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10 Best Cheap Cryptos to Buy Under $1 in 2026

Elendu Benedict
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10 Best Cheap Cryptos to Buy Under $1 in 2026

Low-priced cryptocurrencies continue to draw attention in 2026, not because of their undervalued price, but because they offer a different kind of exposure.

This is because when prices sit below the $1 mark, even modest moves can translate into noticeable percentage changes. At the same time, this part of the market demands careful research and understanding of fundamentals, as not all under $1 coins have positive price prospects.

Currently, the crypto market is in a consolidatory phase, with most cryptocurrencies declining considerably from prior highs. Market watchers view this as a good opportunity to acquire promising coins cheaply in preparation for the next bull market.

What Defines a Strong Sub-$1 Crypto in 2026

Among the sectors vying for attention are infrastructure-focused networks, niche platforms, and sentiment-driven tokens. Some are building long-term utility around payments, tokenization, or enterprise use cases, while others rely more heavily on community momentum. In addition, narratives such as real-world asset tokenization and payments infrastructure have emerged.

Notably, a low price alone does not make an asset attractive. What matters more is how utility, supply structure, and on-chain user activity. In 2026, projects gaining traction tend to show steady network activity, a clear development roadmap, and realistic adoption pathways.

Liquidity also plays a role. Assets with consistent trading volume tend to behave more predictably than thinly traded tokens, where price swings can be exaggerated. That said, here are ten of the most promising crypto assets under $1 that have dominated crypto discussions.

10 Cheap Cryptos Under $1 Getting Attention

Hedera (HBAR)

Hedera remains one of the more established names in this range. It is a layer-1 chain built on the Hashgraph consensus model. The network’s focus on enterprise-grade applications, backed by a governing council of major corporations, gives it a different profile compared to typical retail-driven networks. 

Notably, Hedera has seen real institutional involvement, with top companies like Google, Dell, LG, and IBM in its Governing Council. For HBAR, its native token, to exist within such a high-speed, secure chain and still trade under $1 makes it an eye-catching option.

Currently, HBAR trades at $0.088, 84.5% below its all-time high of $0.57. Its market cap of $3.82 billion also leaves room for growth as market conditions improve. Its combination of real-world utility in tokenization and supply chain tracking, strong community support, and low pricing makes it one to watch as 2026 progresses. 

Per Changelly, HBAR could hit $0.206 before the end of this year, reflecting an over 134% growth from the current price.

Algorand (ALGO) 

Algorand is a decentralized layer-1 network building quietly around payments and tokenized assets. Its pure proof-of-stake design allows fast settlement with low fees, making it suitable for financial applications. Recent activity around stablecoins and real-world integrations has kept it relevant.

Recently, a Google research paper identified Algorand as one of the leading networks in quantum computer (QC) resilience. Algorand deployed the post-quantum Falcon signatures for smart transduction in 2025, a notable step that facilitates future post-QC migration.

Pricewise, ALGO trades at $0.1109, down 96% from its all-time high of $3.28. Given its proactive approach in long-term security infrastructure and strong real-world utility, analysts view the coin as a good buy at the current price of under $1. Algorand could hit $0.136 by December 2026, according to Changelly.

Stellar (XLM) 

Stellar is a public, open-source blockchain that utilizes the proof-of-agreement consensus mechanism. It focuses on cross-border payments and network interoperability. Its network is useful for transferring value quickly and cheaply, particularly in regions where traditional systems are slower or more expensive.

Furthermore, the network has utility in remittance, central bank digital currency (CBDC) pilots, and stablecoin issuance. Stellar has also seen its fair share of institutional traction, with companies like MoneyGram and Franklin Templeton building on the blockchain.

XLM, its native token, offers a low entry point at its current price of $0.1605. It is also 82.8% below its all-time high of $0.938, further amplifying its growth potential if momentum returns, making it one to watch in 2026.

Ondo (ONDO)

Ondo is the leading infrastructure provider in real-world asset (RWA) tokenized finance, particularly in facilitating the migration of traditional financial instruments on-chain. 

Industry leaders expect this sector to lead the next bull narrative, further tipping it to hit multi-trillions of dollars in the coming years.  In view of this, Ondo’s current price of under $1 is a huge undervaluation, especially if the network maintains a large share of the RWA sector.

Data from RWA.xyz shows that Ondo Finance is the second-largest platform in terms of distributed RWA value, with over $3.6 billion in assets brought on-chain through its infrastructure.

RWA Platform Ranking/RWA.xyz
RWA Platform Ranking/RWA.xyz

Despite all this, ONDO trades at $0.264 with a market cap of $1.28 billion. It is also down 87.6% from its all-time high of $2.14. Analysts view this coin as a good buy in 2026, given its strong prospects and clear utility. Changelly expects ONDO to reach $0.738 by December 2026, a 180% increase from the current market price.

Aster (ASTER)

Aster (ASTER) is a next-generation decentralized exchange (DEX) offering spot and derivative trading to users. While the dApp began on BNB Chain, it is also native to multiple blockchains like Ethereum and Solana.

ASTER has the endorsement of Binance co-founder Changpeng “CZ” Zhao, who disclosed buying over 2 million tokens in November 2025. Remarkably, he has a knack for buying gems, having disclosed buying Bitcoin at $600 in 2014 and BNB in its early stages. This prospect has brought renewed attention to the ASTER token.

Currently at $0.65 and with a market cap of $1.7 billion, ASTER is well below its prior highs. Its utility in the DEX sector, clear development roadmap, and endorsement from prominent market participants make its price development in 2026 worth closely monitoring.

