI Crypto Coins Boom in 2026?

The structural conditions for a major rally appear to be in place: institutional ETF filings for TAO, GPU shortages driving demand for decentralized compute networks, the rise of agentic AI from theory to deployable products, and projections from BlackRock estimating between $5 trillion and $8 trillion in AI-related capital expenditure between 2025 and 2030.

Whether this results in a broad “boom” across all AI tokens will depend heavily on overall crypto market conditions, particularly the trajectory of Bitcoin and macroeconomic factors such as interest rates and investor risk appetite.

The general consensus among analysts in 2026 is that the growth of AI tokens is not a question of if, but when. Investors who focus on real utility rather than hype-driven narratives are likely to be in the strongest position to benefit.

Top 10 Crypto Coins With 1000x Potential in 2026

Lele Jima
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0
Top 10 Crypto Coins With 1000x Potential in 2026

The cryptocurrency market has repeatedly shown that small-cap and emerging blockchain projects can deliver explosive returns during strong bull cycles. Shiba Inu demonstrated this clearly in its early days, as the token surged by millions of percent within a year.

However, finding the next “1000x coin” remains extremely challenging. Despite this, investors continue searching for high-potential crypto assets ahead of the 2026 bull market. In this guide, The Crypto Basic explores the top 10 crypto coins with 1000x potential in 2026. It also explains how investors identify these projects, the best accumulation strategies, and the risks involved.

Explore the top 10 crypto coins to invest with the potential for 1000x gains in 2026, including elizaOS, Monad, Midnight, and Zora.

What Does “1000x Potential” Mean in Crypto?

A crypto coin with 1000x potential is an asset capable of increasing 1,000 times its current value. To put this into perspective, a $100 investment could theoretically grow to $100,000 if it achieves a 1000x increase. Likewise, a token priced at $0.001 could rise to $1. A project with a $10 million market cap could also expand to $10 billion.

However, 1000x gains are extremely rare. They usually occur in early-stage projects with very low market caps, strong communities, unique technology, and rapid adoption during bull markets. Viral investor attention also plays a major role.

Historically, coins like Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, and Shiba Inu delivered massive gains to early investors. However, many speculative projects with similar characteristics eventually failed. Therefore, risk management remains essential.

How To Identify Crypto Coins With 1000x Potential in 2026

The crypto market is heavily saturated. CoinMarketCap currently tracks more than 8,400 cryptocurrencies. As a result, identifying the next 1000x project has become increasingly difficult.

Nonetheless, investors can improve their chances by focusing on several key factors instead of chasing hype alone.

Low Market Caps

Projects with smaller market caps often have greater growth potential. In contrast, coins already valued at hundreds of billions of dollars are unlikely to generate 1000x returns. Assets valued at less than $1 billion generally offer greater upside potential.

Tokenomics

Strong tokenomics also matters. Projects with staking incentives, burn mechanisms, low circulating supply, and healthy vesting schedules tend to attract stronger investor interest. These factors can support long-term price growth.

Strong Community

Communities play a major role in crypto adoption. Viral attention on platforms like X, Discord, Telegram, and Reddit can rapidly increase momentum and visibility.

Active Development

Strong developer activity often reflects long-term commitment from project teams. In addition, frequent GitHub updates, strategic partnerships, and major network upgrades usually improve investor confidence.

Market Narrative Alignment

The biggest crypto winners often align with dominant market narratives. In 2026, major narratives may include AI, real-world assets (RWA), privacy-focused protocols, and scalable Layer-2 ecosystems.

