Do not imagine the hype in relation to meme cash or longtime market laggards.
A few weeks into 2026, the cryptocurrency market seems to be roaring again to life. With just some exceptions, each main cryptocurrency is as much as begin the yr as I write this.
However I am not satisfied that this rally goes to persist all year long. The next 4 cryptocurrencies are at critical danger of a decline of fifty% or extra in worth. You’ve got been warned.
1. & 2. Dogecoin and Shiba Inu
Let’s begin with the apparent picks first: Dogecoin (DOGE 0.89%) and Shiba Inu (SHIB +0.34%). Each of those meme coins are up greater than 15% to begin 2026, however I believe that is actually only a dead-dog bounce. These meme cash are basically nugatory, and their large market caps are actually only a results of their very excessive circulating coin provides.
Picture supply: Getty Pictures.
Simply have a look at the numbers for each meme cash — they’re past atrocious. For instance, Dogecoin is buying and selling at an 82% low cost to its all-time excessive from Might 2021. If (*4*) cannot save Dogecoin, no person can. I believe there’s additional to fall, as buyers hand over on these two meme cash fully.
3. Cardano
Touted as a possible Ethereum (ETH 4.54%) challenger when it launched again in 2017, Cardano (ADA 0.76%) goes nowhere quick nowadays. Sure, Cardano is up 15% to begin the yr. However zoom out and take a pleasant, lengthy have a look at the five-year chart for Cardano (beneath). It does not encourage confidence. I am now not assured that Cardano can break by way of the $1 value degree anytime quickly.
Right now’s Change
(-0.76%) $-0.00
Present Value
$0.36
Key Knowledge Factors
Market Cap
$13B
Day’s Vary
$0.35 – $0.36
52wk Vary
$0.33 – $1.14
Quantity
571M
Proper now, Cardano has a market cap of almost $14 billion. If it loses 50% of its worth, it could strategy the market cap of Sui (SUI 1.46%), an up-and-coming Ethereum challenger that launched in 2023. I might moderately put my cash into Sui proper now than look ahead to Cardano to maneuver greater.
4. Litecoin
Litecoin (LTC 1.23%) has been an actual standout thus far this yr, however for all of the improper causes. Of all main cryptocurrencies with a market cap of $1 billion or greater, Litecoin is amongst solely a handful which are truly down for the yr. Over the previous 90 days, Litecoin is down greater than 20%.
In some unspecified time in the future, buyers are going to throw in the towel on Litecoin. The much-ballyhooed Litecoin halving occasion of August 2023 was an entire nothingburger, and even the promise of latest spot Litecoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) final yr did little to spice up its prospects.
If Litecoin loses 50% of its worth, it could strategy the worth of Bittensor (TAO 2.17%), a extremely speculative synthetic intelligence (AI) coin. I might moderately take my possibilities with a cryptocurrency tied to the way forward for AI than put an underperforming proof-of-work coin in my portfolio.
Can these cryptocurrencies ever flip issues round?
It is nearly unimaginable to suppose that these longtime market laggards are all of the sudden going to show issues round in 2026. I predict they may plunge huge time. The one attainable situation is that if Bitcoin goes completely en fuego, serving to to gentle a hearth underneath the whole crypto market.
However even when that occurs, I might moderately personal Bitcoin than Litecoin. I might moderately personal Ethereum than Cardano. And I might moderately personal nearly any cryptocurrency (regardless of how speculative) than Dogecoin or Shiba Inu.
Dominic Basulto has positions in Bitcoin, Cardano, Ethereum, and Sui. The Motley Idiot has positions in and recommends Bitcoin, Bittensor, Ethereum, and Sui. The Motley Idiot has a disclosure policy.