Pepe (PEPE)

Pepe is a frog-themed meme coin native to the Ethereum network. Notably, the coin operates on a completely different axis. It does not rely on technology or utility in the traditional sense but instead on liquidity and cultural relevance. Its continued presence highlights how sentiment-driven assets can remain active even without a formal roadmap.

Pepe trades at $0.0000039, down 86.1% from its all-time high of $0.00002825. Despite recent retracements, its market cap remains above $1.6 billion. Notably, meme coins have shown staying power and continue to serve as a good alternative and beta play during bullish market conditions, and Pepe could be a good choice.

Prediction platform Changelly projects PEPE could recover to $0.00000548 by the end of 2026

Sui (SUI)

Sui, a layer 1 blockchain, is part of the newer generation of high-performance networks. Its architecture is designed to handle large volumes of transactions efficiently, making it attractive for applications that require scalability without sacrificing speed.

Its high scalability is attracting institutional attention. Earlier this year, Grayscale launched a Sui Staking ETF, with 21Shares debuting a similar product on traditional stock exchanges.

The utility token trades below $1, having fallen sharply from its all-time high of $5.35 following the market’s bearish turn. However, some view its current price of $0.907 as a steal and a good altcoin to gain exposure to in 2026.

Cardano (ADA) 

Cardano is a blue-chip asset that has survived the test of time. Its emphasis on research-driven development has sustained its relevance in the space. Despite criticisms of its slower rollout, the network’s focus on security and long-term design keeps it in consideration, especially as more real-world applications begin to take shape.

Notably, Cardano is slowly evolving, with deployments like Midnight and rollouts like the Ouroboros Leios aiding its course. It is also beginning to gain traction in the DeFi sector, with its TVL recently jumping to an over-1-year high.

ADA trades at $0.247, down 25% since the start of the year. It has also declined by over 90% from its all-time high of $3.10. Analysts view this as a good opportunity to buy, particularly as institutional traction begins to emerge. 

There is a growing conviction that ADA is mispriced given its potential, with projections that it could hit $10 in the future, making the current price attractive. However, this remains speculative at press time.

Kaspa (KAS) 

Layer 1 network Kaspa brings a different angle with its BlockDAG structure, allowing multiple blocks to be processed simultaneously. This approach aims to combine the strengths of proof-of-work with higher throughput, appealing to those looking for alternatives to traditional blockchain designs.

Kaspa uses the GHOSTDAG protocol, enabling sub-second block times and near-instant confirmation while maintaining decentralization. The project has use cases in payments and value transfer.

KAS also passes as a promising under-$1 token. It currently trades at $0.0324 with a market cap of $14.85 million. Changelly projects the coin would recover to $0.0451 in 2026.

Chiliz (CHZ) 

Chiliz stands out by targeting sports and blockchain fan engagement. Through its Socios.com platform, users interact with teams and participate in decision-making, creating a niche that sits outside the usual financial or infrastructure narratives.

Chiliz has a market cap of $427.4 million, with its price hovering around $0.04136. Notably, CHZ has struggled like most other altcoins, but its risk-to-reward here looks appealing, especially given its unique niche and its price relative to its 2021 all-time high.

Balancing Opportunity with Risk

While these assets share a similar price range under $1, their risk profiles vary widely. Infrastructure-focused networks tend to move more gradually, reflecting steady development, whereas sentiment-driven tokens can shift rapidly in response to market attention.

The broader market environment also plays a role. Movements in major assets often influence how capital rotates into smaller projects. When conditions improve, attention typically spreads outward, but during uncertain periods, liquidity can concentrate back into established names.

Ultimately, the appeal of sub-$1 assets lies in their diversity. Some are building long-term systems that may take years to mature fully, while others respond quickly to shifts in market sentiment. Approaching this segment with a clear understanding of those differences is essential for navigating it effectively in 2026.

To know more about crypto updates and the latest crypto news, stay connected with The Crypto Basic for timely insights and market trends.

Everyone Will Be Buying Cardano Once They Realize What It Can Do: SPO

Elendu Benedict
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Everyone Will Be Buying Cardano Once They Realize What It Can Do: SPO

Cardano would become more appealing to crypto enthusiasts who understand its stellar qualities, according to a prominent ADA ecosystem SPO.

Notably, this narrative comes as Cardano (ADA) goes through a rough patch both fundamentally and pricewise. An internal feud among its community and prolonged price underperformance have continued to weigh on sentiment, but one proponent remains unperturbed.

Key Points

  • An internal feud within the Cardano community and prolonged price underperformance have continued to weigh on sentiment, but one proponent remains unperturbed.
  • He insisted that many don’t realize what Cardano “can do,” attributing this to a knowledge gap.
  • According to him, once critics realize what Cardano can really do, they will queue up to gain exposure to ADA, the chain’s native token.
  • This builds on his projection that Cardano could rally 200% to 300% in weeks.

Cardano Can Do Things: SPO

This proponent is Ssebi, a Cardano stake pool operator and self-acclaimed Midnight ambassador. Instead of wavering in his belief due to temporary price setbacks and the ongoing divide within the community, he focused on the network’s core features.

He insisted that many don’t realize what Cardano “can do.” As such, they throw criticisms at every opportunity and pronounce the blockchain dead. However, because he understands its capabilities, Ssbei has remained committed.

The SPO also suggested that this pessimistic disposition towards ADA is more of a knowledge gap rather than a bias with full proof. According to him, once critics realize what Cardano can really do, they will queue up to gain exposure to ADA, the chain’s native token.

Cardano Struggles

At the time of writing, ADA trades at $0.248, down 25% since the start of the year. While its price has stabilized in the past month, this is a reflection of what it used to be months and years back.

For perspective, ADA has corrected over 90% from its all-time high of $3.10 in 2021. It also failed to come close to this high during the last bull cycle, a trend that underperformed its pairs like Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP, and Solana.