Top 10 Crypto Coins With 1000x Potential in 2026 (Overview) 

Rank Crypto Coin Ticker Market Cap Narrative Growth Potential Risk
1 Kyuzo’s Friends KO $2.7 million Gaming + AI Very High High
2 elizaOS ELIZAOS $7.3 million AI + Meme Very High Very High
3 Nosana NOS $25.6 million AI + DePIN High Very High
4 aPriori APR $36 million Liquid Staking + MEV Optimization Very High High
5 ZEROBASE ZBT $39.5 million Privacy + Layer-2 Scaling Very High High
6 Zora ZORA Below $56 million SocialFi + NFT Very High High
7 Peanut the Squirrel PNUT $58.5 million Meme High High
8 Monad MONAD $353 million Parallel EVM Medium Medium
9 Midnight NIGHT $536 million Privacy + Layer-2 Scaling Medium Low
10 Aster ASTER $1.75 billion Next-Gen DeFi + DEX Low Low

1. Kyuzo’s Friends (KO)

Launched in 2025, Kyuzo’s Friends (KO) is a community-driven crypto project focused on gaming, NFTs, and digital social engagement. The platform aims to create an interactive ecosystem where users participate in gamified experiences and community rewards.

Interest in SocialFi and blockchain gaming continues to grow rapidly. Therefore, KO could attract strong attention as Web3 entertainment adoption expands. Its low market cap of under $3 million also increases its potential upside.

2. elizaOS (ELIZAOS)

Formerly known as ai16z, elizaOS (ELIZAOS) combines artificial intelligence and decentralized finance to create AI-driven investment and governance systems for Web3 ecosystems. The platform uses autonomous AI agents to analyze market trends, optimize strategies, and improve decentralized decision-making.

Analysts believe the project could experience massive growth in 2026 due to rising interest in AI. As AI-focused crypto narratives continue dominating investor attention, elizaOS may emerge as a major player in the AI blockchain sector. 

3. Nosana (NOS)

Nosana (NOS) is a decentralized GPU computing platform built to support artificial intelligence workloads and cloud computing services. The platform allows users to share idle computing resources while helping developers access affordable distributed infrastructure.

AI and decentralized computing remain one of the strongest narratives in crypto. Consequently, demand for decentralized computing power could increase significantly in 2026, potentially positioning Nosana for major growth. 

4. aPriori (APR)

aPriori is a native liquid staking and MEV optimization protocol built on the EVM-compatible Monad blockchain. The platform allows users to stake MON tokens in exchange for aprMON, a liquid staking asset that can be deployed across the Monad DeFi ecosystem to generate additional yield.

Beyond staking, aPriori integrates MEV-powered infrastructure and AI-driven order flow tools like Swapr to maximize rewards and trading efficiency. Given its early position in the Monad ecosystem, some analysts believe aPriori could deliver substantial gains in 2026. 

5. ZEROBASE (ZBT)

ZEROBASE (ZBT) develops privacy-enhanced blockchain infrastructure using zero-knowledge technology to improve scalability and secure data verification. The project aims to support efficient decentralized applications while protecting user and enterprise data.

Although the beta platform launched in December 2024, the ZBT token debuted on exchanges earlier in October 2025 across Binance, Bybit, and Upbit. Since zero-knowledge technology remains one of crypto’s strongest narratives, Zerobase could become a major contender in Web3 infrastructure in 2026. 

6. Zora (ZORA)

Zora (ZORA) is a decentralized creator ecosystem that allows artists, developers, and communities to mint, share, and monetize digital content on-chain. The ZORA token launched in April 2025, four years after its NFT platform debuted on Ethereum.

The project focuses heavily on empowering creators through open NFT infrastructure and decentralized media tools. Supporters believe ZORA could experience substantial growth as the creator economy and Web3 social platforms continue evolving. 

7. Peanut the Squirrel (PNUT)

Peanut the Squirrel (PNUT) is a Solana-based meme coin project that combines viral internet culture with community-driven tokenomics. Although meme coins remain highly speculative, strong social engagement and online momentum can trigger explosive rallies during bullish market cycles.

PNUT’s branding and active community position it as a potential standout meme token in the next altcoin season. After reaching a peak valuation of $2 billion shortly after launch, the token later crashed by 97%. However, this sharp correction flushed out speculative leverage and pushed the project into a deeper accumulation phase. Therefore, renewed buying pressure could trigger another strong rally. 

