11 Promising Cryptocurrencies to Invest in 2026

Source: PortaldoBitcoin Original Title: 11 Promising Cryptocurrencies to Invest in 2026 Original Link: As the new year begins, it’s time to develop new investment strategies and focus on cryptocurrencies that are expected to deliver good returns next year.

For 2026, analysts from certain exchanges have identified a series of factors supporting at least 11 cryptocurrencies’ appreciation, including institutional entry through spot ETFs, growth in decentralized finance (DeFi), tokenization, and scalability solutions.

Below are the 11 cryptocurrencies mentioned by these two exchanges and the main arguments their experts use to defend these projects gaining attention in 2026.

Bitcoin (BTC)

Research teams believe Bitcoin remains the “safest and most well-known choice in the market,” supported by two pillars: mining capacity protecting the network and decentralization maintained by thousands of users running software on their machines.

The team also links appreciation prospects with institutional interest, noting that the US spot Bitcoin ETF had total deposits reaching $121 billion in November 2025, and emphasizing a market cap of $1.8 trillion as evidence of demand for “strict monetary policy” and resistance to censorship.

BTC analysts highlight Bitcoin’s role at the start of the year as a “thermometer” for the market: January performance may fluctuate between seasonal rises and adjustments after December, but ETF inflows and liquidity conditions are often key factors in setting the tone for the month.

Ethereum (ETH)

Analysts largely agree on one point: Ethereum continues to be the main infrastructure of the crypto ecosystem. One exchange emphasizes that the network maintains a leading position in value deposited and active developers, also mentioning that there are over 600 decentralized applications in the ecosystem.

They also focus on layer-two solutions as a growth driver, with about 30% of ETH locked in staking, reducing the amount available for trading.

One exchange points out that ETH benefits from the infrastructure narrative of DeFi, tokenization, and decentralized applications, and mentions institutional prospects related to ETF inflows as part of the upward potential in 2026.

Solana (SOL)

One exchange describes Solana as a direct competitor to Ethereum, with differences in processing capacity and lower costs.

This argument includes the “real” demand for tokens in network fees and positioning for high-demand applications. The team also cites ecosystem growth and total value locked (TVL) reaching $1 billion, as well as a focus on mobile experience, including smartphone initiatives integrated into Web3 applications.

At one exchange, SOL is seen as a strong candidate due to its high performance and low-cost model, with room in gaming, social applications, and payments, especially in scenarios where alternative networks with effective usage attract trading volume and liquidity.

XRP

An analyst from one exchange believes XRP could continue to rise because of its association with the XRP Ledger network, which is dedicated to fast and inexpensive international transfer settlements, proposing an alternative to SWIFT and having relevant partnerships.

MB emphasizes the ability to handle up to 1,500 transactions per second, quick confirmations, and low fees. It also notes that this mechanism allows for token creation and management, including real assets (RWA).

Tron (TRX)

One exchange’s bullish stance on Tron is based on its positioning as a high-performance network for smart contracts and low-cost transactions.

The team cites relevance in DeFi (especially lending platforms), usability, and progress in stablecoins, noting that the network ranks second in this niche. TRX is included in the argument due to its use in fees and as part of staking/validation mechanisms.

Chainlink (LINK)

One exchange highlights Chainlink as a decentralized oracle that connects smart contracts to external data (such as prices and events).

The presented view sees the expansion of oracle services—covering prices, automation, and real-world data—as the main growth driver, with adoption in DeFi, stablecoins, RWA, gaming, and on-chain infrastructure. LINK tokens appear in the system’s economic section, compensating oracles and helping secure the network economically.

Aave (AAVE)

Aave appears in one exchange’s assessment as one of the pioneering projects in decentralized lending.

Its rationale involves liquidity pools, fees that vary with supply and demand, and collateralization for loans. In the analyst’s view, the protocol’s history and usage support the idea that it could be a promising name for those seeking exposure to the mature DeFi sector.

Ondo Finance (ONDO)

According to one exchange, ONDO’s argument lies in the progress of tokenizing real assets (RWA).

The project positions itself as a bridge for registering traditional assets (such as US Treasuries) on the blockchain and offers products like USDY, described as a yield-bearing cryptocurrency backed by Treasuries.

MB emphasizes ONDO’s role in ecosystem governance and its proposal to expand access to typically more “institutional” products.

Hyperliquid (HYPE)

One exchange includes Hyperliquid due to its focus on synthetic derivatives, involving perpetual futures trading and a proprietary architecture dedicated to decentralized and transparent order execution.

Key points cited include $100 million revenue by November 2025 and over 90% of revenue allocated to HYPE token buybacks. According to Research, this could generate buying pressure.

Virtuals Protocol (VIRTUAL)

One exchange highlights Virtuals as a project connecting AI and blockchain via “AI agents” capable of interacting with users and executing tasks, including financial ones.

Reasons include the fact that interactions with agents will generate costs payable in VIRTUAL, and the token’s role as the economic basis for transactions and liquidity pools within applications.

Bittensor (TAO)

One exchange’s list also includes Bittensor (TAO), described as a decentralized network that combines blockchain and machine learning to develop, share, and monetize AI tools.

Analysts cite TAO’s use for accessing services and creating subnets, as well as proposals to distribute training tasks among users and reward them, integrating with other blockchains.

What Will Influence Cryptocurrencies in Early 2026?

Cryptocurrency performance in 2026, especially at the beginning of the year, should be influenced by macroeconomic factors and institutional capital behavior.

According to one exchange, inflow and outflow trends of Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs often play a decisive role in market sentiment, as do global liquidity conditions and monetary policy decisions. In scenarios more favorable to risk assets, the crypto market has historically benefited; in more restrictive environments, adjustments and sideways movements gain strength.

In the assessment by the Research team of one exchange, this context helps explain why sectors like decentralized finance, real asset tokenization, and scalability solutions stand out in the 2026 betting.

Expansion in DeFi, increasing integration between blockchain and traditional markets, and advances in second-layer networks aimed at improving trading efficiency are seen as the drivers of adoption and institutional capital entry throughout the next cycle.

Despite the optimistic outlook, analysts emphasize that volatility remains a structural feature of the cryptocurrency market. Price fluctuations, regulatory uncertainty, and the presence of malicious projects require investors to exercise caution, especially in an environment still maturing.