The persistent correction, as broader market conditions worsened, saw it fall out of the top 10 cryptocurrencies by market cap. At one point, it struggled to remain in the top 15, but recent stabilization brought it to 12th place.

Beyond Price Action

Meanwhile, the struggle goes beyond price action to ecosystem feuds. 

The argument centers on the IOG’s funding proposal, seeking $46.8 million from the Cardano treasury across nine proposals. This request did not sit well with the community, who argued that dependency on the treasury shifts the burden to them with no risk to IOG.

Cardano founder Charles Hoskinson has since deemed this sentiment laughable. He further cut ties with Iagon, a native decentralized cloud storage project, after a war of words with its CEO Nabjit Dhaliwal.

Hoskinson accused him of influencing the vote against the IOG treasury proposal. As the disagreement escalated, the platform’s token IAG dropped significantly.

Optimism Around Cardano Remains

These negative sentiments have not swayed Ssebi, who insists that the future remains positive for Cardano. He had earlier clarified that those who look at recent price action and conclude that ADA has no way back do not understand how the bear market works. He added that the coin could rally 200% to 300% in weeks.

Fellow SPO Dave agrees with this. He called the current community tension a product of fatigue, spurred by the recent broader market downtrend. According to him, such situations indicate long-term commitment among proponents, suggesting it is a sign that people really care. With careful treasury spending and patience, he believes that Cardano would ultimately wax stronger.

Moreover, on-chain reports show that Cardano is healthy and quietly gaining traction. For context, DeFi activity has grown considerably recently, with TVL reaching an over-12-month high despite the price dip.

XRPLV26: Ripple CEO Says Ripple Is the Most Interested Party In Seeing XRP Succeed

Sam Wisdom Raphael
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XRPLV26: Ripple CEO Says Ripple Is the Most Interested Party In Seeing XRP Succeed

On the first day of the ongoing XRP Las Vegas 2026 conference, the Ripple CEO said Ripple remains the party most interested in seeing XRP succeed. 

Brad Garlinghouse noted that he finds it odd that some people still question the company’s commitment to XRP, considering Ripple remains the largest XRP holder. He pointed out that the firm’s actions and position already make this clear.

Key Points

  • Garlinghouse said Ripple is the largest XRP holder and has the strongest incentive to ensure its success.
  • Ripple aims to make XRP the most useful, liquid, and trusted crypto asset.
  • Garlinghouse said some strategies may not seem clear but ultimately support XRP’s long-term growth and adoption.
  • Attorney Morgan said Ripple’s claims are reasonable but should come with data showing XRP usage and adoption.

Ripple CEO Reaffirms Interest in XRP’s Success

During the panel, journalist Eleanor Terrett called attention to the size and growth of the XRP community at the event. She said the community is larger than ever and asked how Garlinghouse sees Ripple’s role within it today.

Terrett also noted that Ripple now works more with institutions and businesses, especially as it expands again in the United States. With this in mind, she asked how the company balances this with its connection to the XRP community and how it defines its role going forward.

In response, Garlinghouse said he has always found it strange that people doubt Ripple’s commitment to XRP. He stressed that Ripple still holds the largest amount of XRP in the world, which gives it the biggest incentive to support the asset’s success.

For context, Ripple holds 33.35 billion XRP in escrow accounts at press time. Currently, these tokens are worth $45.6 billion at XRP’s price of $1.37. If the XRP price rises 264% to $5, the escrowed funds will be worth $166 billion, making Ripple the biggest beneficiary of this price surge.

Ripple Working Toward Three Goals for XRP 

Considering this, Garlinghouse reiterated that Ripple remains the most invested party in XRP and said doubts about this do not make sense. “We will continue to be the most interested party in seeing XRP successful,” the Ripple CEO said. 

According to him, views opposing this stance contradict what he has publicly stated about the company’s direction. Notably, Garlinghouse has persistently affirmed that all of what Ripple does leads to XRP, which represents the firm’s North Star.

Speaking further, he said Ripple is working towards three goals for XRP: to make it the most useful, most liquid, and most trusted digital asset. At the same time, Ripple continues to build products and services for financial institutions and capital markets, including offerings under Ripple Prime.

Concerns Around RLUSD

Terrett then brought up concerns from some community members about Ripple’s loyalty to XRP after it introduced the RLUSD stablecoin. She said some people believed the stablecoin could replace XRP.

Garlinghouse noted that he understands why some people feel that way and admitted that it can be frustrating at times. However, he said Ripple does not feel the need to share every detail of its strategy, as doing so could give competitors an advantage.

He explained that some of Ripple’s decisions may not seem clear at first, but each step plays a role in a bigger plan that considers XRP. According to him, the path is not always direct, but the end goal remains the same.

Attorney Calls for Actions

Following these comments, Australian-based attorney Bill Morgan said it makes sense that Ripple, as the largest holder of XRP, would try to increase its value.

According to him, it is easy to accept that Garlinghouse’s statements are made in good faith and for valid reasons. However, he described himself as someone who prefers to see proof alongside such claims.

Morgan said Ripple’s message would be stronger if backed by clear data, examples, and results. He pointed to the company’s acquisitions over the past two years and said it will be important to show how those moves help increase XRP’s use and adoption.

Nonetheless, Morgan admitted that it may be too early to expect that level of proof but added that he believes it will come with time, and likely sooner rather than later.

Schwartz Says It’s Now Hard to Argue That Ripple Has a Switch to Shoot up XRP Price

Sam Wisdom Raphael
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Schwartz Says It’s Now Hard to Argue That Ripple Has a Switch to Shoot up XRP Price

Former Ripple CTO David Schwartz says it is now very hard to argue that Ripple holds any hidden tool capable of pushing the XRP price up dramatically.