8. Monad (MONAD)

Monad is a high-performance Layer-1 blockchain designed to provide Ethereum compatibility alongside significantly faster throughput and lower latency. The network focuses on improving transaction execution while maintaining decentralization and scalability.

Meanwhile, demand for faster smart contract platforms continues to rise. As a result, Monad has positioned itself as a promising infrastructure project capable of attracting developers, DeFi applications, and institutional interest. Although its valuation already exceeds $300 million, MONAD could still deliver strong gains if momentum around scalable blockchains accelerates.

9. Midnight (NIGHT)

Midnight is a next-generation blockchain that uses zero-knowledge proof technology to deliver programmable privacy while maintaining compliance and data ownership. The network enables applications to protect sensitive transaction, user, and business data while still supporting selective regulatory disclosure. 

The project operates on a dual-token structure, featuring NIGHT and DUST. Since launching in December 2025, NIGHT has gained strong traction and now trades across multiple exchanges, including Binance. Analysts believe demand for privacy-preserving infrastructure could drive significant growth for the project in 2026.

10. Aster (ASTER)

ASTER powers Aster DEX, a next-generation decentralized exchange designed to improve on-chain trading. The platform combines spot and perpetual trading markets into a unified ecosystem for global users.

The project runs on Aster Chain, a high-performance privacy-focused Layer-1 network built by YZi Labs. In addition, the ecosystem eliminates front-running through native MEV-free execution. ASTER has attracted attention due to backing from Binance founder Changpeng Zhao. As adoption continues to grow, ASTER could become one of the major gainers in 2026. 

Investment Strategies to Maximize Gains on 1000x Coins

Investing in high-risk altcoins requires patience, discipline, and a clear strategy. Even promising projects can experience severe volatility.

Dollar-Cost Averaging Into High-Potential Altcoins

Dollar-cost averaging (DCA) involves investing fixed amounts at regular intervals rather than making a single large purchase. This strategy allows investors to buy more tokens during dips and gradually lower their average entry price.

DCA offers several advantages:

  • Reduces emotional trading
  • Limits volatility impact
  • Helps avoid poor market timing
  • Builds positions gradually

When to Enter and Exit a Potential 1000x Crypto Trade

Timing remains one of the most important factors in crypto investing, especially when targeting high-growth assets.

Entry Strategies

Investors often monitor:

  • Rapid ecosystem growth
  • Rising developer activity
  • Price breakouts after consolidation
  • Major exchange listings
  • Increasing on-chain activity
  • Strong bull market momentum

Exit Strategies

Experienced investors usually take profits gradually rather than holding through extreme volatility. Common strategies include:

  • Selling portions after major rallies
  • Recovering initial capital early
  • Using trailing stop-loss strategies
  • Rebalancing portfolios periodically

Maintaining discipline and avoiding emotional decisions often proves critical in highly volatile markets.

Risks of Investing in Potential 1000x Crypto Coins

Although early-stage cryptocurrencies can generate massive returns, they also carry significant risks. They include: 

Extreme Volatility

Small-cap cryptocurrencies are highly volatile. Prices can rise or fall dramatically within short periods.

Liquidity Risks

Many early-stage projects have low trading volume and weak liquidity. Consequently, investors may struggle to exit positions during sharp market declines.

Regulatory Uncertainty

Governments worldwide continue developing cryptocurrency regulations. These policies could negatively impact specific sectors, projects, or exchanges.

Project Failure

There is also the risk that the project might fail abruptly due to weak adoption, poor tokenomics, security vulnerabilities, and limited funding. 

Market Manipulation

Low-cap cryptocurrencies remain highly vulnerable to pump-and-dump schemes, whale activity, and speculative manipulation. Due to these risks, investors should diversify across multiple assets and avoid investing more than they can afford to lose in speculative crypto projects. 

