These 3 cryptocurrencies ought to outperform the market in 2026.
In the course of the previous 90 days, solely a dozen of the highest 100 cryptocurrencies (as ranked by market cap) are in optimistic territory. However that simply makes it simpler to seek out beaten-down cryptocurrencies buying and selling at low cost costs.
The next three cryptocurrencies all have excessive upside potential, and supply some draw back safety as effectively. If the market is headed greater this 12 months, these cryptocurrencies will probably cleared the path.
Bitcoin
First up is Bitcoin (BTC 2.37%), the market bellwether. The world’s hottest cryptocurrency, presently valued at about $1.8 trillion, nonetheless accounts for a surprising 60% of the entire market cap of the crypto market. It is laborious to think about any state of affairs the place the broader crypto market rallies with out the participation of Bitcoin.
At this time’s Change
(-2.37%) $-2132.40
Present Worth
$87960.00
Key Knowledge Factors
Market Cap
$1.8T
Day’s Vary
$87640.00 – $90316.00
52wk Vary
$74604.47 – $126079.89
Quantity
47B
Admittedly, although, issues look a bit dicey for Bitcoin proper now. It is down a surprising 30% from its all-time excessive of $126,000 in October. Furthermore, in the event you purchase into the thought of the four-year Bitcoin cycle, then 2026 is shaping as much as be a disappointing 12 months. Each 4 years, Bitcoin plunges in worth, and we’re now heading into 12 months 4 of the present cycle.
However, the trade outlook for Bitcoin remains to be bullish. In keeping with a roundup of Bitcoin predictions from CNBC, some crypto trade insiders nonetheless suppose that Bitcoin can attain a worth of $200,000 or greater this 12 months. At a current worth of about $88,000, that suggests a acquire of 127%. That is in line with what Bitcoin delivered in each 2023 and 2024, so it is actually inside attain.
Solana
Of all of the smart contract blockchain networks, Solana (SOL 3.42%) stays the highest challenger to Ethereum (ETH 3.32%). Ever since its launch again in March 2020, Solana has been billed as a possible “Ethereum-killer,” and indicators are in all places that Solana is now rising quicker than Ethereum.
Picture supply: Getty Photographs.
For instance, through the 12-month interval ended in September 2025, the Solana blockchain ecosystem generated $2.85 billion in income. In keeping with analysis from 21Shares, this income got here from a wide range of sources.
Solana is not only counting on income from speculative meme coin buying and selling. The Solana blockchain ecosystem is now producing income from fast-growth areas akin to decentralized finance (DeFi), decentralized bodily infrastructure (DePIN) and artificial intelligence (AI).
If I am proper, then Solana ought to have the ability to shut the market cap hole with Ethereum in 2026. Proper now, Solana has a market cap of about $70 billion, whereas Ethereum has a market cap of $360 billion. These numbers do not make sense to me. Is Ethereum actually 5 instances extra priceless than Solana? I do not suppose so.
Preserve in thoughts: presently final 12 months, Solana was a $300 crypto. It is presently buying and selling for about $125. So it might simply double in worth this 12 months with out the necessity for a serious new catalyst.
Pax Gold
You need a defensive crypto? Then how about Pax Gold (PAXG +4.83%), one of many prime gold stablecoins in the world. In contrast to dollar-backed stablecoins, Pax Gold is pegged to gold. It is already up 19% in January, and can proceed to rise so long as gold soars greater.
At this time’s Change
(4.83%) $255.38
Present Worth
$5545.85
Key Knowledge Factors
Market Cap
$2.3B
Day’s Vary
$5273.15 – $5619.09
52wk Vary
$2736.23 – $5619.09
Quantity
1.1B
In fact, you might get your publicity to gold in a wide range of totally different ways in which do not contain crypto. For instance, you might make investments in a gold exchange-traded fund (ETF), such because the iShares Gold Belief (IAU +3.87%). However gold-backed stablecoins are tradable 24/7, and likewise come with out the administration charges of an ETF. So, for some traders, stablecoins are preferable to ETFs.
In the course of the previous 90 days, Pax Gold is up a formidable 30%. That makes it one of many prime performing cryptocurrencies throughout that interval.
So in the event you’re feeling a bit cautious lately (and plenty of crypto traders are), then a gold-backed stablecoin could possibly be one solution to get some peace of thoughts. Every single day appears to carry one more geopolitical disaster, and it might make sense to purchase gold till issues simmer down.
No ensures for crypto traders in 2026
Simply preserve in thoughts: a positive factor in the crypto market would not exist. Final 12 months, Bitcoin was purported to skyrocket to $200,000. As a substitute, it ended the 12 months at lower than $100,000. The star performers final 12 months had been privacy coins, which is one thing that no person might have foreseen at the beginning of 2025.
So preserve your expectations in test for 2026. Investing in crypto remains to be extremely unpredictable and dangerous. For that motive, I am sticking to 2 names that I belief — Bitcoin and Solana — and including somewhat gold for defensive functions. Even when the crypto market goes nowhere this 12 months or declines, this primary crypto portfolio ought to outperform the market.