He argued that after everything Ripple and XRP have been through over the years, it is very hard for anyone to still argue convincingly that such a tool exists but simply has not been used yet. 

Key Points

  • David Schwartz suggests it is now difficult to argue that Ripple has a way to shoot up the XRP price but has not yet used it.
  • He says Ripple has openly explained its strategy and is not hiding any grand conspiracy.
  • According to Elon Musk, while a few crypto assets have merit, most of them are scams.
  • Schwartz agrees with this but says there is no agreement within the crypto community on which assets are genuine.

David Schwartz: Ripple Has No Way to Shoot up the XRP Price

Responding to community inquiries on X, Schwartz admitted that there may have been a time, early on, when someone could make a somewhat believable case that Ripple had a simple, hidden way to push XRP’s price up dramatically and was just holding off for the right moment. 

However, he said that given how much has changed since then, it is nearly impossible to believe that Ripple has been sitting on such a tool for this long without ever using it. 

The former Ripple CTO then noted that Ripple has been open about what it is doing, the reasoning behind it, and what it is ultimately trying to accomplish. He noted that while the company does not share every detail publicly, it is not hiding any “grand conspiracy,” at least none that he knows of.

This was important because it addressed a narrative that has persisted among some XRP holders, which suggested that Ripple has some switch to flip to push XRP’s price up. Schwartz essentially dismantles this idea by pointing out how unrealistic it would be to keep something like that hidden for so long.

The Prospect of Ripple Influencing XRP’s Price

Notably, he shared these thoughts while responding to community members during a conversation triggered by an Elon Musk comment.

Musk had said that while a few crypto assets have real value, most of them are scams. Responding, Schwartz noted that while most people always agree that most crypto assets are scams, there is no agreement among them on which crypto tokens actually have merit.

When the conversation moved to XRP’s price prospects, a community member asked why Ripple would not simply use its own products, such as Ripple Prime and Ripple Treasury, to carry out transactions in XRP, suggesting that this could push the token’s price past $100. 

This question led to Schwartz’s recent comments. According to him, there is no solid reason to believe Ripple has a direct way to control or boost XRP’s price like that, considering how long the firm has gone without actually doing that.

The Escrow Burn Idea

Responding to Schwartz, some in the community suggested that Ripple could actually help push up XRP’s price by announcing plans to burn the tokens sitting in its escrow accounts. For context, Ripple has 33 billion XRP in escrow.

Notably, Schwartz has responded to this idea before on several occasions, and each time he has called attention to what the Stellar Development Foundation did as a reference point. 

In November 2019, the SDF burned 55 billion XLM tokens, which was more than half of the token’s entire supply. Despite the scale of this burn, it did nothing for XLM’s price. The token kept following the broader market just as it had before, and it even moved alongside XRP. 

Schwartz has leveraged this instance consistently to make the point that burning Ripple’s escrowed XRP would not move the needle on price and would ultimately just be a waste of funds.

Shiba Inu OG Whale Secures $660M Profit After 48,000x Return, Still Holds 99T SHIB

Abdulkarim Abdulwahab
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Shiba Inu OG Whale Secures $660M Profit After 48,000x Return, Still Holds 99T SHIB

An early Shiba Inu investor has drawn new attention after locking in more profits from one of crypto’s most extreme success stories.

On-chain data shared by Lookonchain shows that the OG whale sold another 800 billion SHIB, worth about $4.9 million, in a fresh transaction.

Key Points

  • An early SHIB whale locked in fresh profits, selling 800B tokens worth $4.9M while continuing a long-term exit strategy.
  • The investor turned a $13.7K bet into over $660M profit, achieving a staggering 48,000x return from SHIB’s rise.
  • Despite selling trillions over time, the whale still holds 99T SHIB valued at over $625M, retaining major market influence.
  • Shiba Inu rose 3.4% despite the sale, signaling strong demand as price tests resistance near $0.00000655.

From $13K Shiba Inu to Billions

The investor originally spent just $13,760 to accumulate a massive 103.33 trillion Shiba Inu during the token’s early days. At the peak of the meme coin frenzy, that stash was valued at a staggering $8.9 billion, highlighting the explosive rise of SHIB during the 2021 bull run.

Over time, the whale has been gradually taking profits. Arkham data shows the investor has already sold 4.06 trillion SHIB for a total of $37.6 million across multiple transactions over the years.

Image

Despite the recent sale, the whale remains one of the largest holders of SHIB. Specifically, it still controls 99.27 trillion tokens, currently worth around $625.41 million.

That holding alone represents roughly 16.84% of SHIB’s total supply, giving the wallet significant influence over the token’s market dynamics.

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One of Crypto’s Biggest Returns

In total, the investor’s profit has now surpassed $660 million. This translates to an extraordinary 48,000x return on the initial investment, one of the most notable gains ever recorded in the crypto market.

The latest sale suggests the whale is continuing a long-term strategy of gradual profit-taking rather than exiting the position entirely.

SHIB Price Rises Despite Whale Sale

Interestingly, the latest sale has done little to slow market momentum. SHIB is up 3.4% over the past 24 hours, trading around $0.000006301. The move comes as Bitcoin gained a modest 0.55% to $76,430.

The price increase appears to have absorbed the whale’s selling activity, signaling strong underlying demand.

In the near term, SHIB’s price faces resistance around $0.00000655, which marks a recent swing high. If buying pressure continues, a breakout above this level could extend gains.

On the downside, key support sits at $0.00000602. A break below this level could send SHIB toward $0.00000580, especially if leveraged positions begin to unwind.