Cardano Millionaires Now Hold Over 25,000,000,000 ADA For the First Time Ever

Elendu Benedict
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0
Cardano Millionaires Now Hold Over 25,000,000,000 ADA For the First Time Ever

Large Cardano holders have continued to increase their exposure to ADA, even as the asset has faced a prolonged market downturn.

Santiment data shows that Cardano millionaires have been buying ADA increasingly since December 2023, gradually tightening their control over the circulating supply. This persistent acquisition, regardless of market uncertainties, has seen their stash reach unprecedented heights.

Key Points

  • Cardano millionaires have been buying ADA increasingly since December 2023.
  • Wallets holding at least 1 million ADA now collectively control 25.09 billion ADA, marking a new all-time high.
  • These ADA millionaires now hold 67.47% of the asset’s current supply in circulation.
  • The accumulation trend stands out because it continued throughout one of Cardano’s weakest market periods in recent years.

Cardano Whales Cross 25 Billion Token Threshold

Specifically, wallets holding at least 1 million ADA now collectively hold 25.09 billion ADA, marking a new all-time high in the amount of Cardano held by these addresses. An accompanying chart shows that their holdings have continued to expand since late 2023, climbing 14% from around 22 billion to their current level.

Cardano Millionaires Cross 25 Billion ADA/Santiment
Cardano Millionaires Cross 25 Billion ADA/Santiment

Meanwhile, these ADA whales now hold 67.47% of the asset’s current supply in circulation. This is the highest share of supply they have held since July 2020, as they continue to accumulate the tokens that weak hands are selling amid the price weakness.

Notably, such accumulation reflects real conviction in Cardano’s future price trajectory. These major holders still view current ADA prices as attractive relative to how high it could go in the mid- to long-term.

ADA Whales Accumulate Despite 71% Dip

Moreover, the accumulation trend stands out because it continued throughout one of Cardano’s weakest market periods in recent years. Over the past nine months alone, ADA’s market capitalization has dropped by roughly 71% to $9.5 billion, reflecting broader weakness across the altcoin sector and declining speculative activity.

Its price has also followed suit. In August 2025, ADA reached an intra-month high of $1.02 but has since dropped 74.5% to the current market price of $0.26.

Despite that decline, however, larger holders never significantly reduced their positions. Instead, these ADA millionaire wallets consistently added to existing balances.

Historically, extended accumulation phases from larger wallets often emerge during periods of low market confidence, especially when retail participation declines after prolonged corrections.

Recent analysis also identified a similar accumulation activity among holders of at least 10 million ADA. The number of addresses in this category ballooned to a 4-month high in April, highlighting heavy accumulation among large market participants. Notably, such activity drives the next recovery phase.

Cardano Market Activity Shows Uncertainty

While whale accumulation has remained consistent, current market activity shows uncertainty.

Cardano futures outflow has continued to grow in the past 24 hours, as more traders exit their derivative positions. Specifically, $177 million flowed out while $162 million flowed in, reflecting this cautious stance.

Cardano Futures Flow/Coinglass
Cardano Futures Flow/Coinglass

The decline in ADA open interest further confirms this. The value of all open futures contracts across all exchanges has dropped 3.58% to $543 million in the past 24 hours, as derivative traders start to look elsewhere.

However, Cardano spot flows show more ADA tokens are leaving exchanges than entering over the past 24 hours. Net inflows stand at -$3 million, as retail traders appear to have started buying ADA, further reducing selling pressure.

Ripple CEO Shares Reasons XRP is Unique in Latest Presentation

Sam Wisdom Raphael
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0
Ripple CEO Shares Reasons XRP is Unique in Latest Presentation

Brad Garlinghouse, the Ripple CEO, recently shared reasons XRP is unique amid the multiple assets that have emerged in the crypto ecosystem.

Garlinghouse shared his thoughts during a new episode of the company’s “Crypto in a Minute” series, recorded at the recently concluded XRP Las Vegas 2026 event and rebranded as “XRP in a Minute” specifically for the occasion.