Market Updates: Shinhan Card Launches Solana Stablecoin Pilot, Bybit Removed from Malaysia’s Investor Alert List, $630M Drained in April Crypto Exploits

Zabi
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Market Updates: Shinhan Card Launches Solana Stablecoin Pilot, Bybit Removed from Malaysia’s Investor Alert List, $630M Drained in April Crypto Exploits

Latest Market Updates: As of 30th April 2026.

Crypto markets saw a mixed set of developments today, with Shinhan Card partnering with Solana to pilot stablecoin payments and Bybit’s CEO saying Malaysia has lifted its watchlist status after regulatory talks. 

At the same time, security concerns persisted, with crypto hack losses reaching $630 million in April, the highest since February 2025. Separately, U.S. authorities reported seizing $500 million in Iranian-linked crypto assets.

Shinhan Card Tests Stablecoin Payments with Solana

Shinhan Card, one of South Korea’s largest credit card issuers, has partnered with the Solana Foundation to pilot stablecoin-based payment systems.

The collaboration builds on a pilot completed earlier in April 2026. Following encouraging initial results, both parties have now moved into a more advanced proof-of-concept (PoC) phase. This stage will assess how effectively stablecoin payments can be integrated into real-world merchant and consumer transactions.

In parallel, the initiative will explore the use of non-custodial wallets, allowing users to maintain direct control over their digital assets. The partners also aim to develop a hybrid financial framework that bridges traditional finance with decentralized finance.

Shinhan Card, which holds a 16.9% market share and ranks as the second-largest issuer in South Korea according to KED Global, is also planning broader expansion into DeFi-linked services.

These future offerings may incorporate blockchain oracles and smart contracts to enable automated, data-driven financial processes.

Malaysia Removes Bybit from Its Investor Warning List

Meanwhile, in regulatory developments, Malaysian authorities have taken cryptocurrency exchange Bybit off their investor alert list.

CEO Ben Zhou confirmed the update on X, stating that the decision followed “constructive” engagement with the Securities Commission Malaysia. Consequently, the exchange has aligned its operations with local regulatory requirements.

This marks a significant turnaround after earlier scrutiny. Bybit was first added to the investor alert list in 2021 for operating without proper authorization. It later ceased operations in Malaysia in December 2025 following regulatory pressure.

Since then, Bybit has taken steps to strengthen its local presence, including an investment in Hata, a licensed trading platform. Zhou emphasized that strong regulatory compliance is essential for sustainable growth. In addition, he identified Malaysia as a key market for future expansion.

Since launching in 2023, Bybit has reportedly accumulated more than 209,000 registered users in Malaysia.

DeFi Exploits Push April Crypto Losses Above $600M

Meanwhile, the DeFi sector saw a significant spike in security breaches in April 2026, with total losses reaching $629.7 million, according to DeFiLlama.

Notably, this marks the highest monthly total since February 2025, when crypto hacks peaked at $1.47 billion. The majority of April’s losses stemmed from two major incidents: KelpDAO, which lost $293 million, and Drift Protocol, which suffered a $280 million exploit. Together, these accounted for roughly 82% of total losses.

April crypto losses from hacks top $630M
April crypto losses from hacks top $630M

Beyond these large-scale attacks, several smaller exploits contributed to the overall figure. Wasabi Protocol, a DeFi derivatives platform, lost approximately $5.5 million across multiple blockchains, according to CertiK.

Similarly, Sweat Economy, a move-to-earn crypto platform, was hit by a rapid exploit that drained $3.46 million in seconds. However, the platform later confirmed that the stolen funds were frozen on MEXC, and recovery efforts are underway.

In another case, Aftermath Finance, a decentralized trading platform on the Sui blockchain, lost $1.1 million in USDC. According to Blockaid, the exploit occurred through 11 transactions over roughly 36 minutes.

Overall, these incidents reinforce concerns that DeFi platforms remain among the most frequently targeted sectors in the crypto ecosystem.

US Seizes $500M in Iranian Crypto Assets

On the geopolitical front, the United States has seized nearly $500 million in Iranian digital assets as part of an intensified enforcement campaign.

Specifically, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent disclosed the figure during an interview with Fox Business, linking the seizures to “Operation Economic Fury,” a broader initiative aimed at restricting Iran’s access to global financial systems.

Launched under an executive order by Donald Trump in March 2025, the operation includes asset seizures, account freezes, and sanctions targeting countries that purchase Iranian oil.

In addition to crypto assets, US authorities are also pursuing overseas properties and retirement funds connected to Iranian officials.

The newly reported total exceeds earlier estimates of $344 million. Last week, the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned several crypto wallets linked to Iran. Following this action, Tether confirmed it had frozen more than $344 million in USDT at the request of US authorities.

What Is Dollar-Cost Averaging and How Does It Work in 2026?

Sam Wisdom Raphael
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What Is Dollar-Cost Averaging and How Does It Work in 2026?

Dollar-cost averaging (DCA) is a simple investment strategy where an investor regularly commits a fixed amount into a crypto asset at a set period, regardless of the price action.

The model is a direct contrast to lump-sum investing, where someone deploys all their capital at once and hopes the timing works in their favor.

Notably, crypto markets make DCA particularly appealing because of their wild price swings. For instance, Bitcoin (BTC) has regularly swung 5-15% in a single week, and during bear markets, it has fallen more than 70-80% from peak prices. With this turbulence, trying to time the market perfectly is a gamble most investors can’t afford to take consistently.

How DCA Works in Practice

With DCA, an investor spends the same dollar amount each time. As a result, they naturally buy more coins when prices are low and fewer when prices are high. Over time, this can bring down the average cost per coin during a bear market compared to making a single large purchase at an inopportune moment.

Consider a situation where a market participant puts $1,000 into Bitcoin every week from January 2026 through March 2026. This investor would have committed a total of $12,000 and procured roughly 0.15949 BTC at an average price of $75,239 per coin. 

Crypto Dollar Cost Averaging Instance
Crypto Dollar Cost Averaging Instance

Meanwhile, someone who invested that same $12,000 all at once in early January, when Bitcoin traded at $91,500, would have only received 0.13114 BTC. 

With Bitcoin sitting around $75,700, the DCA investor’s holdings would be worth around $12,073, while the lump-sum investor’s position would have dropped to about $9,924. This shows how DCA makes a difference in a declining market.

What the Research Says About DCA Performance

However, the DCA strategy has its weak points, as historical data gives it a mixed report card. A large-scale backtest covering thousands of simulations between 2017 and 2023, conducted by crypto resource Yellow, found that lump-sum investing outperformed DCA in roughly 66% of all cases. 

In strong upward-trending markets, lump-sum investors accumulated between 3% and 75% more cryptocurrency than their DCA counterparts, with the gap growing wider the more frequently someone executed their DCA purchases. 

Notably, daily DCA investors trailed lump-sum returns by just 1-3%, while monthly DCA investors lagged by as much as 25-75% in explosive bull runs.

However, DCA has historically shone during prolonged downturns. When Bitcoin collapsed 84% between 2018 and early 2019, falling from $20,000 to around $3,200 over 24 months, investors who kept buying throughout that period accumulated significantly more Bitcoin at bargain prices. 

When the recovery eventually came, those extra coins translated into massive gains. Lump-sum strategies, by contrast, captured more upside during sharp recoveries like Bitcoin’s 300%+ surge between March and December 2020 and the 100%+ rebound in 2023. Neither approach wins every time; it all depends on the direction of the market.

Investor Behavior 

Meanwhile, survey data reveals that roughly 59% of crypto investors cite DCA as their primary strategy, and about 84% have used it at some point. Yet only around 8% of DCA users actually stick with the strategy when markets turn against them. Most people abandon their plan when continuing it would benefit them most.

This behavioral reality is part of what makes DCA valuable beyond just performance metrics. When investors commit to fixed purchases on a schedule, they remove most of the emotional decision-making from the equation. 

They no longer agonize over whether to buy during a dip or hold back during a rally. The strategy runs almost on autopilot, which is harder than it sounds but less stressful than constantly reacting to price movements.

The MicroStrategy Case Study

Perhaps no company illustrates large-scale DCA more vividly than MicroStrategy (now Strategy), chaired by Bitcoin advocate Michael Saylor. Strategy began buying Bitcoin in August 2020, acquiring 21,454 BTC for $250 million at an average price of roughly $11,650 per coin. 

Since then, the company has continued purchasing Bitcoin at regular intervals, often weekly. Its most recent acquisition, announced on April 27, 2026, added 3,273 BTC for $255 million at an average price of $77,910 per coin.

Strategy now holds 818,334 BTC, purchased at a total cost of about $61.81 billion, with an average acquisition price of $75,537 per coin. At current prices, the company sits on roughly $1.5 billion in profit, representing a modest 2% gain. 

Had Strategy deployed that same $61.81 billion in a single lump sum back when it first bought Bitcoin at $11,650, it could theoretically have acquired around 5.3 million BTC, which would be worth approximately $401 billion today. 

Of course, this comparison is largely hypothetical. Strategy did not have that kind of liquidity in 2020, and acquiring over 26% of Bitcoin’s total supply in one move would have been practically impossible without a massive price implication.

The Benefits of Dollar-Cost Averaging

The strongest argument in favor of DCA is how well it handles volatility. When an asset can fall 50-80% during a bear market, continuing to buy at those depressed prices means accumulating more coins at low cost. When the market eventually recovers, those extra coins lead to higher gains.

Secondly, DCA reduces the psychological burden of investing. Surveys show that around 46% of crypto investors cite volatility management as a top reason for choosing the strategy. It eliminates the temptation to chase prices during a bull run or panic-sell during a downturn. 

Over long time horizons, this disciplined approach has proven to work. An investor who put $100 per month into Bitcoin starting in January 2014, totaling $35,700 over the years, would have seen that investment grow to approximately $589,000, representing a return of roughly 1,648%.

The Limitations Investors Need to Know

However, DCA is not a guaranteed path to profit, and it carries some risks. In a sustained bull market, an investor who spreads purchases over time could miss out on gains that a lump-sum investor would capture from day one. The 66-68% historical win rate for lump-sum strategies confirms this.

Secondly, frequent purchases can lead to additional fees. Every transaction on an exchange carries maker/taker spreads or withdrawal costs, and running daily DCA makes those fees add up faster. 

For the third point, there is no guarantee that any given asset will recover at all. Many altcoins have gone to zero, and even for major assets, a prolonged bear market can push the breakeven point years into the future. DCA works best when applied to assets with genuine long-term demand.

How to Set Up a DCA Strategy

Getting started with DCA would require a few decisions up front. Most financial guidelines suggest allocating no more than 1-5% of a total portfolio to crypto, with the bulk of that, around 70-80%, going into established assets like Bitcoin and Ethereum, and the remainder spread across other sectors. 

Also, weekly purchases tend to find the best balance between capturing price volatility and keeping transaction fees manageable. However, monthly contributions would suit investors who prefer a simpler approach.

Most major exchanges, including Coinbase and Kraken, now offer automated recurring buy features that remove the need for manual execution. DCA calculators like the one from Uphold allow investors to model different scenarios using historical price data before committing actual capital. 

Whatever the approach, taxes on frequent trades deserve attention, especially in jurisdictions where each purchase and sale triggers a taxable event.

Conclusion

Dollar-cost averaging gives investors a low-stress way to invest without needing to predict price movements correctly. 