Key Points

  • Ripple CEO Garlinghouse recently shared multiple reasons XRP is unique.
  • According to him, the original architects built the XRPL with the specific purpose of improving payments.
  • He pointed out that XRP settles transactions in 3-5 seconds with fees costing only fractions of a penny.
  • The XRP Ledger has processed over 4 billion transactions, proving its ability to scale.
  • A May 2026 pilot with JPMorgan and Mastercard settled tokenized assets in under 5 seconds.

Ripple CEO Explains Why XRP is Unique 

In the presentation, Garlinghouse pointed out the early days of the XRP Ledger. He explained that the people who created it had previously worked on the core of Bitcoin. From that experience, they saw a chance to build something more focused, something designed to solve real problems in payments.

According to Garlinghouse, this purpose is what makes XRP different. Instead of trying to handle everything, the network was built with one goal in mind: making payments faster and more efficient. This focus influenced how the system works today.

Garlinghouse mentioned speed as one of XRP’s biggest strengths. He pointed out that transactions on the network settle in three to five seconds, which makes it much faster than many other systems. He also highlighted the low cost, explaining that fees are just fractions of a penny per transaction.

The Ripple CEO added that the network can handle large volumes of activity. So far, it has processed over four billion transactions, confirming that it can scale while keeping performance steady. Essentially, these features form the core of XRP’s appeal.

He also spoke about the role of the community. He described XRP users as a strong and active group, often calling them the “XRP family,” and sometimes the “XRP army,” depending on the situation. In his view, this support helps keep the network growing and relevant.

According to him, when you combine all these factors, including speed, affordability, scalability, community, and long-term reliability, you get a system that stands out and is well placed for future growth.

Data Supports XRPL’s Capabilities

The available data backs up many of Garlinghouse’s points. The network consistently completes transactions in 3-5 seconds, which puts it close to systems like Visa that handle authorization in 2-4 seconds. 

At the same time, it is much faster than Bitcoin, which takes about 10 minutes per block and around 60 minutes for full confirmation, and also quicker than Ethereum, which often takes 13 seconds or more depending on conditions.

Meanwhile, costs remain very low, usually below $0.01, and often between $0.0002 and $0.000856. Even when activity increases, fees stay stable, and the network rarely faces major congestion issues.

The system also performs well under load. Specifically, it can handle about 1,500 transactions per second (TPS) in real conditions, with higher limits in theory. Recent data shows it has sustained over 120 TPS, with each batch processing around 600 to 700 transactions.

Rising Usage and Real-World Adoption

Also, usage of the network has grown steadily. Total transactions have passed 4 billion, in line with Garlinghouse’s statement, with reports showing about 4.28 billion by early 2026.

Daily activity has also increased, moving from 1 to 1.2 million transactions in mid-2025 to peaks between 2.7 million and 4.49 million in March and April 2026. Monthly averages have stayed above 1 million transactions in early 2026.

The XRP Ledger has been around since 2012, built to fix issues in cross-border payments such as slow processing and high costs linked to traditional banking systems. 

Unlike Bitcoin, which focuses on being a store of value, or Ethereum, which supports various application types, XRPL was designed mainly for fast and low-cost transfers. It also included features like a built-in exchange and token support from the start. Over time, it has remained reliable, closing more than 100 million ledgers.

More recently, institutions have started to test its utility. Earlier this month, Ripple worked with JPMorgan’s Kinexys, Mastercard, and Ondo Finance on a pilot involving tokenized U.S. Treasuries (OUSG). The blockchain part of the transaction settled in under 5 seconds, followed by a payout in U.S. dollars.

At the same time, the ecosystem continues to grow with stablecoins like RLUSD, more decentralized finance activity, and close to 27,000 automated market maker pools. This growth is happening as rules around crypto continue to evolve, including discussions like the CLARITY Act.

XRP Is Not Dead, It Is Compressed—Analyst Predicts Most Hated Rally

Elendu Benedict
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0
XRP Is Not Dead, It Is Compressed—Analyst Predicts Most Hated Rally

XRP continues to trade within a long-term structure amid years of market compression; still, analysts believe a price rally is coming.

This period of compression has cast doubt among several enthusiasts. However, a few such as Cryptollica remain optimistic. The analyst noted that XRP is not dead but is gaining momentum to continue its “most hated rally” to higher price levels.

Key Points

  • XRP has been respecting a rising support trendline that has remained intact for nearly a decade.
  • At the same time, the asset has repeatedly struggled to break through major resistance zones.
  • An analysis suggests the token is undergoing compression, as years of pressure have been trapped within a single chart.
  • History shows that the current setup has preceded a strong price uptrend, with a potential target of $20.

XRP Long-Term Setup

Cryptollica attached a 10-day chart showing that XRP has been respecting a rising support trendline that has remained intact for nearly a decade. At the same time, the asset has repeatedly struggled beneath major resistance zones, creating a prolonged compression that dates back to the 2017/2018 bull cycle.

XRP Analysis/Cryptollica
XRP Analysis/Cryptollica

The market watcher sees a compression, not a collapse. He highlighted that years of pressure have been trapped within a single chart. This suggests that the consequence of a breakout from this long-term structure will be massive. Meanwhile, the structure itself never fully broke down, keeping the prospect of a breakout intact.

XRP Still Holds Its Multi-Year Higher-Low Structure

The chart highlights a clear sequence of higher lows forming along an ascending support trendline. Even during deeper corrections, XRP continued to defend this crucial trendline.

Above are different layers of ascending resistance trendlines that come together to form a price range. Within this channel, the upper and mid-level trendlines have acted as strong supply points for XRP.

The former marked XRP’s peak in January 2018, and the latter has repeatedly impeded further upsides. Some instances are at $0.78 in September 2018, $1.41 in September 2021, $3.40 in January 2025, and $3.67 in July 2025.

Meanwhile, within this structure is a crucial descending trendline. This dynamic resistance started forming from the January 2018 peak and capped higher prices until a breakout in November 2024.

After this breakout, XRP rallied to the January and July 2025 peaks, where it faced resistance. Currently, it seems to be retesting this descending trendline, with earlier corrective momentum pushing prices close to it.

History shows that this setup has preceded a strong price uptrend. For context, between 2014 and 2017, XRP spent years compressing within a similar formation before eventually breaking higher into a powerful expansion phase that reached the 2018 high.

What Needs to Happen Next

Meanwhile, the crypto cycle engine chart has begun to recover from oversold territory near the 44 level and is now targeting 60. Historically, similar resets appeared before stronger XRP momentum returned in previous cycles.

Currently, the XRP price remains trapped between support near the descending trendline and the midpoint resistance of the broader channel. A decisive break above the resistance currently near $5 sets the coin up for a massive parabolic expansion.

The analyst highlighted the next possible target as the following ascending resistance band near $20, representing a 1,298% increase from the current market price of $1.43. Meanwhile, the channel’s upper resistance trendline stands above $38, which is still a possible target.

In the meantime, the analyst encourages patience, noting that beliefs tend to fade during consolidation periods like these. However, it is when crypto becomes dangerously bullish again, rewarding the remaining few.

CLARITY Act Could Trigger Massive “Flywheel Effect,” Bitcoin Could Hit $150,000: Ric Edelman

Abdulkarim Abdulwahab
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0
CLARITY Act Could Trigger Massive “Flywheel Effect,” Bitcoin Could Hit $150,000: Ric Edelman

Legendary investor and financial adviser Ric Edelman says the upcoming CLARITY Act could become a major turning point for the Bitcoin and crypto market.

Specifically, he said it could push Bitcoin above $150,000 before the end of 2026. He shared this view in a recent interview with John Gillen on the Milk Road podcast.