It will not always outperform putting all capital in at once, particularly during strong bull cycles, but it consistently outperforms doing nothing, and it protects investors from the devastating consequences of a badly timed lump-sum entry.

For more on crypto news and the latest BTC price market updates, visit our dedicated The Crypto Basic hub. 

An Assessment of the 7.8M XRP Wallets Shows 23B+ XRP is Quantum Safe

Sam Wisdom Raphael
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An Assessment of the 7.8M XRP Wallets Shows 23B+ XRP is Quantum Safe

XRPL validator Vet recently reviewed the 7.8 million XRP wallets, assessing how they might be affected by future quantum computing risks.

He examined the full history of 7,810,364 accounts on the XRP Ledger. His findings show that 23.16 billion XRP is currently held in wallets that are considered safe from quantum threats.

Key Points

  • Vet reviewed 7,810,364 XRP accounts, identifying 23.16 billion XRP as currently quantum safe.
  • About 76.82 billion XRP across 5.6 million accounts is exposed, but 96% belongs to active users.
  • Wallets inactive for 5+ years hold 2.94% of supply, while pre-2014 accounts make up just 0.02%.
  • 27.21% of accounts (2.13 million wallets) are quantum safe, mainly due to no transaction history or key rotation.

What Makes a Wallet Safe?

Vet stressed that a wallet’s safety depends on whether it has ever signed a transaction. If it hasn’t, its public key stays hidden, which makes it harder for a quantum computer to attack. 

Based on this, he found that a large share of XRP already sits in protected accounts. He also pointed out that the long-term solution will likely involve new quantum-resistant encryption, which will allow users to move their funds into safer wallets.

However, not everyone will be able to do that. Some users may have lost access to their wallets, forgotten their keys, or simply be unable to act due to personal situations. Those accounts could remain at risk in the future.

Dormant XRP Wallets

According to Vet, dormant wallets were the most difficult part of the issue. Notably, active users can move their funds without much trouble, but inactive accounts are harder to deal with because no one knows why they have been left untouched. 

This raises an important question for the community: should those funds remain exposed, or should there be a way to protect them?

He then assessed all 7.8 million accounts and their activity and found that 76.82 billion XRP, spread across 5.6 million accounts, is considered exposed when looking at the full history alone. 

However, 96% of that exposed XRP belongs to active accounts, meaning those users are still engaged and likely to move their funds when needed.

When Vet broke the data down by time, he found that wallets inactive for at least 5 years hold 2.94% of the total XRP supply, or 3.83% of exposed XRP. At the far end, accounts that have not been active since 2013 make up just 0.02% of the total supply, or 0.03% of exposed XRP. 

Dormancy of Quantum Exposed XRP Wallets
Dormancy of Quantum Exposed XRP Wallets

He noted that this pattern follows a long-tail distribution, with 1.33 million accounts in the 5+ year group compared to just 14,710 accounts from before 2014.

For context, the XRPL validator compared this to Bitcoin, where early holdings linked to Satoshi make up about 5% of total supply, much of which may never move to safer addresses.

Safe and Exposed XRP Supply

Vet’s findings show that 27.21% of all XRPL accounts, or about 2.13 million wallets, holding 23.16 billion XRP, are currently safe from quantum threats. He divided these into two main groups. 

Of this category, 24.56% of accounts are safe because they have never signed a transaction. Meanwhile, 2.65% of the accounts are safe because they have taken extra steps by rotating keys and disabling their master keys.

He also highlighted 242 multi-signature wallets that together hold 36.60 billion XRP, which is 36.6% of the total supply. These include major wallets such as Ripple’s escrow accounts. 

Despite this, he stressed that multi-signature wallets are not automatically safe. They still require proper key management and regular updates to stay protected.

Looking at the earliest accounts, often compared to Bitcoin’s early-era wallets, he found they represent only 0.02% of the total XRP supply that is both inactive and exposed. He also noted that exposure increases as more recently active accounts are included, which shows the importance of ongoing activity and maintenance.

Overall, the 23.16 billion XRP identified as safe belongs to wallets that either never revealed their public keys or have already taken steps to improve their security.

Four-Phase Roadmap to Quantum Resilience

Right now, the XRP Ledger uses standard cryptography methods such as Ed25519 and secp256k1, which could become vulnerable in the future but remain safe today.

To prepare for this, Ripple has already set out a plan. Earlier this month, they introduced a four-phase roadmap to make the network fully ready for quantum threats by 2028. Work is already in progress, including early testing of new systems, while later stages will bring updates to the main network.

Trump-Linked WLFI Drops 17% as 62B Token Unlock Proposal Advances

Lele Jima
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Trump-Linked WLFI Drops 17% as 62B Token Unlock Proposal Advances

The native token of the Trump-linked World Liberty Financial project, WLFI, has recorded double-digit losses within 36 hours. 

This decline followed the opening of governance voting on a proposal to unlock billions of WLFI tokens. Although the proposal received overwhelming support, WLFI’s price fell by more than 17% within hours. This highlights a disconnect between governance outcomes and market sentiment.

Key Points

  • WLFI’s price plunged more than 17% within 36 hours.
  • Whale activity spiked sharply, with 15 large transactions recorded in just four hours.
  • The sell-off began immediately after voting on a proposal to unlock over 62 billion WLFI tokens began.
  • Governance remains highly concentrated, with the largest wallet controlling about 13% of the vote and the top four wallets holding roughly 40%.

WLFI Dips 17% After Token Unlock Proposal Cleared Quorum

According to data from Santiment, Trump-backed WLFI plunged 17% within just 36 hours after the token unlock proposal entered its voting phase. Notably, the price dropped from a peak of $0.074 on April 28 to $0.061 today, marking a 17.56% decline.