Key Points

  • Ric Edelman says the CLARITY Act could fuel Bitcoin’s next major rally.
  • Edelman believes Bitcoin could surpass $150,000 before the end of 2026 as institutions enter the crypto market.
  • He argued that traditional 60/40 retirement portfolios are outdated as investors live longer and seek growth assets.
  • Edelman said firms like Morgan Stanley could drive massive crypto inflows.

$150K Bitcoin Possible by 2026 End

Edelman said the crypto market may soon enter another powerful expansion phase once regulatory clarity arrives in the United States. According to Edelman, the passage of the CLARITY Act could mark the moment Wall Street receives the “green light” to fully engage with crypto assets.

“I would not at all be surprised to see Bitcoin end the year above $150,000,” Edelman said during the discussion. He added that he still expects Bitcoin to eventually reach $500,000 before the end of the decade.

Traditional Retirement Investing Is “Out of Date”

During the interview, Edelman explained why he believes traditional portfolio strategies are becoming obsolete due to increasing human longevity.

For decades, many financial advisers have recommended the classic “60/40 portfolio,” where investors hold 60% stocks and 40% bonds. As investors age, advisers typically reduce stock exposure and increase safer assets like bonds and treasuries.

However, Edelman argued that this model no longer works in a world where people are living much longer.

He pointed to his research with institutions such as the Stanford Center on Longevity and MIT AgeLab, noting that many financial systems still assume people will die around age 85 or 90.

According to Edelman, if people increasingly live to 100, older retirement strategies may fail because investors could run out of money before they die. Because of that, he believes investors should maintain far more exposure to growth assets throughout their lives.

Instead of the traditional 60/40 strategy, Edelman proposed what he called an “80/20” model. In this, 80% of a portfolio remains in equities and growth-focused assets even into old age.

Meanwhile, he believes crypto deserves a major role within that allocation.

“And if you’re going to have 80% of your money in equities, at least 10 of the 80 ought to be in crypto,” Edelman said. He added that younger, growth-oriented investors could allocate as much as 40% to digital assets.

Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana — Or All Three?

Edelman also addressed how investors may approach crypto allocation. Rather than endorsing a single asset, he said investors can choose different strategies depending on their risk tolerance and market view.

He acknowledged Michael Saylor’s case for holding only Bitcoin, but also pointed to the growing use cases for Ethereum and Solana.

According to Edelman, many investors now use a market-cap weighted approach, allocating larger portions to Bitcoin while also holding Ethereum or Solana.

He also highlighted crypto infrastructure companies like Coinbase, Robinhood, and stablecoin issuers as another way investors can gain exposure to the sector.

CLARITY Act Could Open Wall Street Floodgates

Edelman believes the biggest catalyst ahead for crypto may be regulatory clarity in the United States. He argued that once the CLARITY Act is passed, traditional financial firms may rapidly expand crypto adoption across their businesses.

According to him, this could create a major “flywheel effect” similar to previous Bitcoin bull runs.

Edelman specifically pointed to Morgan Stanley, noting that the firm manages roughly $7 trillion in assets and has already encouraged advisers to begin allocating small percentages of portfolios to crypto.

He said even a modest 2% to 3% allocation across large Wall Street firms could drive enormous capital flows into Bitcoin and the broader crypto market.

“Well, 3% of $7 trillion is going to cause Bitcoin’s price to rise massively,” Edelman said.

He added that growing institutional adoption could accelerate momentum across the industry as rising prices attract more participation from investors and firms.

AI and Crypto Could Grow Together

Edelman also rejected the idea that investors must choose between artificial intelligence and crypto investments.

Instead, he argued that both industries may benefit from each other as adoption grows.

He pointed to examples of Bitcoin mining companies pivoting toward AI infrastructure and data center operations, saying the technologies are already beginning to merge in practical ways.

According to Edelman, the combination of AI growth, institutional crypto adoption, and clearer regulation could create a powerful long-term expansion cycle for digital assets.

“You ought to be engaging in it,” he said, warning investors against remaining on the sidelines while the industry evolves.

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