The price decline coincided with intensified selling pressure as voting began on the plan to unlock over 62 billion tokens.

In particular, large transactions spiked to 15 within a four-hour window on April 29, the highest level recorded in the past two weeks.

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Major Factor Behind the Drawdown and Selling Pressure

At the core of this development lies a major overhaul of tokenomics. The proposal introduces a structured plan to unlock 62.28 billion WLFI tokens over five years, following a two-year cliff that prevents any immediate supply from entering the market.

Specifically, the allocation includes 45.2 billion tokens for insiders and 17 billion for early supporters. In addition, the plan incorporates a deflationary element, as insiders will burn 10% of their allocation, amounting to roughly 4.5 billion WLFI.

Meanwhile, the proposal has already secured 99.5% approval and cleared quorum early, underscoring near-unanimous support and accelerating its path to implementation.

For context, this structure improves transparency. It replaces indefinite lockups with a predictable emissions schedule and gives investors a clearer valuation framework. However, the market’s reaction did not go as expected.

Instead of focusing on the delayed unlock timeline, traders appear to be pricing in future dilution risks. Even though the additional supply will not enter circulation immediately, the expectation that tens of billions of tokens will eventually unlock continues to weigh on current demand.

Large Wallets Control Voting Outcome

Meanwhile, the governance structure raises additional concerns. Although participation levels remained consistent with previous proposals, voting power is heavily concentrated. The largest wallet accounted for nearly 13% of votes, while the top four wallets collectively controlled about 40%, more than enough to influence the outcome decisively.

As a result, a small group of large holders can effectively shape major decisions, limiting the influence of smaller participants and raising questions about the decentralization of decision-making.

Sharp Criticism

Despite strong backing, the proposal has faced sharp criticism. Moonrock Capital’s Simon Dedic likened it to a “rug pull,” while Tron founder Justin Sun called it one of the most unreasonable proposals he’s seen.

In recent times, WLFI has faced reputational challenges. Earlier this month, Justin Sun accused the project of freezing his tokens and stripping his governance rights—claims the team has denied.

Although the dispute remains unresolved, it adds another layer of uncertainty at a time when investor confidence is already under pressure.

Cardano Community Tensions Rise as SPO Flags Fatigue, Calls for Discipline in Treasury Spending

Abdulkarim Abdulwahab
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Cardano Community Tensions Rise as SPO Flags Fatigue, Calls for Discipline in Treasury Spending

Cardano stake pool operator Dave has commented on the growing tension within the ecosystem.

In a tweet, he noted that sentiment across the network has recently shifted as users grapple with a difficult market and ongoing governance debates.

According to Dave, the ADA community remains active but is increasingly strained. Discussions often turn into arguments, and supporters feel attacked for backing the blockchain.

Key Points

  • Cardano SPO Dave says community tension is rising as market pressure and governance debates strain sentiment.
  • ADA is down 65% in a year and 92% from its peak, fueling frustration and more confrontational discussions.
  • Treasury spending faces scrutiny, with debates over funding, voting power, and a $50M loan proposal.
  • Despite tensions, Dave remains optimistic, urging discipline as DReps play a key role in guiding decisions.

“People Are Tired” Amid Tough Market Conditions

Dave said prolonged market pressure has tested patience across the ecosystem. He pointed to a sense of fatigue among participants, with discussions becoming less productive and more confrontational.

For context, ADA’s price is down 65% over the past year, trading at $0.2458. The coin last reached an all-time high five years ago, in 2021. Now trading 92% below its peak, frustration among holders is mounting.

Meanwhile, in his tweet, Dave also raised concerns about leadership. He suggested it has at times felt “unfocused,” while new budget cycles continue to introduce large funding requests.

This comes as Cardano’s governance model gives the community a direct role in deciding how treasury funds are allocated.

Treasury Spending Under Scrutiny

At the center of the debate is the usage of Cardano’s treasury. Dave emphasized that treasury funds are not abstract but represent real ADA leaving the system with each approved proposal.

This has made governance decisions more sensitive, especially as voting power becomes more concentrated. The responsibility, he argued, grows heavier when fewer participants hold greater influence over outcomes.

Notably, Cardano founder Charles Hoskinson and some community members recently clashed over IOG’s new funding bid. A community figure, Joe, proposed that Input Output Global take a $50 million loan instead of using treasury funds.

The idea argues that external financing could reduce selling pressure on ADA and shift risk away from holders. Joe contends that treasury reliance puts the burden on the community while developers earn steady pay.

Meanwhile, Hoskinson has called this suggestion “a joke,” arguing that proponents of the view are mistaken.

Notably, IOG has cut its 2026 funding request to $46.8 million (down from $97.5 million), while advancing scaling upgrades like Leios and exploring Bitcoin DeFi initiatives.

DReps as Key to Balance

In his statement, Dave pointed to the role of decentralized representatives (DReps) as critical in maintaining balance. These participants help direct voting power, challenge proposals, ask difficult questions, and ensure that spending remains disciplined.

He stressed that Cardano needs growth across multiple fronts, including builders, infrastructure, and liquidity. However, he emphasized that funding decisions must remain grounded in accountability and clear impact.

Optimism Despite the Friction

Despite the ongoing tension, Dave remains optimistic about Cardano’s future. He described governance as inherently messy, especially in a system where participants genuinely care, and decisions have real consequences.

He argued that this level of engagement is rare in the blockchain space, noting that many projects struggle to build communities willing to actively question, vote, and contribute during difficult periods.

While acknowledging the current challenges, Dave suggested these moments often reveal long-term commitment. To him, patience, honesty, and discipline will ultimately shape Cardano’s trajectory.

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